12 Midlantic-breds nominated to Triple Crown
The Biz
February 4, 2026
A dozen three-year-olds bred in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Virginia are among the 367 sophomores nominated to the Triple Crown series, which kicks off with the May 2 Kentucky Derby before heading to Maryland for the May 16 Preakness Stakes.
Among that Midlantic contingent are five Pennsylvania-breds, three bred in Maryland and three in Virginia, and a New Jersey-bred. The roster includes several runners who have already proven themselves at the stakes level, led by Pennsylvania-bred Mailata, one of the region’s most accomplished juveniles of 2025.
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Trained by Butch Reid Jr. for Cash Is King LLC and LC Racing LLC, Mailata captured both the Parx Future Stars Stakes and the Pennsylvania Nursery Stakes and enters his three-year-old season riding a three-race winning streak. The son of Maximus Mischief earned $159,500 at two and hopes to take the next step in the Withers at Aqueduct Feb. 6.
Maryland-breds are also well represented among the stakes-winning nominees. Code of Silence, trained by Tim Keefe for Mount Peru Farm, took the Maryland Juvenile Stakes and has banked more than $130,000. By Blofeld, Code of Silence has five in-the-money finishes from six starts and will tackle Wednesday’s Spectacular Bid at Laurel Park.
Another Maryland standout is Big Cuddle, a son of Great Notion trained by Gary Capuano. Big Cuddle was a perfect two-for-two as a juvenile, highlighted by his victory in the Maryland Million Nursery, and earned $88,750 for Pocket 3’s Racing LLC. The bad news: Big Cuddle hasn’t raced since Oct. 11 or been on the work tab in the last 60 days.
One Triple Crown nominee Code of Silence will likely see in Wednesday’s Spectacular Bid is last-out maiden winner Close the Gate. The Pennsylvania-bred Engage gelding decisively won against higher end maiden claimers last time out, and the John Salzman, Jr. trainee will take a swing at stakes rivals. Salzman last tested Triple Crown waters in the 2023 Preakness with Coffeewithchris, who finished seventh.
Beyond the stakes winners, the Midlantic slate of nominees includes several others who could develop into spring contenders, as well as well-bred runners from major national stables. Among those is the Virginia-bred Secured Freedom, a son of Practical Joke who is entered in Saturday’s Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita.
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MIDLANTIC-BRED TRIPLE CROWN NOMINEES
| Horse | Bred In | Earnings | Breeder | Career Record | Trainer |
| Associated | Pennsylvania | $15,771 | Blackstone Farm, LLC | 3:0-1-1 | D. Whitworth Beckman |
| Big Cuddle | Maryland | $88,750 | Two Legends Farm | 2:2-0-0 | Gary Capuano |
| Close the Gate | Pennsylvania | $30,600 | Dr. & Mrs. William E. Riddle Jr. | 2:1-1-0 | John Salzman, Jr. |
| Code of Silence | Maryland | $131,015 | Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Holt & Mr. & Mrs.Richard Palumbo | 6:2-1-2 | Timothy Keefe |
| Crossingthechannel | Virginia | $70,400 | R. Larry Johnson | 3:1-2-0 | Mike Trombetta |
| Easy Pick | Pennsylvania | $680 | Caroline and Gregory Bentley Breeders | 1:0-0-0 | Mark Casse |
| Lino Padrino | New Jersey | $40,574 | Gina Lupton & Kelly Lupton | 0:0-0-0 | Bhupat Seemar |
| Magazzini | Virginia | $0 | Audley Farm Equine | 0:0-0-0 | Michael McCarthy |
| Mailata | Pennsylvania | $159,500 | Cash Is King LLC & LC Racing Stable LLC | 5:3-0-1 | Butch Reid, Jr. |
| Our Magical Moon | Pennsylvania | $95,000 | Uptowncharlybrown Stud LLC | 4:1-1-1 | Mark Casse |
| Scope | Maryland | $41,100 | Sycamore Hall Thoroughbreds, LLC | 4:0-1-1 | Todd Pletcher |
| Secured Freedom | Virginia | $45,600 | Audley Farm Equine, LLC | 2:1-0-0 | Tim Yakteen |
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