Fourteen 3-year-old Thoroughbreds, headed by the winner and third-place finisher in Saturday's United Arab Emirates Derby, have been added as late nominees to the list of Visa Triple Crown hopefuls that will vie for the 2005 Visa Triple Crown and the $5-million Visa Triple Crown Challenge bonus.

The 14 prospects were added, at a fee of $6,000 each, to the original list of 358 horses that were named, at $600 each, during the early nomination period, which ended Jan. 22. The late-nomination period ended Saturday, March 26, and the 2005 final nomination list stands at 372.

BLUES AND ROYALS, owned by Godolphin Racing and trained by Saeed bin Suroor, was a runaway winner by 12 lengths in Saturday's running of the UAE Derby at Nad al Sheba racecourse in Dubai, and was an equally runaway late nominee to the Visa triple Crown, which begins with the 131st Kentucky Derby on May 7 at Louisville's Churchill Downs. Godolphin Racing also nominated PAROLE BOARD, who finished third in the race.

A couple of other winners in Saturday stakes races - CAT SHAKER and MALIBU MOONSHINE - also were signed up as late nominees. CAT SHAKER won Turfway Park's Rushaway Stakes and MALIBU MOONSHINE captured the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel Park. CAT SHAKER is owned by William Callis and trained by his son, Craig Callis. MALIBU MOONSHINE races for Woodrow Marriott and is trained by the legendary King Leatherbury.

B.B. BEST, who finished third in the Grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes and is a candidate for Saturday's Grade I Florida Derby, is among the late nominees, as is MR. SWORD, who was third in the Grade II Lane's End Stakes at Turfway Park Saturday. B.B. BEST is owned by Bea Oxenbourg and Laurie Plesa and trained by Edward Plesa Jr., and MR. SWORD is trained by Jennifer Pedersen for Paraneck Stable.

Turf Paradise Derby winner GENERAL JOHN B, owned by Ross McLeod and trained by Steve Bryant, joins the list, as does Whirlaway Stakes winner SORT IT OUT, trained by three-time Kentucky Derby -Preakness Stakes winner bob Baffert for owners Stonerside Stables and Preferred Pals.

Rounding out the late-nomination list are BRIDGE LOAN, owned by Hesmonds Stud and trained by Jeremy Noseda; WATCHMON, owned by Paul Pompa Jr. and trained by Patrick Reynolds; RIKMAN, trained by William I. Mott for owners Peter Vegso and Gary Seidler; Namcock Stables' EVIL MINISTER, conditioned by Erik Juvonen; MIGHTY MECKE, owned by Puglisi Stables and trained by Steve Klesaris; and HELLO JERRY, owned and trained by Cathal Lynch.

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