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Pletcher's Preakness candidates Behindatthebar, Harlem Rocker turn in drills
"He'll blow out if we're real close or we'll let him stretch his legs for a half-mile, depending on what day it is," Schosberg added. At Churchill Downs on Sunday, undefeated Kentucky Derby (G1) hero BIG BROWN (Boundary) had his presence announced on the track shortly before 7 a.m. (EDT) with a loud clap of thunder. Unfazed, Big Brown went about his morning activity.
Fewer than two hours after Big Brown jogged under cloudy skies and on a muddy track, TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) was greeted by bright sunshine and a harrowed track that was drying out because of high winds. The third-place finisher in the Arkansas Derby (G2) galloped 1 1/2 miles under Andy Durnin and was outfitted in blinkers for the first time. Trainer Beau Greely, who owns Tres Borrachos in partnership with John Greely IV and Phil Houchens, explained the experiment. "In his races, horses would come up to him and he'd back up a little and then come again," Greely said. "I want to see what Andy thinks about them, but it looks like he was relaxed galloping today. He may have them on when he works Tuesday and then we'll make a decision (about whether the blinkers will stay on for the Preakness)." STEVIL (Maria's Mon), fourth in the Blue Grass S. (G1) last time out, galloped 1 1/2 miles under Dylan Armstrong. The Nick Zito pupil is slated to work four furlongs Monday morning, pending the weather conditions at Churchill. "He'll work if the weather permits,'' said Zito from Louisville, confirming a plan to ship to Pimlico on Tuesday. "Right now it's raining and the conditions aren't too good.'' John Velazquez will pick up the Preakness mount. At Hollywood Park, trainer Paddy Gallagher reported that multiple stakes victor YANKEE BRAVO (Yankee Gentleman) jogged twice around the track. The dark bay colt, who was excluded from the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field due to a lack of graded stakes earnings, will be making only his second start on a conventional dirt track in the Preakness. After winning his first two starts on turf and capturing the California Derby over Golden Gate Fields' Tapeta surface, Yankee Bravo closed to finish third behind Pyro (Pulpit) in the Louisiana Derby (G2) over Fair Grounds' dirt track. "I thought he ran a nice race in Louisiana in his first time on dirt," said Gallagher, whose colt will be ridden by Alex Solis Saturday. "Alex said that he was climbing a little at first but that he leveled off and handled it fine." Yankee Bravo, who is scheduled to fly from Southern California to Baltimore on Wednesday morning, finished fourth behind Colonel John (Tiznow) in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) in his most recent start.
"He had an easy day," said trainer Graham Motion, whose Preakness hopeful had worked five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 on Friday. Icabad Crane will continue to train at Fair Hill before vanning to Pimlico on Saturday morning. "We don't want to take him out of his routine," Motion said. "We've had a lot of experience shipping horses on Preakness Day. It's just an hour trip. "The Preakness was something we thought about right after the Tesio. He has a good race over the track," Motion said. "He won the Tesio despite having some trouble, and the second-place finisher (Mint Lane [Maria's Mon]) came back to finish second in the Peter Pan (S. [G2] at Belmont on Saturday), which somewhat endorses the race." Jeremy Rose, who rode Afleet Alex to a memorable Preakness victory in 2005, has the mount on Icabad Crane. Blue Grass third KENTUCKY BEAR (Mr. Greeley), the only Preakness hopeful lodged at Pimlico, schooled in the paddock before Sunday's 1ST race. Assistant trainer Sherri Wickett and exercise rider/groom Cassie Garcia had the stakes barn to themselves with the chestnut, who lacked sufficient earnings to make the Kentucky Derby field. "He's been here since Wednesday and he's doing really good,'' Wickett said. "We worked yesterday (five furlongs in 1:01) with (jockey) Jamie (Theriot). He walked this morning. He'll jog tomorrow and gallop the rest of the week.'' This will be the first Preakness mount for Theriot, who finished third in the recent Keeneland rider standings. In other Preakness news: Trainer Bill Mott outlined his plans for multiple Grade 2-placed RILEY TUCKER (Harlan's Holiday). The Hall of Famer said that the Zayat Stables colorbearer would remain in New York until "Wednesday or Thursday'' in hopes of getting a final work in during the next 48 hours. "He'll work at Belmont as soon as we get a good race track,'' Mott said. "It's calling for rain Monday, so we're hoping to get on the track Tuesday.'' Riley Tucker was last seen finishing third to Behindatthebar in the Lexington. Derby Trial S. hero MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) walked the shedrow at Churchill's Barn 35, one day after working a half-mile in :50 4/5 for Dallas Stewart. The gray colt is scheduled for the same Louisville to Baltimore flight as Big Brown, but Stewart is not thrilled with the timing. "It's kind of messed up. The plane's scheduled to land at 5:30 (p.m.), right in the middle of rush hour," Stewart said. Julien Leparoux has the return call for the Preakness. Also walking the Churchill shedrow was Grade 2-placed RACECAR RHAPSODY (Tale of the Cat), who had worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Saturday. The Ken McPeek trainee finished fourth in the Lane's End S. (G2) and Lexington S. (G2) in his only two sophomore starts. "He worked well and he ate up quick last night, so we're encouraged. He's in good shape." McPeek said. "We realize we're kind of up against it with a horse like Big Brown, if he runs his race, but we feel like we'll be competitive otherwise. "With us, it was more timing and distance," McPeek said. "It really didn't have anything to do with what everybody else is doing. The horse is doing well. It's kind of an opportunity to see how good he is at a mile and three-sixteenths. He's been competitive everywhere we've run him. He hasn't had the cleanest of trips historically, but maybe he's due." Racecar Rhapsody will be ridden by Robby Albarado, winner of the Preakness last year aboard Curlin (Smart Strike). The post position draw for the Preakness will be held on Wednesday at 5 p.m. (EDT) at the ESPN Zone in downtown Baltimore. The event will be televised live on ESPN2. The Preakness is limited to 14 starters. The $1 million Preakness will be televised by NBC. Post time is 6:15 p.m.
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