by Jeff Lowe

Recent stakes winners Barrier Reef and Big Glen and fillies Eight Belles and Proud Spell were among ten three-year-olds made eligible for the Triple Crown in the late nomination stage that ended March 29.

My Pal Charlie, the runner-up to Pyro in the Louisiana Derby (G2) at odds of 60.90-to-1, also was nominated for the $6,000 late fee. The ten additions push the total number of nominated horses to 459, one below the record of 460 set in 2007.

Barrier Reef, winner of the Whirlaway Stakes in his most recent start on February 2, is scheduled to return on the turf on Friday in the Central Bank Transylvania Stakes (G3) at Keeneland Race Course. To this point, the Mizzen Mast colt has no graded stakes earnings, and he would be a longshot to make the Derby field even if he garnered the $93,000 winner’s share of the $150,000 Transylvania.

Rushaway Stakes winner Big Glen is a candidate for the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (G2) on April 19 at Keeneland.

Larry Jones trains Eight Belles and Proud Spell, and both graded stakes winners are headed for major races this weekend. Proud Spell is scheduled for the Ashland Stakes (G1) on Saturday at Keeneland Race Course, and Eight Belles is slated to contest the Fantasy Stakes (G2) on Sunday at Oaklawn Park.

The other late nominees are Florida Derby (G1) fourth-place finisher Hey Byrn, Fair Grounds allowance winner Jazz in the Park, Aqueduct allowance winner Spurrier, and Santa Anita Park maiden winners Kinsale King and Rosso Corsa.

The late nomination list, with (sire), owner, trainer, and breeder (state):

Barrier Reef (Mizzen Mast), Godolphin Racing, Saeed bin Suroor, Matthew Herbener (Ky.);

Big Glen (Cactus Ridge), John T. L. Jones Jr. and Bill Jones, Frank Brothers, John T. L. Jones Jr., Bill Heiligbrodt, and Richard Taylor, et al. (Ky);

Eight Belles (Unbridled’s Song), Fox Hill Farms, Larry Jones, Robert Clay and Serengeti Stable (Ky.);

Hey Byrn (Put It Back), Beatrice Oxenberg, Edward Plesa Jr., Arther Appleton (Fla.);

Jazz in the Park (Ecton Park), Russata Stables, Bobby Barnett, Katy Cowan (Ky.);

Kinsale King (Yankee Victor), Super Horse Inc., Jesus Mendoza, Marvin Little Jr. (Ky.);

My Pal Charlie (Indian Charlie), B. Wayne Hughes, Albert Stall Jr., John Penn (Ky.);

Proud Spell (Proud Citizen), Brereton C. Jones, Larry Jones, Brereton C. Jones (Ky.);

Rosso Corsa (Ferrari [Ger]), Charlotte and Chris Wrather and J. F. Ernenwein, Darrell Vienna, Charlotte Wrather (Ca.); and

Spurrier (Dixieland Band), Peachtree Stable, Todd Pletcher, NATO (Ky.)

Jeff Lowe is a Thoroughbred Times staff writer