New Disabled Jockey Fund Announced At Pimlico

Recognizing the daily challenges disabled jockeys and their families face, the owners of Pimlico and others in the racing industry have established The Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund.
Magna Entertainment, along with Churchill Downs and the New York Racing Association, have come together to establish the charity fund.
The mission of the fund is to heighten awareness of disabled riders and to raise funds to assist permanently disabled riders with their healthcare and living expenses.
At the Pimlico Stakes Barn today, Magna Entertainment Corp. Chief Operating Officer Don Amos and Jockeys' Guild Chairman John Velazquez announced the effort to support permanently disabled jockeys. They said it is part of an industry wide initiative to address health and safety issues for jockeys.
"The goal in the short term for this year is to exceed the $1 million mark, because we have over 60 permanently disabled jockeys," said Amos during the press conference at Pimlico.
"Those jockeys, with the exception of Ronnie Turcotte, Rudy Baez and a few others, to a lot of us, don't have a face; they don't have a name. They get lost in the transition."
"This is very important for us and the Jockeys' Guild to be reunited with the racing industry. It's a great cause," said Velazquez, who is currently out of action with non-career-threatening injuries suffered when Up And Octave rolled over him after suffering a fatal leg injury just after winning the Forerunner Stakes at Keeneland last month.
"I really encourage everyone to come to the same table and talk about a cause that means a lot to a lot of people and jockeys. It means a lot to all jockeys throughout the country and North America that the industry is coming along and helping out those in need and their families.
Magna Entertainment, the parent company of Pimlico Race Course, along with Churchill Downs, the New York Racing Association, the National Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders' Association, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association and Thoroughbred Racing Association member tracks have all of have pledged contributions.
The goal is to raise $1 million by June 15th.
$250,000 has already been pledged in commitment funds.
To help raise money for the new fund, golden wristbands and special Preakness hats will be sold this weekend at Pimlico commemorating the 131st edition of the race.
In addition, the traditional Preakness jockeys autograph session at Pimlico will benefit the PDJF on Friday, when the second race of the day will be run in the name of the new initiative to provide financial assistance to permanently disabled jockeys and their families.
Racing Hall of Fame jockey Ron Turcotte will be featured in commercials talking about the fund this weekend.
He was the regular rider of 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat and was permanently disabled in 1978.
There are currently 60 riders who have been permanently disabled as a result of accidents at the track. Source: wbal.com

Jeff Haney on how Barbaro is making Triple Crown futures bettors nervous

Gamblers who bet there would be no Triple Crown winner this year must be feeling intimidated by Barbaro, who bolted to the head of the 3-year-old class with an impressive Kentucky Derby victory.
Before the Derby, bettors who wagered against any horse winning the Triple Crown had to risk about $10 for each $1 they were trying to win in Las Vegas race and sports books.
That kind of bet - risking a lot to win a little on a proposition that seems close to a sure thing - is called a "bridge jumper" in gambling slang, probably because making it is like taking a plunge.
Current odds on props involving Barbaro and the Triple Crown heading into Saturday's Preakness Stakes indicate this year's bridge jumpers might go splat.
Barbaro is listed as a heavy favorite of minus-160 (risk $1.60 to win $1) at Wynn Las Vegas to win the Preakness, having been bet up from an opening line of minus-110. Gamblers can also bet against Barbaro, getting a price of plus-140 on the rest of the field, which is expected to include nine starters.
Also at Wynn, Barbaro is listed at plus-170 to win the Triple Crown. Before the Kentucky Derby, gamblers could get about 7-1 on their money that any horse would win the Triple Crown.
It's minus-200 that Barbaro will not become the first thoroughbred since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Preakness and Belmont along with the Kentucky Derby.
A comparison to the opening line posted after the Derby indicates bettors believe in Barbaro. The "No," Barbaro will not win the Triple Crown, opened at minus-320, with the "Yes" side at plus-260.
Other Las Vegas books have similar odds on Barbaro to win the Triple Crown. At the Las Vegas Hilton, it's minus-220 he won't and plus-190 he will. Caesars Palace and related properties have it minus-250/plus-200, and at the Palms it's minus-230/plus-205.
Source: www.lasvegassun.com

Barbaro Works Quarter-Mile Thursday in Final Preakness Prep

Barbaro, installed as the even-money morning-line favorite for Saturday's Preakness Stakes (gr. I), galloped strongly and "blew out" a quarter of a mile in an unofficial :24 1/5 Thursday at Fair Hill Training Center in his final prep for the classic at Pimlico Racecourse.With exercise rider/assistant trainer Peter Brette aboard, the son of Dynaformer who was an impressive winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) was accompanied to the track at about 7:45 a.m. by trainer Michael Matz aboard his stable pony. After breaking off from Matz at the quarter pole, Barbaro worked the quarter mile, for which he was timed in :24 1/5 by The Blood-Horse.
Brette termed the workout "super" and said it is customary for the colt to gallop strongly before a "blow out" prior to a race.
Owned and bred by Roy and Gretchen Jackson's Lael Stables, Barbaro will be seeking his seventh career victory, with no defeats, when he faces eight other 3-year-olds Saturday. The colt, whose victories include the Florida Derby (gr. I) and Holy Bull (gr. III), is scheduled to ship the 60 miles to Pimlico at mid-day Friday.
Source: tcm.bloodhorse.com

McLaughlin Wants to Win--Like Now!

Frustrated by his 0-for-2 performance in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Kiaran McLaughlin has turned to a speed horse in his effort to win the Preakness.
After Jazil finished fourth and Flashy Bull took 14th in the Derby, McLaughlin decided to take a fresh approach in his effort to win a Triple Crown race.
Like Now and Diabolical, new shooters in the Preakness, are expected to set the early pace with Brother Derek. Like Now has an advantage, however, because he will start on the rail.
"Being that we're inside, I think the draw looks excellent," McLaughlin said. "Brother Derek is in the 5-hole and Diabolical is in the 9, so Diabolical's definitely going to be wide. Either he's going to go fast and clear us, or he's going to get hung out." And Brother Derek?
"Either he's going to go and clear us, or we're going. We're as fast as anybody else," McLaughlin reasoned.
Of course, the horse everyone's talking about is Derby winner Barbaro. McLaughlin is no exception.
"We're going to run our race, regardless," he said. "We can't worry about beating him. He's got to beat himself. He's the best horse. We just have to hope the two weeks sets him back."
A new shooter hasn't won the Preakness since Red Bullet in 2000, but it stands to reason that Like Now, Diabolical, Bernardini, Greeley's Legacy, Hemingway's Kid and Platinum Couple are fresher than the three horses back from the Derby.
They also offer a bit of the unknown.
"I don't know Bernardini. He looks like a real nice horse. He won two out of his three races," trainer Michael Matz said. "Bernardini's a new horse coming after us."
Dan Hendricks, trainer for Brother Derek, said Thursday that one reason why it's so tough to win a Triple Crown is that it often requires beating fresher competition.
"That's what makes it special," he said. "You've got to knock off all the newcomers, everybody. The next guy that wins it, that's going to make it extra special."
Like Now won the Gotham in March in a wire-to-wire performance, and McLaughlin can only hope for a repeat performance Saturday. The difference this time is that veteran jockey Garrett Gomez will replace 18-year-old Fernando Jara, a decision made by owner John J. Dillon.
Like Now galloped 1 3/8 miles at Belmont Park on Thursday. He'll be shipped to Pimlico on Friday.
A year ago, McLaughlin saddled Closing Argument in the Kentucky Derby and nearly pulled off a historic upset. Giacomo came flying past Closing Argument in the final 70 yards and won the Derby by a half-length at 50-1 odds. Closing Argument was an even longer shot at 71-1.
Like Now, in comparison, is a 12-1 choice.
Coming off a second-place finish in the Lexington (gr. II) at Keeneland on April 22, Like Now could benefit from missing the Derby.
"I think it definitely was the right plan for this horse," McLaughlin said. "I have a lot of respect for Barbaro, Brother Derek and Bernardini, but we have a top rider, the horse is doing very well and he deserves a chance. We're going to be there trying our best."
Source: tcm.bloodhorse.com

Rival Trainers Looking Forward to Tackling Barbaro

Barbaro, winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), hadn't arrived at the Pimlico grounds as of Friday morning. But he was there in the minds of other trainers with horses in Saturday's Preakness Stakes (gr. I).Barbaro "is a very good horse, maybe a great one," said Kiaran McLaughlin, who will saddle Like Now. "We'll know more in a few weeks. Right now, he hasn't done anything wrong. But he hasn't run back in two weeks yet, so we hope that is a chink in his armor. That's about all we can hope for. I have a lot of respect for the horse and the connections, but two weeks is two weeks. They're not machines. They react, and they bounce. So you don't know. He probably will overcome that, but we've got to take a shot.
"He's the horse to beat, but there are some pretty damn nice horses in here also -- Bernardini, Brother Derek, Sweetnorthernsaint, Like Now -- with a chance. I think we could be looking at greatness, but we'll see. Me, as a handicapper, I look at the Ragozin Sheets and two weeks back is very difficult, but he can react, and still be better than the best of us. You have to pick him, but I wouldn't bet on him at 3-5. You have to go for value."
McLaughlin said his game plan with Gotham Stakes (gr. III) winner and Lexington Stakes (gr. II) runner-up Like Now is to "be on the rail and on the lead, so we hope that things go well for us. We're trying to win it; we're not here to be third or fourth. It might cost us, but we're going to go for the win. We're not going to sit there trying to pick up a check. Our horse can relax to the point where he doesn't have to be on the lead. It's just that he's a bit keen early and has a lot of natural speed."
At his morning press conference, Dan Hendricks, the trainer of Brother Derek, was anticipating the chance to take on Barbaro again. Brother Derek dead-heated fourth with Jazil in the Derby after a troubled trip.
"I expect a great race," Hendricks said. "He (Barbaro) is a really good horse, and we're a very good horse. Hopefully, with Sweetnorthernsaint also and the new shooters, it will just be a real clean run, great race. Maybe we can all enjoy it. Hopefully, it comes right down to the wire with us and Barbaro. I don't think we can make up 10 lengths or something like that on him (Barbaro). He's too good a horse. We have to be in a striking position, hopefully right in front of him or well in front of him. One thing we don't want to be is behind him."
As for how Brother Derek's jockey, Alex Solis, will have to approach the Preakness, Hendricks said: "He can't think, 'Oh, I can get him (Barbaro) whenever I want.' He has to ride a race to beat to the horse, not for him to beat us. He (Barbaro) is the target."
Barbaro enjoyed an incident-free morning at Pimlico the day before the Preakness.
"He went to the gate and stood in the gate, nice and quiet," Hendricks reported, "and then had a mile gallop and went just up against the bit -- a strong gallop, went real nice. Just once around."
Nick Zito, who will saddle allowance winner Hemingway's Key, also expressed respect for Barbaro.
"He's done it both on the grass and the dirt," Zito said. "Nobody talks about that. That's amazing to do for a young horse, and he's only 3. And he's equally as great on the dirt as he is on the grass -- tremendous. That's something I think that should be brought out more. It's a hard thing to do."
For the Preakness, Zito said he would like to see "a tremendous, tremendous pace, and we get a chance to come with at least some kind of effort and run. That's how I would like it to set up."
Asked if he would be surprised if Hemingway's Key (eighth in the Lexington Stakes in his most recent start) won the Preakness, Zito admitted, somewhat sheepishly, "Yeah, I would be." Source: tcm.bloodhorse.com

Preakness Stakes Post positions by Horse

Source: www.thewbalchannel.com

Preakness Stakes Post positions by post number

Source: www.thewbalchannel.com

Smaller Field Lines Up for Saturday's Preakness Stakes

The second jewel of U.S. horse racing's Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, is Saturday in Baltimore, Maryland. After winning the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, "Barbaro" could come one step closer to winning the title no horse has captured since 1978.
Two weeks ago, at Churchill Downs, the maximum 20 horses lined up for the Kentucky Derby. Long-shot "Barbaro" muscled his way through the massive field, and won by 6.5 lengths. The Pennsylvania-bred colt has not lost in six starts.
The son of Dynaformer is only the ninth horse to win the Laurel Futurity, Maryland's top two-year-old race, and then capture the first leg of the Triple Crown that features three-year-old horses. His trainer, Michael Matz, says Barbaro surprised even him with the way he ran away from the field.
"I guess what surprised me most was the fact of the ease that he did it with," he said. "You always hope [for] that to happen as a trainer, but I would have been just as happy if he had won by a nose. But I thought that was to his credit, a terrific performance."
While Barbaro will be contending in a smaller nine-horse field on Saturday, he will have to watch out for "Brother Derek," who tied for fourth at Churchill Downs. Brother Derek fell from fourth to 16th at the top of the stretch in Kentucky, but fought back to finish well. Brother Derek's trainer, Dan Hendricks, says his mount should give Barbaro a run for his money at the Preakness Stakes.
"I am just hoping that, with a clean trip, I can outrun him," he explained. "If I can outrun him, I am top three-year-old again. If I can't, I hope that he wins the Triple Crown by more lengths every time."
Veteran trainer Nick Zito did not have a horse in the Kentucky Derby, but will enter "Hemingway's Key" in Saturday's shorter contest. Hemingway's Key won his first two starts, but has lost his last four in graded stakes company. Last year's Preakness winning jockey, Jeremy Rose, will ride Hemingway's Key.
The Preakness is 100 meters shorter than the Kentucky Derby, covering 1.91 kilometers at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, Maryland. The third and longest race of the Triple Crown, the 2.41 kilometer long Belmont Stakes, is in three weeks in New York. No horse has captured all three races since "Affirmed" in 1978.
Source: www.voanews.com

One Year Later, The Memory of Jeremy Rose's Eventful Ride Lingers at Pimlico Race Course

The terrifying vision of Afleet Alex being knocked to his knees and nearly out of his rightful place in Preakness history a year ago still lingers during a cursory glance at the empty lanes on the final turn at Pimlico Race Course.
But for the remarkable athleticism of the colt’s rider, Afleet Alex was bound for certain defeat and a potentially devastating injury. Fortunately, the story of Preakness 130 had a happy ending authored by the pen-less hand of jockey Jeremy Rose.
“I had planned on hitting the ground,” said Rose after last year’s Preakness, recounting the scariest mishap on the Triple Crown scene since Alysheba went to his knees in the stretch while winning the 1987 Derby. “I already had a spot picked out. I figured we were gonna get run over.”They didn’t, and Afleet Alex continued on to victory and then to an eventless romp in the Belmont Stakes three weeks later for two-thirds of the Triple Crown. Life hasn’t been quite the same ever since for Jeremy Rose – life at the racetrack, that is. “I don’t feel life has really changed for either of us,’’ said Rose’s agent, “Kid” Breeden. “We’re pretty well grounded, even-keeled guys. The quality of horses we’re riding and the quality of trainers who are calling has changed.”
Rose’s star had risen quickly after he earned the Eclipse Award as the leading apprentice jockey in North America in 2001 when he won 312 races, but his association with Afleet Alex and that indelible performance in Preakness 130 landed the former high school wrestler on a national forum.
“Give the horse 100 percent of the credit,’’ said Breeden, speaking more like a trainer than Rose’s agent. “Jeremy was able to be acrobatic and help bring Alex back to stride, but that didn’t really surprise me. They’re both tremendous athletes.”
Afleet Alex made an early departure to the breeding shed, however, and Rose has returned to a lower profile at his main base at Delaware Park waiting for his next Classic horse.
Any chance of repeating last year’s feat will be significantly diminished on Saturday when he rides long shot Hemingway’s Key, but trainer Nick Zito figured he couldn’t pass up a chance to get the defending champion on his team for this Preakness.
“No. 1, he’s a quality guy,’’ said Zito, who teamed up with Rose on a number of mounts during the recent Gulfstream Park meeting. “He’s also a tremendous athlete, as he proved last year in this race. I thought that was great. I think he’s got a great future. He may not be there right now, but he will be in two or three years.”
Nobody has to convince Afleet Alex’s trainer Tim Ritchey of that fact.
“I always thought Jeremy was an outstanding rider,’’ Ritchey said. “Jeremy rode Alex tremendously in the Triple Crown races. (In the Preakness) he did something that champions do.” Instead, the 27-year-old’s career is thriving as he attempts to win his third Triple Crown event. Rose is currently second in the jockey standings at Delaware Park with 15 wins. The rider he trails is Ramon Dominguez, the jockey aboard Scrappy T in last year’s Preakness.
Source: www.preakness.com

Barbaro Breezes a Quarter of a Mile at Fair Hill; Brother Derek Gallops Over the Pimlico Surface

BARBARO – Trainer Michael Matz sent his Kentucky Derby winner to the dirt track at Fair Hill Training Center Thursday Morning for a little tune-up for Saturday’s 131st running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
“He blew out a quarter-mile,” said Matz, who didn’t report a clocking of Barbaro’s brief breeze that followed a mile gallop under exercise rider and assistant trainer Peter Brette.
Matz, who was not present at Thursday’s traditional Alibi Breakfast at Pimlico, plans to board Barbaro onto a van bound for Pimlico Race Course at 1 p.m. Friday.
BROTHER DEREK – After his colt toured the track at Pimlico for the first time Thursday morning, trainer Dan Hendricks said he would like to see a Triple Crown sweep some day, but not this year. “I think it would be great and I think we need to have one soon,” he said. “That’s what makes it so great, that it has taken nearly 30 years to have another one. But I’m in here to win the race and I want to win the Preakness more than anyone.”
Barbaro won the Kentucky Derby in convincing fashion on May 6 and a victory in the Preakness on Saturday would make him the 32nd horse going to the Belmont Stakes with a chance to snag American racing’s greatest prize.
“I hate to see him not win it this year because I think he is a deserving horse to win it, but we’re out to win,” Hendricks said. “That’s all there is to it.”
Hendricks noted that facing fresh horses in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes makes the road to a Triple Crown title so difficult to negotiate.
“That’s what makes it special,” he said. “You’ve got to knock off all the newcomers, everybody. The next guy that wins it, that’s going to make it extra-special.”
During his press conference at 8:30 a.m. on a temporary stage next to the Pimlico Stakes Barn, Hendricks made it clear he has respect for Barbaro.
“I’m hoping I’m good enough to beat him,” Hendricks said. “(Barbaro’s) done nothing wrong. He’s proven himself out to be the top 3-year-old right now. I just hope I can step up and beat him now. If I can, I’m right on top again. That’s all I can hope.”
Brother Derek drew post No. 18 in the Kentucky Derby, had a wide trip and finished in a dead-heat for fourth with Jazil. Hendricks said the Derby is a race to draw a line through on Brother Derek’s past performance chart. “We have to just throw that out and go on because it’s history now,” he said. “We’re just going to try to go out there and beat him. I think we’re as good a horse and, hopefully, we’re a better horse. But right now, he’s No. 1, and we’re trying to knock him off the top.”
Hendricks liked the way Brother Derek looked Thursday. The colt was shipped from Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky. to Pimlico Wednesday. He showed a lot of energy as he galloped around the Pimlico oval just before 8 a.m. Thursday.
“He bounced out of the Derby fine. We came in with a fresh horse, and it seems to be working,” Hendricks said. “He’s full of himself this morning, bouncing around real good. He handled the track and everything went real well.”
Hendricks said Brother Derek never has trouble adapting to unfamiliar tracks.
“Francisco Alvarado galloped him and said he just handled it fine, like he has every other track he’s been on,” Hendricks said. “Track surface, I can’t use that as an excuse. So tell me if I do after the race. It’s not an excuse for this horse.”
Hendricks said he really hasn’t had much time to get to know Barbaro’s trainer, Michael Matz, who is based at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. “I didn’t get a chance to talk to him enough,” Hendricks said. “I might go out to Fair Hill with him. He invited me out. I’m just not sure I want to see that nice a training facility and have to go home to Santa Anita. No offense to Santa Anita, but they have so many advantages. “No, I haven’t been able to talk to him enough, just a few times. Last night (Wednesday night at the post position draw) was the first time I got to congratulate him because he was so busy after the Derby.”
Hendricks smiled when he said that if he did visit Fair Hill it would be before the Preakness is run.
“We might not want to talk to each other after,” he said.
Hendricks said he isn’t concerned with having to bring Brother Derek back to the races only two weeks after the Derby.
“No, like Michael Matz has done, we’ve got fresh horses,” he said. “I watched his horse after the Derby, that night and the next day. Just like my horse, they took it in without a problem at all.
“We’ve got fit horses that should be able to take that. You can’t do that two or three times in a row, but we could run back in a week if they let us run the Derby again.”
Hendricks said he has enjoyed his first trip down the Triple Crown trail. “It’s been great. We’ve had a lot of fun with it,” he said. “I’m lucky enough to have Cecil Peacock as an owner, because he makes you enjoy everything. When I had the bad post draw for the Derby, as soon as I called him, he put my mind at ease. He laughed about it and said he thought he was going to get another post. With that attitude from my owner, we’re just having fun with this.
“The family is enjoying it. I’m going to try to bring one of my kids in; I can’t bring all three this time. It’s just been a lot of fun. We’re all enjoying it at home, too. The whole barn has been a part of it, and all my other owners. We had 35 seats at the Derby and I’ve got 25 here at the Preakness. Those are my owners and friends. They’re all coming in and having fun with it.”
And Hendricks said he is happy to be able to bring the important people in his life along for the ride.
“It’s real important because it’s a team. When my barn runs and I win a race, I get calls from five other owners. They all enjoy it and they’re having fun with this. You should. If you don’t enjoy this, I don’t know what there is.”
Source: www.preakness.com

Derby winner Barbaro will arrive at Pimlico Friday

Pimlico officials would have preferred the Derby winner to spend the week at the stakes barn. Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro won't arrive at Pimlico until Friday, a day before the Preakness Stakes.
Since Barbaro is training just 60 miles from the track, Michael Matz wants to keep his 3-year-old colt at Fair Hill Training Center as long as possible. He also considered waiting until Saturday morning to send his colt over by van.
"I didn't want to run into traffic or for something to happen on the way down Saturday," Matz said Tuesday. "I'd like him to stay in his own stall here, but he's got to give up a little bit, too."
Matz said Barbaro would settle into his new stall at Pimlico late Friday, then go for a prerace gallop Saturday morning. "Hopefully, he will run his race on Saturday afternoon," Matz said.
Matz has about 50 horses at Fair Hill, a plush 350-acre facility in the woods with a mile dirt track and a seven-eighths-mile track made of wood chips. There are no set training hours as there are at race tracks.
"He relaxes here," Matz said, looking over at Barbaro grazing about 50 yards away after a morning 1 1/2-mile gallop. "I think he will recuperate here better."
Barbaro, who has won all six of his races, is used to arriving late. In his first five victories, the bay colt showed up on the day of the race. He spent a week at Churchill Downs before winning the Derby by 6 1/2 lengths on May 6.
He was shipped from Fair Hill to Delaware Park and Laurel for his first two wins, then from Palm Meadows Training Center in Boynton Beach, Fla., to Calder and Gulfstream Park for his next three victories.
While Pimlico officials would have preferred the Derby winner to spend the week at the stakes barn, Matz has the luxury of a short commute.
"We might as well take advantage," Matz said. "For him to stay at the track down there when he can have a place like this for a the next couple days is a little bit ridiculous."
Source: www.kxl.com

Barbaro enjoying familiar surroundings during Preakness preparations

Lael Stables's homebred Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Barbaro continued preparing for the $1-million Preakness Stakes (G1) by stretching his legs on Tuesday at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland, where Michael Matz trains the bulk of his 60-horse stable. Fair Hill is closer to Delaware Park than it is to Pimlico Race Course, but of all the horses shipping from Fair Hill to race this week none will be as scrutinized as Barbaro. His tranquil surroundings include a round pen, a wood chip all-weather track, and for the last few days, anyway, a horde of media.
"He can relax here and recuperate," Matz said of his decision not to ship Barbaro to Pimlico until Friday. "He's getting all the rest he'll need. Why ship to the track when he can stay at a place like this? It'd be ridiculous. We'll ship Friday afternoon, let him go around [Pimlico] once Saturday morning, and run Saturday afternoon."
Pimlico officials told Matz that Barbaro needed to be at the track by 6 a.m. EDT on Saturday, so rather than take a chance and not make it in time by shipping the day of the race, Matz opted to ship Friday.
Matz decided after Barbaro's 6 1/2-length Derby victory on May 6 that he would not work the colt before the Preakness, but he has sent Barbaro to the track for at least a jog each day since May 10. On Tuesday, Barbaro jogged six furlongs and galloped another 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider and assistant trainer Peter Brette.
"He feels great," Brette said after dismounting. "He came out of the race tremendous, and he's moving forward. We're looking forward to Saturday."
After the Derby, Barbaro returned to Matz's Fair Hill barn on May 8. He had not been stabled there since November when Matz moved his operation to Palm Meadows Training Center in South Florida for the winter. Matz said that the Dynaformer colt likes his surroundings, but the trainer himself still has not completely gotten used to the Triple Crown media crush.
"There's more media than for the Olympics," said Matz, a silver medal equestrian at the 1996 Olympic games. "The media analyzes too much instead of just making this a horse race."
Following Barbaro's Kentucky Derby victory on five weeks rest, Matz ribbed the media for questioning the move. Now the question du jour is whether Barbaro can handle just two weeks between the Derby and Preakness.
"We're right where we want to be," Brette said. "He's eating well and only getting stronger. He's training superbly, and he always runs like he trains, so we're confident."
Barbaro has won all six of his starts and has earned $2,302,200.
Source: www.thoroughbredtimes.com

Morning Line Goes to the Preakness

Starting Thursday, May 18 and running daily through Preakness day, May 20, The Morning Line returns to bloodhorse.com. The feature, first unveiled during the week run up to the Kentucky Derby, offers a behind-the-scenes look at the participants and players of Thoroughbred racing during racing's major events.Heading into the second leg of the Triple Crown, Evan Hammonds, managing editor of The Blood-Horse, will take readers in and around Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore as Barbaro tries to earn the second jewel of the crown.
The Morning Line is posted each morning leading up to the Preakness; the journal will be updated several times throughout the day with new entries. Comments, interviews, and observations will be posted from the stakes barn at Pimlico, the grandstand and clubhouse at "Old Hilltop," and from special events like the Alibi Breakfast.
Source: tcm.bloodhorse.com

Preakness Often Easiest Stop on Triple Crown Trail

A peek into history reveals some of the strongest Triple Crown contenders have found their easiest jewel in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).Perhaps the typically smaller fields entered in the Preakness, coupled with its shorter distance (1 3/16 miles), change in competition, and consistency of the Pimlico track, have contributed to the impressive margins of the winners...or maybe its just coincidence.
Nevertheless, the 21st century has seen two horses win the Preakness by more than nine lengths while turning in less spectacular performances in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and Belmont Stakes (gr. I).
In the 2004 Preakness, Smarty Jones made his move on Lion Heart in the far turn. Moving to the inside, he passed the leader with ease while nearing the quarter pole. Smarty Jones crossed the wire first by a remarkable 11 1/2 lengths, which bested the previous Preakness record of 10 lengths set by Survivor in the first running of the race in 1873.
While Smarty Jones' Derby win came with less ease by 2 3/4 lengths, he missed the Belmont by a length to Birdstone.
The year before Smarty Jones' Preakness feat, Funny Cide came through with an impressive 9 1/2 victory in the race. The son of Distorted Humor had previously won the Derby by 1 3/4 lengths, and subsequently ran third in the Belmont.
Two others on the list of Preakness winners by wide margins are Triple Crown hero Count Fleet (1943) and Buddhist (1889). Each captured the middle jewel of racing's Triple Crown by eight lengths.
Count Fleet first took the Derby by three lengths--still a significant win, but not comparable to his annihilation of the Preakness field. Count Fleet is an exception to the other impressive Preakness finishers in that he destroyed his Belmont rivals by an even more unbelievable margin of 25 lengths.
Buddhist, on the other hand, would find his only Triple Crown race victory in the Preakness, as he lost to Eric in the Belmont and Spokane in the Derby.
Other notable runners to post substantial Preakness victory margins are Hansel (1991), Little Current (1974), Bold (1951), and Dauber (1938) by seven lengths; and Forward Pass (1968), Omaha (1935), and Duke of Magenta (1878) by six lengths.
With the exception of Little Current, who matched his Preakness victory with a seven-length Belmont win, all the aforementioned group found their best race in the Triple Crown's second leg. A Triple Crown winner, Omaha captured the Derby and Belmont both by 1 1/2 lengths.
This year, Barbaro won the Derby by 6 1/2 lengths.
Source: tcm.bloodhorse.com

Two more chase Preakness prize

The field for Saturday’s 131st Preakness Stakes swelled by two yesterday with the additions of Greeley’s Legacy and Platinum Couple. If the owners of locally based Ah Day decide today to supplement their Triple Crown-ineligible colt for a $100,000 fee, a field of 10 horses will enter the starting gate at Pimlico Race Course. Owned by Donald Flanagan of Shrewsbury, Greeley’s Legacy was cleared for the Grade 1 Preakness by trainer George Weaver, who was considering the ungraded $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes on Saturday’s undercard.
“I was a little torn,” Weaver said. “I thought the Sir Barton would be a good place to get a win under his belt, and it would be, but the possibility for reward of doing well in the Preakness outweighs my necessity to try and win a race with the colt. I think the colt is coming into the race very well and I want to give him a shot.” Greeley’s Legacy, who finished fourth in the Lexington Stakes and Gotham Stakes, has won only 2-of-11 starts, but the son of Mr. Greeley convinced Weaver he was ready for the Preakness when he worked five furlongs in 58.69 at Belmont Park on Sunday. Platinum Couple, a New York-bred colt who finished a distant fifth in the Wood Memorial, recorded two wins against restricted company in 11 races for Glenn Lostritto’s Tristar Stable. “My son (Glenn) said to me, ‘If George Mason can do it, why can’t we?’ ” Lostritto said, referring to the longshot team of this year’s NCAA Final Four. “He’s fresh. He’s doing well. We breed a lot of our own horses, a lot of New York-breds. You don’t get a chance like this very often.” Trainer King Leatherbury was not ready to commit Laurel Park-based Ah Day yesterday. “I’m going to try and do a little handicapping today on the race. That’s going to help us decide,” he said.
Source: sports.bostonherald.com

Confirmed Preakness Starters

King Leatherbury Ponders Preakness Day Alternative

King Leatherbury worked Tesio Stakes winner Ah Day five furlongs in 59 seconds at Laurel Park this morning. The handy move, the fastest of 26 at the distance, may have nudged the legendary Maryland trainer a little closer to supplementing the Malibu Moon offspring to next Saturday’s $1 million Preakness Stakes® (Grade I) instead of entering him in the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard. Leatherbury, third on the all-time training list with 6,134 victories, co-owns Ah Day with Malibu Moon Partnership. This morning he had regular rider Ryan Fogelsonger taking instructions before their turn over the sloppy going at Laurel. The son of Malibu Moon has yet to finish out of the money in six starts this year. Because Ah Day was not nominated to the Triple Crown, the ownership must pay $100,000 to enter next Saturday’s 131st Preakness. Leatherbury said, “We are leaving the door open but there are three powerhouses in the race that are better than my horse. The short field is making us consider the Preakness more strongly. We are handicapping the race to see if we can get a piece.”
“We stood at the gate and took the first eighth nice and easy which is always a big thing with him,” said Fogelsonger, who rode Cherokee’s Boy (2003) and Water Cannon (2004) in Maryland’s signature race. “He finished strong without urging. He is feeling unbelievable. I have never been on a horse that improves with each start like he does. He is the best three-year-old I have ever been aboard and I honestly think he could pick up a check. I am confident he is capable of competing.”
Leatherbury has four Preakness starters during his career: Indigo Star (fifth-1978), Thirty Eight Paces (fourth-1981), I Am The Game (fourth-1985) and Malibu Moonshine (eighth-2005).
Brother Derek went to the track for the first time today since his adventurous fourth place run in the Kentucky Derby. The Dan Hendricks trainee jogged one-mile at Churchill Downs. The Santa Anita Derby winner will jog again tomorrow, gallop Monday and Tuesday before shipping into the Pimlico stakes barn Tuesday afternoon. Hendricks will fly into Baltimore Wednesday afternoon and go directly to the Post Position Draw at the ESPN Zone.
Joining Brother Derek on the flight from Louisville will be Hemingway’s Key from the Nick Zito stable. Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro continues his tranquil stay at the Fair Hill Training Center, jogging a half-mile the wrong way then galloping a mile and a half.
“Everything went well,” said Matz. “I think I’m worried about the Preakness (more than the Belmont right now), the smaller field, obviously Brother Derek, Sweetnorthernsaint and the horse who won the Withers. It’s tough to come back in two weeks.”
Sweetnorthernsaint galloped a mile and a half and schooled at the Laurel Park gate Saturday morning. Trainer Mike Trombetta will meet with the media at the Pimlico stakes barn on Monday morning at 11:30.
“We are a week out and all is well,” said Trombetta, a Baltimore native. “He was absolutely perfect at the gate. The two week turnaround is tough but he is telling me he is ready.”
Bernardini galloped a mile and a quarter this morning at Belmont Park. His trainer Tom Albertrani, when asked about Bernardini’s relative inexperience (he has only started three times) said, “He’s talented. Sure, he could use some more seasoning, but we’re going to take our chances.”
Like Now’s camp is keeping tabs on Preakness doings from their station at Belmont Park. Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said, “All is well. We just walked him again today. He’ll be back on the main track 6:30 tomorrow morning and every day after. I have some horses I’m entering for Friday at Pimlico so pending how many get in, we’ll ship either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday. If Bob Baffert runs anything in the Preakness he’ll probably use Garret Gomez, which could leave us without a rider, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get to it.”
Gomez rode Bob and John for Baffert in last Saturday’s Run For The Roses. Baffert informed Pimlico officials Saturday afternoon that neither Bob and John nor Point Determined are under consideration for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
Source: www.preakness.com

Two more considered for Preakness

Greeley's Legacy, who finished fourth in both the Gotham and Lexington Stakes, might run in Saturday's $1 million Preakness, trainer George Weaver said Monday. On Sunday, Greeley's Legacy worked five furlongs in 58.69 seconds at Belmont Park, the fastest of 63 works at the distance.
Greeley's Legacy, a son of Mr. Greeley owned by Donald Flanagan, is also being considered for the $100,000 Sir Barton on the Preakness undercard or the $200,000 Peter Pan run at Belmont Park on Saturday.
"The rewards for the Preakness are so much higher than the Sir Barton," Weaver said. "Right now, I'm leaning toward the Sir Barton, but the Preakness and Peter Pan are still possibilities."
Platinum Couple, a New York-bred stakes winner, is under consideration for Saturday's $1 million Preakness Stakes, part owner Glenn Lostritto said Monday.
A son of Tale of the Cat, Platinum Couple has won 2 of 9 starts including the Damon Runyon Stakes for New York breds last Dec. 11. In three open company stakes tries this year, Platinum Couple finished third, beaten 15 3/4 lengths behind Achilles of Troy in the Count Fleet, fourth, beaten 14 3/4 lengths by Achilles of Troy in the Whirlaway and fifth, beaten 10 1/2 lengths by Bob and John in the Wood Memorial.
Platinum Couple breezed four furlongs in 51.24 seconds Monday at Belmont over a sealed, wet racetrack.
"We're going to kick it around and see how he comes out of the breeze this morning and talk about it tomorrow," said Lostritto, whose father Joseph is the trainer. "Last night, my son [Glenn Jr.] who is 9, said 'If George Mason can do it, why can't we?"
Lostritto was referring to George Mason's improbable run to the Final Four in the men's college basketball tournament.
Glenn Lostritto, who along with his sister Lee Berkowitz, brother Joseph Jr. and father comprise the ownership group Team Tristar Stable, said Platinum Couple is also under consideration to run in Saturday's $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont.
Source: sports.espn.go.com

Zito Shoots for Three in Friday’s Grade I Pimlico Special

No trainer has won more than two editions of the Pimlico Special since it was reinstated in 1987 after a 28-year hiatus, but Nick Zito could make it three on Friday when he saddles Wanderin Boy for the 40th running of the Grade I stake at Pimlico Race Course. Zito’s two previous winners of the Special were graduates of the Triple Crown wars – Strike the Gold in 1992 and Star Standard four years later. Wanderin Boy, one of six entered Sunday for the 1-3/16-mile handicap, comes to this year’s Pimlico Special in a much more circuitous manner.
The 5-year-old son of Seeking the Gold, owned by Arthur Hancock III, has had only nine career starts due to various injuries during his career. Unraced at 2, Wanderin Boy seems to have conquered his frailty this season after open-length victories in an allowance race and the Grade III Ben Ali at Keeneland.
“He had a good work today (59.76 seconds for five furlongs at Saratoga),’’ Zito said Sunday afternoon. “He had a good winter and a great spring. He won the Ben Ali impressively (by 5 ½ lengths over Alumni Hall). I think he’s a horse with a big upside, as far as talent goes. Hopefully, he’ll have a big chance in that race.”
In addition to Wanderin Boy, Zito is bringing a vanload of runners to Pimlico on Wednesday, including Hemingway’s Key for Saturday’s $1 million Preakness; Little Cliff for the Sir Barton; Andromeda’s Hero for the Schaefer Handicap; In The Gold for the Allaire DuPont Breeders’ Cup Distaff; and Prism for the Black Eyed Susan.
Wandering Boy will carry highweight of 117 pounds, including jockey Javier Castellano, conceding between one and five pounds to his five rivals. Invasor, the Uruguayan champion, and Harlington, trained by Todd Pletcher, will both carry 116 pounds, one more than the Pletcher-trained West Virginia and five pounds more than Funny Cide, the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, and We Can Seek.
Pimlico handicapper Frank Carulli will set the morning line for the Special on Wednesday.
Funny Cide, who scored by just less than 10 lengths in the Preakness, will also be entered Wednesday for the Grade III William Schaefer Handicap on Saturday’s Preakness undercard.
“I put him in there today, but I’d like to run him in the William Schaefer the next day. It’s a little easier spot. I think it’s the proper spot,” said trainer Barclay Tagg. “He needs a couple of easier races. It’s taken us a couple of years to get him over his back problems, so he needs a couple of easier races.”
The $500,000 Pimlico Special anchors Friday’s card of five stakes races worth approximately $1.4 million. The Special and the $250,000 Woodford Reserve Black-Eyed Susan will be televised by ESPN (5-6 p.m.). While the $125,000 Adena Stallions’ Miss Preakness Stakes, the $75,000 The Very One Stakes and the $200,000 Allaire Dupont Breeders’ Cup Distaff will be televised on ESPN2 (2-5 p.m.)
The Black Eyed Susan, a Grade II stake for 3-year-old fillies, drew a field of eight. Among the likely favorites is trainer John Sadler’s She’s An Eleven, who has been first or second in all four starts this season. After breaking her maiden, the daughter of In Excess won the restricted $200,000 Melair at Hollywood on April 30.
David Menard and Richard Shultz’ Celestial Legend, the winner of six of eight starts, is the 120-highweight and likely favorite in The Adena Stallions’ Miss Preakness Stakes. A field of seven 3-year-old fillies was entered in the six-furlong Grade III race.
Celestial Legend, trained by Dale Capuano, will be making her first start since finishing last as the 1-2 favorite in the Peach Blossom at Delaware Park on April 22. The City Zip filly reeled off six consecutive victories to start her career before finishing second in the Grade III Cicada at Aqueduct on May 18. In the Peach Blossom, Celestial Legend got away from the gate slowly, rushed up into contention but faded late in the race. Also in the field are Wildcat Bettie B, who ran third in the Grade II Beaumont at Keeneland on April 13; and G. City Gal, an Exclusive Quality filly handled by Eclipse Award-winning trainer Todd Pletcher.
The top two finishers in the $100,000 Giant’s Causeway at Keeneland are entered in The Very One Stakes, a five-furlong turf sprint for fillies. Famous chef Bobby Flay is one of the co-owners of Giant’s Causeway winner Gilded Gold, who has won seven of her 15 career starts. Gilded Gold edged Bright Gold by three-quarters of a length at Keeneland. Bright Gold, the 3-1 favorite in the Giant’s Causeway, is trained by Mary Eppler for owner-breeder Hazel Marsh.
A field of nine was entered for the Grade III Allaire DuPont Breeders’ Cup Distaff for fillies and mares, led by trainer Todd Pletcher’s Doubledogdare Stakes winner Pool Land and trainer Nick Zito’s former Grade I winner In The Gold.
Pool Land, a 4-year-old daughter of Silver Deputy, has won four of five career starts for owner Eugene Melnyk. In The Gold, a 4-year-old filly owned by Live Oak Plantation, won the Grade I Gazelle last year and was fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Source: www.preakness.com

Preakness Stakes Odds

Barbaro will be trying for a Triple Crown and he's not expected to have much competition in the second round of this Run for the Roses.
Only seven horses are likely to go up against Barbaro in this year's Preakness Stakes, including two favorites from the Kentucky Derby, Sweetnorthernsaint and Brother Derek. Lawyer Ron will not run due to an injury.
Not only would Barbaro attempt to end the longest drought between Triple Crown winners — 28 years — he would be trying to join Seattle Slew as the only unbeatens to sweep the series.
Barbaro is giving out extraordinary vibes that he can do it, too. After a 6 1/2-length Derby win, even the colt's trainer, Michael Matz, feels something special is happening.
"I think this horse can win the Triple Crown," Matz said this week at Fair Hill Training Center, Barbaro's home in the countryside of Elkton, Md. "He just has so many good qualities. I think the public is looking for someone to do that, and I hope he's the one."
There's been nothing but praise since the Derby.
Source: www.gambling911.com

Lawyer Ron likely to skip Preakness

Trainer Bob Holthus said Tuesday from Lexington, Ky., that Lawyer Ron likely will pass the 131st Preakness on May 20. Holthus said the colt has some inflammation in a hind ankle.
"We're probably going to have to give him a little time off," said Holthus. "He's run awfully hard for us for 10 months now. I'll be able to say for sure (Wednesday) when I take a good look at him at Churchill. It's nothing serious but we're probably going to have to pass up the Preakness."
Lawyer Ron, owned by the estate of James Hines Jr. and Our Legal Team LLC, was never a factor when finishing 12th as the fourth choice in a field of 20 in the Derby.
Holthus, who was in Lexington to look at 2-year-olds and yearlings, said x-rays were taken Monday on Lawyer Ron "as a matter of routine" when the ankle problem was discovered. "It's really nothing, and if he was a normal horse, you wouldn't think anything of it," he said.
Holthus said Dr. Larry Bramlage was being consulted and that a final decision on the Preakness probably would be announced Wednesday.
Holthus said that if in fact Lawyer Ron has to have time off, the colt will not run in the June 10 Belmont Stakes. "If that's what we have to do, he'll get 60 to 90 days off and we'll bring him back later this summer," he said.
Source: sports.espn.go.com

Preakness hopefuls wait out derby

A different sort of luster is due for racing in the Preakness, coming up in two weeks at Pimlico. It follows the Kentucky Derby but doesn't quite have the mania that is Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May.
No matter how much excitement is mustered for the Preakness, there is little indication that we will see Derby evils. It's here, but not as scary and wild.
Oh, controversies abound at the Preakness but they rarely involve the surreal actions made infamous in Kentucky. Here, you can expect any fuss to involve the rules and traditions of racing. In 1962, jockey Manuel Ycaza lost his cool in the final few yards of the Preakness in a good example of road rage and the stewards had to step in and punish him. In 1980, there was much ado when Angel Cordero shut off, blatantly, the Kentucky Derby winning filly, Genuine Risk. She was almost carried to the outside fence. The stewards, concerned more about the importance of such a race, refused even to disqualify, let alone suspend him for the outrageous act. Part of Preakness lore is a race during the 1920's after which one jockey initiated a brutal fist-fight with a rival. The stewards were so appalled they ejected him and had a guard escort him off the grounds, reportedly still wearing his white jockey pants and racing silks. Allegedly, he walked into a bar on Park Heights Avenue and ordered a beer.
Of course, there was the guy from Maryland who got so carried away with celebration that he rushed onto the track a few years ago and tried to stop a supporting race by running in among the horses. No state, or race, is perfect.
The Preakness has an image all its own. Instead of a crowded field loaded with horses having no chance, entered for fleeting notoriety and the right to buy box seats for the day, the second leg of the Triple Crown has a sophistication of sorts, offering the best from the Derby and a bevy of newcomers waiting in the wings.
Perhaps the owners and trainers who skipped the Derby are hoping to emulate Man o' War, still considered after 86 years as the greatest horse of all time. Man o' War trained at Berlin, Md., for the 1920 Preakness, then started out his great 3-year-old campaign without having even been considered for the Derby.
Who are the Man o' War wanna'bes this year?
A top name is Bernardini, owned by Sheik Mohammad at Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, one of the oil-rich Arab Emirates. He's been dedicated toward winning the Derby and hasn't come close. He ran Worldly Manner in the 1999 Preakness but that colt only finished ahead of a horse that was eased. Bernardini, trained by Tom Albertrani, seems to be coming up to this race ideally. He got started late, long after the big-name Derby hopefuls were already campaigning. He was fourth in his racing debut on January 7 at Gulfstream Park. He beat maidens there on March 4 and came out of the race with a cough and a bruised foot.
But last week at Aqueduct, Bernardini won the Withers Stakes over a mile, by 33/4 lengths. Guess where he's headed.
Trainer Bob Baffert, one of the finest handicappers in the nation, has a California-bred named Da Stoops under consideration. He has mostly beaten California-breds. Last week, he starred in the Snow Chief Stakes out West and Baffert is weighing his chances. Da Stoops ran exceptionally well last fall in the Prevue Stakes, which was a wide-open affair with quality rivals.
Shady Side trainer King Leatherbury became the third trainer in history to win 6,000 races, behind only Dale Baird and Jack Van Berg and he also has fared well with stakes horses. He loves the Preakness and has had three starters, two of which finished fourth.
His latest stakes winner is Ah Day, who won the $100,000 Tesio opening week at Pimlico. Now the Tesio is a quality feature but Leatherbury seems reluctant to try the Preakness. The reason? The gelding wasn't nominated and would have to be made eligible through a $100,000 supplementary payment. Leatherbury is shaking his head on this one. But if he tries, consider the trainer's record.
By entry-time, next Wednesday, it figures that the names of a dozen or so will appear.
No non-Derby starter has made it to the Preakness winners circle since Deputed Testamony in 1983. The year before, Aloma's Ruler had done the same thing. Codex did it in 1980. So there's precedent aplenty.
Source: www.hometownannapolis.com

Derby trio to skip Preakness

Bluegrass Cat, Steppenwolfer, and Jazil - the second-, third-, and co-fourth-place finishers in the Kentucky Derby - will all forego the Preakness Stakes to concentrate on the $1 million Belmont Stakes on June 10.
The trainers of all three horses are based in New York and feel that running their horses back in two weeks at Pimlico is not the best thing to do.
Todd Pletcher, the trainer of Bluegrass Cat, said the only horse he has run back in the Preakness out of the Derby was Impeachment, who finished third in both races in 2000. Pletcher said that Impeachment's late-running style was conducive to doing that because he only ran for the last three furlongs of the Derby. Bluegrass Cat, on the other hand, gets into his races earlier than did Impeachment.
"I don't really like rushing them back in two weeks," Pletcher said. "I don't see the point."
Pletcher also confirmed that Sunriver, who was excluded from the Derby field for lack of sufficient graded stakes earnings, would run next in the Peter Pan here on May 20. Pletcher said he does not want to run Sunriver in a Triple Crown race off a seven-week layoff.
Danny Peitz, the trainer of Steppenwolfer, said running back in two weeks was the biggest reason that he plans to skip the Preakness and wait for the Belmont.
"I'm just thinking the shorter race, the tighter turns, the speed-favoring nature of Pimlico, it just seems like it makes the most sense," said Peitz, whose horse is a one-run closer. "More than anything, though, it's the two weeks."
Peitz said that Steppenwolfer stepped on himself in his stall at Churchill on Monday morning and cut his right front hoof, but he added that it wasn't a big deal. Peitz said Steppenwolfer was due to van to New York from Louisville, Ky., on Wednesday.
Initially, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said he would consider Jazil for the Preakness. But on Monday, McLaughlin said he would skip the race and aim for the Belmont. McLaughlin will be represented in the Preakness with Gotham winner and Lexington Stakes runner-up Like Now.
"It's quick back and didn't seem like the thing to do," McLaughlin said on why Jazil would skip the Preakness. "He's a very nice horse; we want to look after him and pick the right spot. The Belmont may not be the right spot, either, but we'll give it some time and consider it."
Source: horseracing.sportsline.com

Barbaro confirmed for Preakness Stakes

Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro has been confirmed to run in the 131st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Trainer Michael Matz notified the Maryland Jockey Club that the three-year-old colt will run in the second jewel of racing's Triple Crown on Saturday, May 20.
Also moving on from the Run for the Roses to the Preakness is Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek, who was fourth in the Derby. Joining him will be Illinois Derby winner Sweetnorthernsaint and Arkansas Derby champ Lawyer Ron. Sweetnorthernsaint was seventh on Saturday as the post-time favorite and Lawyer Ron finished 12th.
Jazil, who dead-heated with Brother Derek at Churchill Downs, is possible for the Preakness Stakes.
Horses who are expected to run in the Preakness but missed the Kentucky Derby are Gotham Stakes winner Like Now, Withers Stakes champ Bernardini and Simon Pure.
Source: seattlepi.nwsource.com

Vonage Sponsors the Preakness Stakes

Vonage Marketing Inc., a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp., a leading Internet telephony provider in North America, today announced its sponsoring the Preakness Stakes(R), the middle jewel of thoroughbred racing's prestigious Triple Crown series. The 131st running of the legendary Preakness Stakes will be held on Saturday, May 20 at the historic Pimlico Race Course in Maryland.
Terms of the sponsorship include commercial advertising and integration into the programming during both the Preakness Stakes and this week's Kentucky Derby broadcast on May 6. In addition, Vonage will sponsor the "Countdown to the Preakness Stakes" ticker on NBC Sport's website. Both races will be broadcast live on NBC Sports.
"The Preakness is an annual tradition that has acquired a very loyal and devoted fan base and Vonage is excited to be associated with one of the premier events in thoroughbred racing," said Michael Tribolet, President of Vonage America Inc.
The Preakness ranks as one of the largest single-day sporting events in the country with over 100,000 attending six of the last seven years, including a record 115,318 a year ago. It is the middle jewel of horse racing's famed Triple Crown, together with the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 6 and the Belmont Stakes at Belmont Park on June 10.
Source: sev.prnewswire.com

Rematch in store for Preakness

The top three choices from the Kentucky Derby, including runaway winner Barbaro, all came out of the race well and will move on to the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes on May 20 at Pimlico, their respective trainers said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. Barbaro, who was the second choice, "looks bright," his trainer, Michael Matz, said Sunday morning.
Barbaro was scheduled to go to Matz's barn at the Fair Hill training center in Maryland on Sunday afternoon. Matz said he would likely come to Pimlico a couple of days before the Preakness.
Brother Derek, who finished in a dead-heat for fourth after a wide trip, is also going to the Preakness, as is Sweetnorthernsaint, who went off as the favorite and finished seventh after a deceptively tough trip.
Dan Hendricks, the trainer of Brother Derek, said the colt would remain at Churchill Downs until May 17, when he would fly to Baltimore. Brother Derek lost his right front shoe in the race. "It's one of the things that probably cost us second," Hendricks said. "My hat's off to the winner."
Michael Trombetta, the trainer of Sweetnorthernsaint, said Sweetnorthernsaint would return on Monday to Laurel, where he is based. He said Sweetnorthernsaint would come to Pimlico either on race day, or a few days earlier if Trombetta decides to give him a work over the Pimlico track. Sweetnorthernsaint was bumped solidly at the start, made a prolonged, mid-race move to enter contention, then understandably flattened out late. "He passed a lot of horses," Trombetta said.
Barbaro, along with Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint, all were grazing outside Churchill's Barn 42 on Sunday morning and appeared in good condition.
Lawyer Ron, who finished 12th in the Derby, is also likely to go to the Preakness.
Jazil, who finished in a deadheat with Brother Derek for fourth, is possible for the Preakness, according to Pimlico publicist Mike Gathagan. Others expected for the Preakness are Like Now, Bernardini, and Simon Pure, all of whom skipped the Derby.
Bluegrass Cat, who was second in the Derby, and Steppenwolfer, who was third, will await the June 10 Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown, their trainers said Sunday.
Source: horseracing.sportsline.com