Le Dom Bro, Tapalo among nine late nominations to Triple Crown

Le Dom Bro, runner-up in the Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 2, and Tapalo, runner-up in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 10, head a group of nine 3-year-olds who were made late nominees to the Triple Crown, it was announced Tuesday by Churchill Downs.

Le Dom Bro and Tapalo were joined by Awesome Ruta, Celtic Contender, D Day Sky, Evening News, Lonesome Boy, Mugatu, and Secret Chat, as horses whose connections paid $6,000 by Monday’s second Triple Crown nomination closing and who are now eligible for the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 4, the Preakness at Pimlico on May 18, and the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga on June 8.

There were two nominating deadlines, the first coming on Jan. 29 at which time 345 3-year-olds were nominated to the series for a $600 fee. From now until time of entry for the Kentucky Derby, a 3-year-old could still be supplemented to the Triple Crown for a fee of $200,000 or be supplemented to only the Kentucky Derby for a $50,000 fee.

Following the Derby, a horse could be supplemented to the Preakness for a $150,000 fee or the Belmont Stakes for a $50,000 fee,

Le Dom Bro, trained by Eniel Cordero for Vincente Stables, finished last in the Florida Derby last Saturday. He currently has 25 qualifying points, not expected to be enough to get into the field for the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

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Tapalo, trained by John Sadler for Hronis Racing, does not have any points, but is expected to be entered Wednesday in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Santa Anita Derby, which offers its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10) qualifying points to the May 4 Kentucky Derby.

Evening News, trained by Michael Pino for Travin Stables, and Lonesome Boy, trained by Hugo Padilla for John Parker, have zero points but both were expected to be entered Wednesday for Saturday’s Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, which offers its top five finishers the same qualifying points as the Blue Grass.

Mugatu, who has four points for trainer Jeff Engler and Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells, was entered Tuesday for Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Blue Grass at Keeneland which offers the same qualifying points as the Wood and Santa Anita Derby.

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