Wild On Ice upsets the Sunland Park Derby, Ken Tohill in the irons (Coady Photography)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky.— Frank Sumpter’s Sunland Park Derby (Grade III) winner Wild On Ice was among a dozen 3-year-olds that were made eligible to compete in the 2023 Triple Crown with a late $6,000 payment that was due Monday.
Wild On Ice, the 35-1 upset winner of the Sunland Park Derby, earned 50 points for his victory and his connections stated they could target the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) on Saturday, May 6.
The other late nominees (pending late mail): Middleham Park Racing’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes winner Brave Emperor (IRE); Adam Ference and Bill Dory’s El Camino Real Derby winner Chase the Chaos; John Salzman Jr., Fred Wasserloos and Anthony Geruso’s multiple stakes winner Coffeewithchris; Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Jonathan Poulin’s Animal Kingdom Stakes winner Eye Witness; The Del Mar Group’s Sunland Park Derby third-place finisher Henry Q; Lucky Seven Stable’s maiden special weight winner and Arkansas Derby entrant Interlock Empire; Brereton Jones and Naber Racing’s maiden special weight winner and Arkansas Derby (GI) entrant King Russell; Big Chief Racing’s recent $50,000 claim and Arkansas Derby entrant Kolomio; C2 Racing Stable’s maiden special weight winner and Florida Derby (GI) entrant Mr. Peeks; C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms maiden special weight winner and Florida Derby entrant Nautical Star; and LC Racing’s two-time stakes winner Ninetyprcentmaddie.
In total, there are now 381 eligible 3-year-olds eligible to compete in the Triple Crown series which consists of the Kentucky Derby, $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (GI) on May 20 and $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 10.
Any horse not nominated during the early or late phases can become Triple Crown eligible through a supplemental nomination payment due at the time of entry for each Triple Crown race: Kentucky Derby ($200,000), Preakness ($150,000) and Belmont ($50,000).
