Triple Crown Productions executive director unhelpful to the press

I just got off the phone with Triple Crown Productions Executive Director Ed Seigenfeld, who refused to answer my question related to the conditions of the Triple Crown races.

Given the possibility of Jess Jackson supplementing his Kentucky Oaks winner Rachel Alexandra to the Preakness Stakes, myself and other racing fans had taken the liberty of combing over the conditions of the Triple Crown races to discern whether previous nominations would take precedence over a supplemental nomination in the case of more than 14 horses entering the Preakness.

The Derby conditions contain that language, but the Preakness conditions do not.

I called Seigenfeld on his cell phone at 5:25 p.m. EDT on Thursday to get a clarification, and he wouldn't help me out.

"I know the answer, but I'm not going to tell you," he said. "Each race belongs to the track, so call [MJC racing secretary] Georganne Hale or [director of communications] Mike Gathagan."

"I'm really just calling to find out if early nominations take precedence. You really can't help me out."

"No."

I tried to retain my professional demeanor by thanking him for his time, but I have to think he recognized the disgust in my voice. I've never been stymied by an executive on such a simple question before.