Tapit leads all sires with 19 nominees to Triple Crown series

Reigning leading sire Tapit, who sired his second American classic winner last year, leads all stallions by early nominations to the 2017 Triple Crown series. The nominations were released Tuesday.

The Gainesway resident’s 19 nominees include the graded stakes-placed Capitaine and Ticonderoga; Japanese-bred Foggy Night, who won at Tokyo Racecourse in his first start; and two fillies, Grade 1 winner Pretty City Dancer and Grade 2 winner Unique Bella.

Three stallions were represented by the winners of the 2016 Triple Crown events. Tapit, who has led the North American general sire list with a record bankroll every year since 2014, sired Belmont Stakes winner Creator, his second winner in that last and longest American classic. Uncle Mo sired Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist in his first crop. He has 15 nominees to this year’s classics from his second crop, including graded stakes winner Mo Town. Curlin has been represented by a classic winner or classic-placed runner from each of his first four crops, with Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator the latest of those. He is represented by six nominees.

Among last year’s leading juvenile sires by earnings, Into Mischief is represented by 16 nominees, War Front by seven, and Triple Crown sire Pioneerof the Nile by 11. Pioneerof the Nile’s group includes juvenile champion Classic Empire.

Last year’s leading freshman sire, Dialed In, has eight nominees, led by his multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevara. Dialed In narrowly edged Union Rags, who as 14 nominees, on the freshman earnings list.