Bernardini preps for Preakness

Last updated: 5/17/06 7:40 PM

Barbaro has been relaxing away from the hustle and bustle of all the Preakness preparations
(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Withers S. (G3) winner BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy) breezed five furlongs in 1:01
1/5 over a muddy track at Belmont Park on Wednesday in his final major
workout prior to Saturday’s $1 million Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico. The trial
was the seventh fastest of 12 works at the distance.

“The work was very nice,” trainer Tom Albertrani said. “I caught him
galloping out in 1:15 4/5.”

Bernardini broke his maiden by a widening 7 3/4 lengths in his second start
at Gulfstream Park before winning the one-mile Withers in 1:35 by 3 3/4 lengths
despite jockey Javier Castellano losing his whip in the stretch. The Darley
Stable homebred is out of Grade 1 winner Cara Rafaela (Quiet American).

“With his pedigree, this horse is going to have no problem handling the
distance,” Albertrani said. “He galloped out real well after the Withers and the
way he trains, he just gives you every indication that he’s going to be a
top-notch horse.”

Albertrani admits the middle jewel of the Triple Crown is an ambitious spot,
but said the timing is right to challenge the undefeated Kentucky Derby (G1)
winner BARBARO (Dynaformer).

“We’re really hoping that Barbaro might be a little vulnerable with just two
weeks rest,” Albertrani said. “If you’re going to beat him, this might be the
time to try it.”

Bernardini will travel by van to Old Hilltop on Friday.

Barbaro will continue on his journey to become the 12th Triple Crown winner
in Preakness 131. The Michael Matz trainee galloped 1 1/4 miles on the dirt
track at Fair Hill Training Center on Wednesday.

Barbaro, who is undefeated in six career starts, is scheduled to be vanned
from Fair Hill to Pimlico on Friday afternoon.

Brother Derek will try to turn the tables on Barbaro in the Preakness
(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Santa Anita Derby (G1) hero BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) galloped a strong 1 1/8
miles at Churchill Downs prior to catching a flight from Louisville to Baltimore
on Wednesday. The Dan Hendricks-trained colt will seek a measure of redemption
in the Preakness after finishing a dead-heat fourth in the Run for the Roses.

Illinois Derby (G2) winner SWEETNORTHERNSAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint), who faded
to seventh as the favorite in the Derby, jogged a mile and galloped a mile at
Laurel Park. The Michael Trombetta-trained gelding was far back in the early
running of the Derby and will likely be more forwardly placed in the 1 3/16-mile
Preakness. A victory Saturday would have special significance to Trombetta, who
is a Baltimore native.

“It would mean a lot for me to do well here on this day,” Trombetta said.

Sweetnorthernsaint is scheduled to travel by van to Pimlico early Saturday
morning.

DIABOLICAL (Artax) galloped 1 1/2 miles at Fair Hill Training Center. In his
last start, the Steve Klesaris-trained colt won a one-mile, first-level
allowance race by 8 1/4 lengths at Delaware Park.

“In his last test, going around two turns, I really wanted to see this colt
relax,” Klesaris said. “(Jockey) Ramon (Dominguez) said he was push-button. When
he wanted him, he was there. When he wanted to shut him down, he did it
perfectly.”

As a two-year-old, Diabolical finished a distant second to Preakness favorite
Barbaro in the Laurel Futurity.

GREELEY’S LEGACY (Mr. Greeley), who finished fourth in the Lexington S. (G2)
at Keeneland in his last start, will be the first Triple Crown starter for
trainer George Weaver.

“We’re asking our horse to step up to the plate and run the race of his
life,” Weaver said. “We want to find out how he fits with these guys, I don’t
think you could ask more out of a horse than to try to run against those bears
in there.”

Greeley’s Legacy galloped 1 1/2 miles at Belmont Park on Wednesday. He is
scheduled to be shipped to Pimlico on Friday.

Trainer Kiaran McLaughlin reported that Garrett Gomez will replace
18-year-old Fernando Jara aboard LIKE NOW (Jules) in the Preakness.

“The owner wanted a more experienced rider,” McLaughlin explained. “There was
no reason to switch. The kid hadn’t done anything wrong, in my opinion, but the
owner wanted us to try and get a more experienced and better-known rider.”

Like Now captured the Gotham S. (G3) before finishing a close second in the
Lexington last out. The bay gelding galloped 1 3/8 miles at Belmont Park on
Wednesday. He is scheduled to travel to Pimlico on Friday.

Trainer Nick Zito will saddle longshot HEMINGWAY’S KEY (Notebook) for the
131st running of the Preakness. The colt, owned by New York Yankees’ owner
George Steinbrenner, has yet to hit the board in four starts this season.

“You have to play the game,” Zito quipped. “If you don’t play the game, you
can’t even lose.”

Jeremy Rose, who guided Afleet Alex to a remarkable victory in the last
year’s Preakness, has the call.

New York-bred PLATINUM COUPLE (Tale of the Cat) had a light gallop over the
Pimlico strip on Wednesday, one day after arriving from Belmont Park. The Damon
Runyon S. winner most recently finished fifth in the Wood Memorial (G1).

In other Preakness news:

Federico Tesio S. winner AH DAY (Malibu Moon) will run in the $100,000 Sir
Barton S. on the Preakness Day card rather than pay a $100,000 supplemental
entry fee to compete in the Preakness, trainer King Leatherbury said.