Tapalo breaking his maiden on Jan. 12 at Santa Anita. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
El Camino Real Derby Runner-Up Tapalo Leads Nine Late Triple Crown Nominees
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Hronis Racing’s Tapalo, the El Camino Real Derby runner-up and contender in Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (GI), leads a cast of nine 3-year-olds that were made eligible to compete in the 2024 Triple Crown with a late $6,000 payment that was due Monday.
Trained by John Sadler, Tapalo is expected to enter Saturday’s $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, the final West Coast stop on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The nine late nominees (pending late mail):
- Hronis Racing’s Tapalo;
- Tri Star Racing & Cimarron TTT’s Awesome Ruta;
- Lewis Family Racing Stables’ Celtic Contender;
- Ten Strike Racing, Four Cornerss Racing, Broadview Stables, Cory Moelis Racingand Jeremy Sussman’s D Day Sky;
- Travin Stables’ Evening News;
- Vicente Stables’ Le Dom Bro;
- John Parker’s Lonesome Boy;
- Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells’ Mugatu; and
- Gelfenstein Farm’s Secret Chat.
In total, there are now 354 eligible 3-year-olds to compete in the Triple Crown series which consists of the $5 million Kentucky Derby, $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (GI) and $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI).
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 for all three Triple Crown races or $50,000 for the Kentucky Derby only), Preakness ($150,000) and Belmont ($50,000).
