French Group 1 winner and U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) hero Thunder Snow highlights six sophomores joining the Triple Crown hopefuls during the late nomination phase that closed on Monday.
The total nominations for the 2017 Triple Crown – comprised of the Kentucky Derby (G1), Preakness Stakes (G1) and Belmont Stakes (G1) – now stands at 425, pending late mail. While early nominees were made eligible for the three-race series at a fee of $600, late entrants required a payment of $6,000.
Thunder Snow will get the chance to earn his first Kentucky Derby points on Saturday while taking part in the U.A.E. Derby (UAE-G2) against 15 rivals. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the bay son of Helmet captured the Criterium International (Fr-G1) in late October by five lengths and triumphed by 5 3/4 lengths in the U.A.E. Two Thousand Guineas on February 11.
The other late nominees to the Triple Crown are:
- Hollywood Handsome (Tapizar—Ladyflickerflacker), 6-1-0-3, $45,330, trained by Dallas Stewart
- More Than Words (More Than Ready—Almudena), 4-1-1-0, $2,589, trained by Charlie LoPresti
- Parlor (Lonhro—My McIntosh), 3-2-1-0, $102,700, trained by Eddie Kenneally
- Rapid Dial (Dialed In—Cartia), 1-1-0-0, $43,200, trained by Ingrid Mason
- Stretch’s Stone (Bustin Stones—Lucy Dubai), 3-2-0-1, $72,700, trained by Bruce Levine
Triple Crown prospects not nominated in either the early or late stage will have one more shot through payment of a supplemental nomination fee, due at time of entry. This supplemental fee will make a horse eligible for the remainder of the Triple Crown series.
