'Blues' among late nominees

Fourteen 3-year-olds, including Blues and Royals, the winner of the United Arab Emirates Derby last Saturday, were made late nominees to the Triple Crown at a cost of $6,000 by last Saturday's deadline, Triple Crown Productions announced Wednesday.

There were another 358 horses made eligible for the Triple Crown in January for a one-time early payment of $600.

Parole Board, who finished third in the UAE Derby, also was one of the late nominees. Both Blues and Royals and Parole Board are owned by Godolphin Racing, which is based in Dubai and is overseen by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum.

Also made eligible to the Triple Crown at the late deadline were B. B. Best and Mighty Mecke, who are scheduled to run in the Florida Derby on Saturday at Gulfstream, and Sort It Out, who is scheduled to run in the WinStar Derby on Saturday at Sunland.

Mr Sword, who was third in the Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park last Saturday, also is a late nominee, as are Malibu Moonshine, who captured the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel, and Cat Shaker, who took the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway.

The other late nominees are Bridge Loan, Evil Minister, General John B, Hello Jerry, Rikman, and Watchmon.