El Camino runner-up heads 9 late Triple Crown noms

Churchill Downs press release

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Tuesday, April 2, 2024) – 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 Racing and JeremySussman’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).