Two horses bred in the Mid-Atlantic are among the 12 newcomers to the Triple Crown trail. They are John Salzman Jr., Fred Wasserloos and Anthony Geruso’s multiple stakes winner Coffeewithchris and LC Racing’s two-time stakes winner Ninetyprcentmaddie. The former, also trained by Salzman, won the Miracle Wood Stakes at Laurel two back and then was second in the Private Terms in his first try around two turns. The latter, trained by Butch Reid, won the City of Brotherly Love at Parx in his most recent start and is nominated to the Grade 2 Wood Memorial, which is scheduled for April 8 at Aqueduct.

The other late nominees (pending late mail): Middleham Park Racing’s Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes winner Brave Emperor (IRE); Adam Ference and Bill Dory’s El Camino Real Derby winner Chase the Chaos; Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Westerberg and Jonathan Poulin’s Animal Kingdom Stakes winner Eye Witness; The Del Mar Group’s Sunland Park Derby third-place finisher Henry Q; Lucky Seven Stable’s maiden special weight winner and Arkansas Derby entrant Interlock Empire; Brereton Jones and Naber Racing’s maiden special weight winner and Arkansas Derby (GI) entrant King Russell; Big Chief Racing’s recent $50,000 claim and Arkansas Derby entrant Kolomio; C2 Racing Stable’s maiden special weight winner and Florida Derby (GI) entrant Mr. Peeks; and C2 Racing Stable and Stefania Farms maiden special weight winner and Florida Derby entrant Nautical Star.

In total, there are now 381 eligible 3-year-olds eligible to compete in the Triple Crown series which consists of the Kentucky Derby, $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (GI) on May 20 and $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (GI) on June 10.

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), Preakness ($150,000) and Belmont ($50,000).