Thirteen pony up Triple Crown late nomination fee

Wild On Ice, upset winner of Sunday’s Sunland Park Derby, was among a group of 13 3-year-olds who were made eligible for the Triple Crown, their connections paying a $6,000 late nomination fee by Monday’s deadline.

There were 12 horses announced on Tuesday; on Wednesday a 13th horse, Empirestrikesfast, was added to the list after a clerical error was discovered.

All 13 horses are now eligible to compete in the $3 million Kentucky Derby on May 6, the $1.5 million Preakness at Pimlico on May 20, and/or the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 10. There were 369 3-year-olds made eligible for a $600 fee at the first deadline, Jan. 28.

By virtue of his victory in the Sunland Park Derby, Wild On Ice earned 50 points toward the Kentucky Derby. Joel Marr, trainer of Wild On Ice, told Daily Racing Form’s Mary Rampellini, a decision on the horse’s participation in the Derby would come later.

The other late Triple Crown nominees are Brave Emperor, Chase the Chaos, Coffeewithchris, Eye Witness, Henry Q, Interlock Empire, King Russell, Kolomio, Mr. Peeks, Nautical Star, and Ninetyprcentmaddie.

Brave Emperor, trained by Archie Watson, could gain a Kentucky Derby spot via the European Road to the Kentucky Derby series that awards a spot to the European-based horse who earns the most points in a series of races selected by Churchill Downs. Brave Emperor won the Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes on March 15 and is expected to run in Saturday’s Cardinal Condition Stakes at Chelmsford.

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Chase the Chaos won the El Camino Real Derby and Eye Witness won last Saturday’s Animal Kingdom Stakes at Turfway Park. Coffeewithchris, won the Miracle Wood and Heft and was second in the Private Terms, all at Laurel Park. Henry Q finished third in the Sunland Park Derby.

Mr. Peeks and Nautical Star, recent private purchases, will both be starting in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Florida Derby while Interlock Empire, King Russell, and Kolomio are all entered in Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park. Ninetyprcentmaddie is expected for the Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 8.

Empirestrikesfast won a maiden race March 11 at Gulfstream Park, earning a 92 Beyer Speed Figure.

Both the Florida Derby and Arkansas Derby award 200 Kentucky Derby qualifying points to its top five finishers on a 100-40-30-20-10 basis.

Moving forward, horses who are not Triple Crown nominated can still be supplemented to an individual Triple Crown race for a fee of $200,000 to the Derby, $150,000 to the Preakness, and $50,000 to the Belmont Stakes.

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