Preakness contenders work; Lukas to run Going Wild

Sun King will attempt to improve off his 15th-place finish in the Derby  (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant’s Causeway) and SUN KING (Charismatic), who finished
14th and 15th, respectively, in the Kentucky Derby (G1), punched their tickets
for Saturday’s $1 million Preakness S. (G1) after breezing five furlongs over a
fast track at Churchill Downs on Monday.

“I’m very happy with both of them, so they’re a go,” trainer Nick Zito said.

Florida Derby (G1) runner-up Noble Causeway breezed five furlongs in 1:02 3/5
under exercise rider Maxine Correa.

“I told Maxine to come home quick and he went very nice,” Zito said. “He went
the last eighth in 11 (seconds) and change. He galloped out good. It was just
right.”

Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Sun King breezed five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 in
company with maiden winner Indy Storm (A.P. Indy), who served as a target for
Sun King. The move was the ninth fastest of 20 works at the distance. The latter
was timed in 1:03 1/5.

“I worked Sun King in company with another horse because sometimes,
psychologically, it makes a difference,” Zito said. “He went in 1:01 and change
and came home in 11 and change, also.”

Gary Stevens will retain the mount on Noble Causeway, while Rafael Bejarano
has the riding assignment on Sun King.

Stablemate HIGH FLY (Atticus), who finished tenth in the Derby, is scheduled
to breeze four furlongs under the Twin Spires Tuesday morning and could join the
Zito duo on the trip to Baltimore, Maryland, the following afternoon. Jerry
Bailey has the call for the Preakness.

Going Wild will attempt to get back to his winning ways in the Preakness  (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said GOING WILD (Golden Missile), 18th in the
“Run for the Roses,” is a “go” for the Preakness following a
five-furlong breeze in 1:01 2/5 at Churchill Downs on Monday.

“We didn’t try to do a lot,” Lukas said. “Like everybody, you’re coming off a
mile and a quarter and you don’t have to do very much. But he had good energy, I
thought, and was pretty focused.”

Lukas has not named a rider for Going Wild, who will arrive at Pimlico
Wednesday morning on the first flight from Churchill Downs.

“There are so many good riders available,” Lukas said. “It’s not that
(Kentucky Derby jockey) Jose (Valdivia Jr.) didn’t ride him well — I love Jose
— but economically I don’t have to fly him across country. I don’t have to take
coal to Pennsylvania.”

Regardless of what happens in the Preakness, Lukas believes that he has a
horse that will relish the 1 1/2-mile Belmont S. (G1) in A. P. Arrow (A.P.
Indy), who won a 1 1/4-mile maiden race in the slop at Churchill Downs last
Saturday in 2:04 2/5.

“I’ve thought he was a Belmont horse from day one, and I’ve pointed him for
it,” Lukas said.

CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful Appeal), who came within a half-length of
Kentucky Derby glory, breezed four furlongs in :49 over a fast track at Belmont
Park on Monday.

Afleet Alex is one of only two Preakness contenders currently stabled at Pimlico  (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

The third-place Kentucky Derby finisher, AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet), went
to the Pimlico main track twice on Monday. The Tim Ritchey trainee had a
two-mile jog, then returned for a one-mile jog and a two-mile gallop. From this
point forward, the bay colt probably will go to the track only once each morning
leading up to the Preakness.

Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) winner WILKO (Awesome Again), who finished sixth
in Derby 131, is scheduled for a short breeze at Churchill Downs Tuesday
morning.

“We’ll give him a little breeze tomorrow,” trainer Craig Dollase said.
“Probably three-eighths and out a half (mile). Just a maintenance work.”

Wilko will be aboard the first flight from Louisville on Wednesday morning.
Corey Nakatani rides.

Louisiana Derby (G2) winner HIGH LIMIT (Maria’s Mon), who finished last in
the Derby, will wear blinkers for the first time in Saturday’s Preakness. The
Bobby Frankel trainee walked at Churchill Downs on Monday, one day after
breezing five furlongs in a bullet 1:00 1/5. The bay colt gets a rider change to
Edgar Prado.

“He’s a great rider. He’s smart and he knows the track well,” Frankel said.

High Limit is scheduled to ship to Baltimore Wednesday morning.

Withers S. (G3) winner SCRAPPY T (Fit to Fight) was slated to arrive at
Pimlico Monday afternoon after a van ride from Delaware Park. Ramon Dominguez,
who finished last aboard High Limit in the Kentucky Derby, has been named to
ride.