California Derby winner YANKEE BRAVO (Yankee Gentleman) worked seven furlongs
in 1:24 1/5 under jockey Alex Solis at Hollywood Park on Thursday. The Paddy
Gallagher trainee is one of nine three-year-olds who are confirmed for the $1
million Preakness S. (G1) on May 17 at Pimlico.
“He didn’t have enough earnings to try and get into the (Kentucky) Derby
(G1). It wasn’t meant to be so we’ll just try it here in the next one,” said
Gallagher, who worked for Bill Shoemaker during the Hall of Fame rider’s
training career.
After capturing the California Derby, Yankee Bravo finished third in the
Louisiana Derby (G2) and fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1). Solis, who
won the Preakness in 1986 aboard Snow Chief, has the mount.
“The Santa Anita Derby was an exciting race to be in and a little
disappointing,” Gallagher said. “Alex Solis has great belief. He believes he can
get a mile and an eighth and further, so that’s why we’re going to try the Preakness.”
Yankee Bravo is slated to arrive in Baltimore on Wednesday.
At Churchill Downs, BIG BROWN (Boundary), the undefeated Kentucky Derby
winner, jogged a mile under regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin.
“It was drizzling and the track was sloppy, so he just jogged today,” Nevin
said.
Heavy overnight rain in the Louisville, Kentucky, area left the track listed
as muddy during Thursday morning training hours. Big Brown completed his
activity well before heavier rain hit during the final hour of training.
“Everything’s good here,” trainer Rick Dutrow said.
The Preakness will be a homecoming
for Dutrow, the son of legendary trainer Dick Dutrow, who was born in Maryland,
and jockey Kent Desormeaux, who won the Eclipse Award for outstanding apprentice
rider while based at Pimlico and Laurel Park in the late 1980s.
“Every time Preakness would roll around Dad would win a race on Preakness
Day,” Dutrow said during an NTRA conference call on Thursday. “Naturally I would
love to win a race like that. It’s where I grew up. Most of the traits of the
game are right there at Pimlico, Bowie, Laurel. I’m going to see a lot of my
friends. I can’t wait to get there.”
Big Brown, who has won his four career starts by a combined 33 3/4 lengths,
will catch a flight to Baltimore on Wednesday. He is scheduled to land at
Baltimore-Washington International airport at 5:45 p.m. (EDT).
TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) and RACECAR RHAPSODY (Tale of the Cat) will be on
the same flight with Big Brown.
Tres Borrachos walked the shedrow at Barn 41 at Churchill Downs on Thursday,
one day after working five furlongs in :59 3/5. Trainer Beau Greely opted to keep
the bay gelding at Churchill Downs and shoot
for the Preakness rather than running in Saturday’s $400,000 Lone Star Derby
(G3).
“We try to win big races,” Greely said. “(The Preakness) is a million dollar
race and it’s not every day that you get a chance to try it.”
Tyler Baze, who
never has had a Preakness mount, has the call on Tres Borrachos, who exits a
third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G2).
Trainer Kenny McPeek sent Racecar Rhapsody out for a 1 1/2-mile gallop at
Churchill Downs on Thursday. Racecar Rhapsody most recently finished fourth in
the Lexington S. (G2) on April 19 at Keeneland, a performance that did not
secure
him enough graded stakes earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field.
“The horse is doing well and the extra distance is an interesting factor,”
said McPeek, who has had two previous Preakness starters (Harlan’s Holiday in
2002 and Tejano Run in 1995).
Racecar Rhapsody is scheduled to work five furlongs under the Twin Spires on
Saturday. Robby Albarado has the mount in the Preakness.
“I’m super happy with how he settled in,” Garcia said. “We’re happy to be
The Reade Baker trainee is scheduled to work five furlongs at Pimlico on Saturday
“I know it’s supposed to rain, so if the track is okay we’ll gallop tomorrow,
Jamie Theriot is expected to retain the mount in the Preakness.
Kentucky Bear was joined in the stakes barn by stablemate Bear Now (Tiznow), who
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Illinois Derby (G2) winner RECAPTURETHEGLORY (Cherokee Run) jogged a mile and
galloped a mile on a muddy track at Churchill Downs on Thursday. Lara Van Deren,
assistant to trainer Louie Roussel III, was aboard Recapturetheglory, who
finished fifth in last Saturday’s Kentucky Derby.
“He is leaving here Saturday night for Pimlico,” Van Deren said. “He will
train here the next two mornings.”
E.T. Baird, who never has ridden in the Preakness, retains the mount on
Recapturetheglory.
STEVIL (Maria’s Mon), who finished fourth in the Blue Grass in his most
recent start, galloped 1 1/2 miles under Dylan Armstrong at Churchill
Downs on Thursday.
Trainer Nick Zito plans to work Stevil under the Twin Spires on Monday and
ship to Pimlico on Tuesday or Wednesday. John Velazquez has the Preakness mount
on Stevil.
Trainer Rick Schosberg plans to ship GIANT MOON (Giant’s Causeway) to Pimlico next Thursday
“He continues to do fine,” Schosberg said.
Ramon Dominguez, who won a pair of riding titles at Pimlico in 2001, has the
Trainer Todd Pletcher will ship Lexington winner BEHINDATTHEBAR
Others still considering a run in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown are
The post position draw for the Preakness will be held on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
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The 133rd running of the Preakness will be televised by NBC. Post
time is 6:15 p.m.
In other Preakness news:
The Maryland Jockey Club announced Thursday that
Maggie Wolfendale, a student at Towson University, is the 2008 Miss Preakness.
The 21-year-old biology major will represent Pimlico at all of the Preakness
Celebration activities, including the Preakness Parade and the post position
draw for entries at the ESPN Zone. An aspiring reporter, Wolfendale, the daughter of top Maryland conditioner Howard Wolfendale, will be
covering this year’s Preakness for Towson University’s television station.