Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Triple Crown nominations surprises

Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.

When Churchill Downs on Wednesday released names of 362 horses nominated to the Triple Crown series of races, sure, there were a few surprises within the list. But it’s a number of horses that didn’t get the $600 nod from connections to run in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes that seemingly allows us to essentially close the book on their classic dreams.

Of course, a much larger sum could be paid at a later date for any up-and-comers. But we’re speaking here mostly of known commodities who accomplished something as 2-year-olds but will no longer be counted among those chasing a spot in the Derby starting gate.

First, nine horses with Derby qualifying points were not nominated to the Triple Crown.

Complexity, who won the Champagne (G1) last fall at Belmont Park, leads the list. He’ll return to sprinting after an underwhelming performance in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Likewise, last Saturday’s Swale Stakes (G3) winner Call Paul was not nominated. A third stakes winner with this distinction is Tobacco Road, who took the Ellis Park Juvenile in August but is 0-for-4 since.

Tight Ten ran in some big spots but is receiving time off. Same for Dueling due to injury. Aurelius Maximus broke his maiden impressively but hasn’t run since fourth in the Champagne. Pole Setter, Sombeyay and Jefe are others with Derby points effectively now off the trail.

Here’s a sampling of other names tied early to the Derby not on the list:

Bob Baffert trainees Tale of the Union and Magic On Tap, both debut winners at Del Mar who appeared in Pool 1 of the Derby Future Wager, don’t show recent works. When Mucho Gusto, who shares ownership with Tale of the Union, won the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) last weekend, Michael Petersen mentioned that one had suffered an injury.

Chad Brown-trained Looking At Bikinis earned a 91 Beyer Speed Figure on debut last fall at Belmont Park. There have to be some sighs of relief that his name won’t be etched in Triple Crown lore. Fortin Hill, another big debut winner from last fall, also wasn't listed.

Uncle Benny, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up, was said to be returning to the dirt. He has recorded one work in the new year, but that was back on Jan. 19. Nothing since. He wasn’t nominated, and neither was Cornacchia, a debut winner at Fair Grounds who carried some early Derby dreams.

A few more facts and figures thanks to Churchill Downs’ media department for these facts and figures:

• 271 (74.9 percent) of Triple Crown nominees were bred in Kentucky

• 109 (30.1 percent) of them are known to be based in Florida with California (64), Louisiana (55), Arkansas (30) and New York (18) next on the list.

• Among the 20 horses nominated who aren’t training in the U.S., only Royal Marine has won a Derby prep. But he’s no longer on the European trail, rather racing in Dubai.

• Gun It, a maiden winner who lost his most-recent start, is the priciest colt on the list at $2.6 million. Instagrand is the next most-expensive at $1.2 million.

• Four fillies were nominated, namely the champion 2-year-old Jaywalk and Bellafina, a multiple Grade 1 winner. It’s not likely, but yes, they have options other than the Kentucky Oaks.

Derby links

• Round 3 of our Kentucky Derby Scouting Reports began with Matt Shifman’s East Coast contenders list. Already, he has the flashy debut winner Hidden Scroll at the top. 

• Handicapper Reinier Macatangay ran down the pros and cons of playing the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, including his choice to bet if you do lay down a play this weekend. 

• Looking ahead to the Risen Star Stakes (G2), it appears the connections of Steve Asmussen and Winchell Thoroughbreds will have multiple entries. Read about it on the Derby Radar. 

In case you missed it…

Tuesday’s Derby Daily report featured Tax, the Withers Stakes (G3) winner who could go from claim to fame this season.