NEWS
China Visit, Wheelaway head late Triple Crown nominations
Posted: Tuesday, April 04, 2000
Recent stakes winners China Visit and Wheelaway lead a list of 13 sophomores that have been made late nominees to the 2000 Triple Crown. Late entries for the Triple Crown were due to be postmarked by April 1 and the number of additional nominees could grow depending on late mail. The total number of nominees to this year's Triple Crown currently stands at 400.
Owned by Godolphin Racing, China Visit ran his record to 2-for-2 with an easy victory in the $500,000 UAE Derby on the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) undercard on March 25. Trained by Saeed bin Suroor, the son of Red Ransom won the about 1 1/8-mile UAE Derby by 4 ¼ lengths over stablemate Bachir and Curule.
Curule, a son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Go For Gin trained by Kiaran McLaughlin for Sheikh Rashid bin Maktoum al Maktoum, also was a late nominee.
Caesar Kimmel's and Philip Solondz's Wheelaway was an impressive winner of the Tampa Bay Derby last time out. Trained by John Kimmel, the son of Unbridled out of Cuidado, by Damascus, has won 2-of-4 career starts and $114,760.
Other late nominees include El Camino Real Derby (G3) winner Remember Sheikh, Big Numbers, Painted Pistol, Fan the Flame, Connect, Country Coast, Tim's Crossing, Greenbaypacker, Timber Wolf, and Local Editor.
Britain's William Hill betting agency has China Visit pegged as the 8-to-1 second choice in the Kentucky Derby (G1). San Felipe Stakes (G2) winner Fusaichi Pegasus was listed as the 7-to-1 favorite. Anees, 1999 champion juvenile, and The Deputy (Ire) were listed at 9-to-1, while War Chant (10-to-1), Mighty (12-to-1), and High Yield (14-to-1) were among the other favorites.
