GIC’s Triple Crown Nominees of Interest List
Real Writing on Racing 💯
Today we have taken on an innocuous project where we identify thirty eight three year olds nominated to this year’s Triple Crown series that haven’t yet hit thier best stride. We are looking for ‘under the radar’ prospects that have not garnered too much attention, that we believe might find that status changed soon. Before proceeding, let’s make it clear that this isn’t a Kentucky Derby list…so yes Baffert trained charges may land here as they are still eligible to compete in the other two legs of the Triple Crown and beyond. There are no qualifications to make this Dirty 30+ other than our own judgement on what we find interesting. You won’t be seeing any 2024 Derby prep winners obviously and we have no borders as you will see some horses currently trained in the Land of the Rising Sun…like it or not, they are coming…as well as other far off places. There is no particular order other than alphabetical, no rankings, just thirty eight names that might wind up in lights in some race, somewhere as we traverse deeper into 2024. Fire up your virtual stables…here are a whole bunch of new horses to add.
The Going in Circles Interesting Triple Crown Nominees List
Acclaimed Victor - There was once a time when you’d be more apt to see a horse with a series of single digit Beyer figures earned in maiden 5k races at Thistledowns in a MSW event at Tampa than a $725,000 yearling purchase like this son of Omaha Beach is. Pletcher trainee ran huge race to be second after blowing the start on Jan 26 at the Oldsmar oval. Don’t expect him to be a maiden too much longer.
Aigle Noir - Japanese bred by Bricks and Mortars, this colt has 3 wins already, racking up in excess of $420k in earnings. Was second to Forever Young in the Derby points earning Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki last out. Certainly has the pedigree to handle Classic distances like the Belmont’s 1 1/4 (seems weird typing that). 🇯🇵
Amante Blanco - Another Japanese bred that’s on the list for having a stellar race record with two wins and a third (behind Aigle Noir) in three starts plus he is listed as being white and every list should have a white horse when one is available. Has 10 KY Derby points from his win in the Cattleya Stakes at Tokyo in his last. 🇯🇵
Capital Idea - Classic Empire colt has two solid races over the winter surface at Aqueduct, graduating in style going a mile recently, after a good run in his debut for Chris Clement. Falls into the “every time a sire is exported for good, a horse he sired becomes a really good horse” category with CE having moved to Korea this spring. I’d assume the Gotham (Gr III) may be next?
Change of Command - horses that take a few starts to break their maiden often benefit from the added experience which allows them to develop incrementally without getting thrown to the wolves too soon (like Crupi). Shug has brought this guy along in his typical deliberate style though he is the likely post time favorite Saturday at Tampa in the Sam Davis (Gr III).
Conquest Warrior - another Shug horse, this City of Light colt broke his maiden at Gulfstream in early January after a troubled start followed by an eventful trip. That came after running 3rd, futilely chasing a runaway but now sidelined winner that earned a 99 Beyer Speed fig, El Capi. Have to get his act together at the break but he has talent for sure.
Copper Tax - Copper Bullet colt trained by mid-Atlantic veteran Gary Capuano, he already has 5 wins including two minor stakes scores. Also entered in the Sam Davis (Gr III), I don’t see much of a future at classic distances for this guy with his pedigree but he might develop into a top one-turn mile/sprinter.
Cornishman - Homebred Curlin colt for Godolphin/Cox conglomerate was hard charging 2nd in FG MSW Jan 20 after a sluggish beginning. Had the race been 6.5 furlongs rather than 6f, he gets the money pretty easily. Plenty of stamina in his pedigree as dam Penwith was a solid graded stakes filly going on dirt and Curlin speaks for himself.
Corporate Power - yet another Shug listing, this pricey Curlin colt made a nice run to be 4th in the vaunted Pegasus day MSW that last year produced a Kentucky Derby winner and this year has given us a slew of talented prospects as well. Broke a touch slow behind a fast pace where the first two (also on this list) battled and didn’t stop. Wouldn’t be surprised to see him back in a 1 1/8 MSW at GP on Feb 24.
Danon K Two - Justify colt broke maiden in his debut at Kyoto going 9 furlongs on January 13 beating 15 others with both the 2nd and 3rd place finishers already having come back to win. A key race if there ever was one.🇯🇵
Deterministic - expensive Liam’s Map colt broke his maiden in start number 1 way back in August at Saratoga, overcoming a slow start, wide trip and some jostling in doing so. Has been working up a storm for Chris Clement at Payson Park
Dimatic - Winchell homebred Gun Runner colt broke his maiden in the slop last weekend at OP going 1 1/16 for Asmussen. Still seems a bit green and appears to have room for continued improvement. Risen Star (Gr II) and Rebel (Gr II) might be too quick back for him but he looks to be on the right path going forward.
Distant Sky - Uncle Mo sired Kentucky homebred for Japanese connections North Hills Co Ltd, was bet down to 1-2 for his winning debut going 7f at Kyoto, with the runner up having returned to win as well. Seems like he might show up on these shores at some point this year. 🇯🇵
Doc Sullivan - A NY bred by hot young stallion Solomini, this guy trained by Mike Micili has two wins and a solid late-running third in his debut since December 2. Last out dusted a group of state bred allowance horses over a mosh pit of a surface at Aqueduct on Jan 19. Probably not KY Derby material but wouldn’t be surprised to see him take a shot in the Wood Memorial (Gr II).
Epic Ride - Son of Blame has shown himself to be a solid Tapeta speed type, last out scoring in the Leonatus stakes at Turfway going a mile. We don’t know if that form will translate to other surfaces but the John Ennis trainee does appear to have some ability.
Feel the Magic - likely has the slowest speed figs on this list but put in a belated rally to be 4th in a MSW way back in July at Ellis Park. The race was filled with live runners including Street Sense (Gr III) winner Liberal Arts. Son of Good Magic has been training well for his return at Santa Anita for Mike McCarthy.
Forever Young - This Japanese colt by Real Steel is undefeated in three starts including the Zen-Nippon Nisai Yushun at Kawasaki by seven lengths. That race is one of 4 Japanese races that CDI has assigned Derby points, the colt trained by two time Breeders Cup winning trainer Yoshito Yahagi is a real possibility to show up on the first Saturday in May. 🇯🇵
Hall of Fame - destroyed a MSW group at FG on the Lecomte day undercard, running his 1 1/16 a few ticks faster than the stakes that day. Was $1.4 million dollar Saratoga yearling purchase by Coolmore, Asmussen trainee is pointing to the Risen Star (Gr II) on the 17th which is shaping up like the strongest Kentucky Derby prep of the season thus far.
Imagination - Million dollar Into Mischief colts trained by Bob Baffert don’t sneak up on anyone as evidenced by his short odds in his last two starts. He has gradually progressed to the winners circle and despite being midway down the pecking order in his own barn, he may be the one who is left standing later this summer. May be headed to New Mexico for the Sunland Park Derby (Gr III) for his next start.
Imperial Gun - Asmussen trained Gun Runner colt broke his maiden on New Year’s Eve at OP, showing speed that was missing in his debut three weeks earlier when he rallied from the back of the pack to be a closing 4th. Seems to have had some weather related training issues like most of those stables in Hot Springs but expect we will see him in a Derby prep sooner than later.
Just a Touch - Justify colt was no surprise when breaking his maiden at 1-2 in his debut at the FG a few weeks back for Brad Cox. Might try an allowance race as a bridge race considering the preps are getting longer and he has but one sprint race under his belt.
Killer Collect - Collected colt was grabbed out of the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale for $75,000 by the Dubai based trainer Bhupat Seemer. Has run well in the UAE in his three races with a record of 3-1-1-1, his last race a solid 2nd in the Grade 3 UAE 2000 Guineas. I’d expect him to pursue the UAE Derby (Gr II) route to the KY Derby. 🇦🇪
Knightsbridge - crushed a MSW group at CD for the Mott/Godolphin team in early November. Missed some training time afterwards and just resumed workouts at Payson Park. The Nyquist colt, who is a half brother to the high class Speakers Corner, will be well backed wherever he shows back up.
Kopion - yeah, yeah I know she won a graded stakes last out BUT it wasn’t a Derby prep and she has looked sharp in both her starts, open length wins sprinting. Daughter of Omaha Beach is trained by the conditioner of her sire, the great Richard Mandella. One of the few hopes for a west coast based horse to earn Derby points that aren’t sucked into the vortex of the ‘banned Baffert black hole’.
Le Gris - Has taken awhile before he has seemingly figured it out for Al Stall. City of Light colt showed speed before tiring in his first two, reversed his style to come from the back of the pack in two subsequent grass starts before finally being switched back to the dirt (unwittingly as it was an off-the-turf race) and splashing through the slop at FG to break his maiden. Not sure if Al will wait on the Louisiana Derby (Gr II) or try a different spot (allowance on either surface) but the gray colt seems like he is finally putting it all together.
Mendelssohn Bay - Another Dubai based colt for Bhupat Seemar, this one originating from the Fasig Tipton Timonium 2yo’s in training sale for $85,000. Won the UAE 2000 Guineas over his stablemate Killer Collect last out and is another on the UAE Derby (Gr II) to Kentucky Derby (Gr I) trail. 🇦🇪
Parchment Party - Constitution colt owned by the new Pin Oak Farm, came from far back to win both of his starts over the Churchill surface. Bill Mott unleashed him during the September meet where he closed fast to break his maiden going two turns though the speed fig came back a little light. Sent off at a generous 5-1 in his follow-up allowance race at Churchill, jockey James Graham again let him settle at the back of the pack before showing high late speed to cruise by the field, 1 1/2 lengths clear at the finish. Mott recently sent him to the farm for 60 days off so he won’t make the Classics but expect him to reappear in NY this summer.
Pirate - Was a Pletcher international tip opening weekend at the Spa and made the chalk players happy when reporting home 3 lengths clear of the solid Just Steel at 2-5 in his debut. Did not get much of a trip when forced 7 wide in the Hopeful (Gr I) closing weekend but still managed to run third in the roughly run race. He missed some time from mid-October till just recently posting his first work at Palm Beach Downs so the Derby is a stretch but talented Omaha Beach colt should make some noise later this spring.
Protective - Medaglia D’Oro colt made a good impression in his debut for Pletcher/The Commissioner back in July at Saratoga, finishing a sharp second after a sluggish start. Missed the remainder of his two year old season but has three works at Palm Beach Downs so look for him to return in a MSW in Florida later this spring before shipping north.
Resilience - Into Mischief colt ran into some tough customers in his first three maiden races at Saratoga and Churchill Downs last fall. He gradually improved as Mott trained young horses tend to do, before putting it all together and showing more early foot when breaking his maiden at GP on New Year’s Day by a little over 4 lengths. Feels like a horse with a future.
Snead - Brendan Walsh started the Nyquist colt out on the turf before getting rained off in the third start when he rallied nicely after a poor start to break his maiden. Sent down to New Orleans early, he dusted off an allowance field at the FG before putting in a solid closing finish when 2nd to wire to wire and repeat stakes winner Track Phantom in the Gun Runner. Pointing to the Risen Star (Gr II) next weekend.
Speak Easy - Curiously didn’t take much tote action before his debut in the pre-Pegasus MSW despite solid works, a nice pedigree and the Pletcher/Irad combo in his corner. The Constitution colt overcame the one post, Irad deftly angling off the inside to press the well meant Victory Avenue as those two blazed down the backside. Straightening away in the stretch, he wore down his game rival before pulling clear late. Again this one won’t be a secret when he hits the entries again, you’d have to wonder if his trainer wants to match him up against his speed dependent and slightly more famous stablemate in the Fountain of Youth (Gr II) as it would not seem to be an ideal scenario for either.
Taraj - Irish bred trained by Dermot Weld is enough to get me to include him here. Broke his maiden in his latest when trying the synthetic at Dundalk in late November. No idea what his plans are but (like EF Hutton) if Dermot Weld ships, you should pay attention. 🇮🇪
Time for Truth - Omaha Beach colt wired a MSW going 6f at OP on New Years Eve, and when the place horse from that race, Mr Fillip, came back to break his maiden last weekend at OP, despite pre-race antics, it flattered this Ron Moquett trained three year old.
Tuscan Gold - You have reached the Tuscan section. Medaglia D’Oro colt got beat up in his debut at the Big A, a tough trip where the result wasn’t nearly as good as the effort. Trainer Brown shipped south and after a series of bullet works he stretched the colt out in a MSW last week at GP and he responded with an easy score, drawing away by 6 lengths. Look for him to reappear in a Derby prep near you.
Tuscan Sky - His 1st race was a tale of two races. Vino Rossi colt flashed speed from the gate in the MSW at Aqueduct Jan 13. Manny Franco then let his main rival, who was bet down to heavy favoritism, challenge and clear from the outside which meant that the gray horse was now taking mud in his face, which he did not appreciate. On the turn Franco took him out of the pocket and let him drift outside, away from the kickback but costing him some ground and momentum. However once Tuscan Sky got clear, he reengaged and swept right past the big favorite and won going away. Pletcher shipped him south afterwards as his two most recent works were in Florida and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him in an allowance at GP or Tampa next.
Victory Avenue - the runner up in the vaunted Pegasus day undercard MSW that produced stakes level speed figures. The Arrogate colt was bet down to 3-2 favoritism for the Mage connections including trainer Gustavo Delgado. The dark bay colt shot out of the gate to take the early lead of the 7 furlong race heading down the backside, setting rapid fractions along the way. He battled gamely with winner Speak Easy before getting a little weary in the final 50 yards. He earned a 97 Beyer figure for the performance, higher than Mage earned last year winning the same race and also a better figure than Hades earned winning last Saturday’s Holy Bull.
Waitlist - Not This Time colt made his debut last weekend at Tampa in a MSW going 1 1/8 on the weeds for Team Todd and Centennial Farms. Despite being frosty on the board (he went off 8-1) he made a long, sustained move from the back of the pack, losing ground on the far turn before out-gaming $1.5 million dollar Shug/West Point colt Stop the Press, who had a far better trip. The Beyer wasn’t particularly fast but it was a big effort.
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