Going to the track in trainer Bob
The two colts, who are projected for a rematch in the May 16 Preakness (G1)
“Everything is good here. Everybody
Baffert is scheduled to return to
Coming out to the track a little more than a half-hour later was Arnold
|
Trained by Simon Callaghan, Firing Line is scheduled to resume galloping
Friday morning.
Gomez, who was part of trainer Doug
O’Neill’s team with I’ll Have Another for the 2012 Kentucky Derby, has been
getting on Firing Line for a little more than a month.
“He was good this morning, a lot of
energy and feeling good,” Gomez said. “He has a lot of confidence in himself. He
is so professional. He is the kind of horse that makes you look good.
“He stood on the front side for 10
minutes with horses jumping all around him and he didn’t pay any attention to
them. He has held his weight since the Derby and (assistant trainer) Carlos (Santamaria)
says he is eating good.”
John Oxley’s Danzig Moon (Malibu Moon), fifth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, galloped a
mile early Thursday morning under William Cano.
Norman Casse, assistant to his
father trainer Mark Casse, said, “No decision (has been made on the Preakness).
It hasn’t been talked about.”
“Mr. (Ahmed) Zayat is going to
Lukas added that Mr. Z would not contemplate the $100,000 Sir Barton going 1
“No Sir
Mr. Z galloped early Thursday morning
Meanwhile, trainer Dallas
Tale of Verve broke his maiden going
“He had a perfect setup for the Derby
|
Tale of Verve worked five furlongs in
1:01 1/5 at Churchill Monday and is slated for another breeze Sunday or Monday.
“He is a come-from-behind horse; a
big good-looking horse like (2014 Derby runner-up) Commanding Curve,” Stewart
said. “I think the Belmont (G1) may be better for him but he needs to run before
then. He may run in the Preakness. I’ll talk it over with the owner.”
Stewart has started three horses in the Preakness with Macho Again finishing
second in 2008, Dollar Bill finishing fourth in 2001 and Kimberlite Pipe eighth
in 1999.
“I
can’t think about what other people say,” Stewart said of his colt’s chances.
“You don’t know until you try.”
Stewart also said that Lemon Drop Title (Lemon Drop Kid), a maiden winner at
Churchill Downs last week, is under consideration for the Sir Barton.
After following up his most impressive debut victory with a strong second-place
finish in a Gulfstream Park allowance on April 9, Grupo 7C Racing Stable’s Grand Bili
(City Zip) will travel to Baltimore with an eye toward the 140th Preakness,
according to trainer Gustavo Delgado.
“He will go to Baltimore and run next Saturday, either in the Preakness or
another stake for three-year-olds on the same day (the Sir Barton at 1 1/16
miles or the $100,000 Chick Lang at six furlongs),” Delgado said.
The Ontario-bred
opened eyes when he upset the highly
touted Tennessee (Giant’s Causeway), a first-time starter for trainer Todd Pletcher, in his career
debut on February 1, putting pressure on that rival throughout before running him
down in the stretch. The gray then returned two months later to face another
highly regarded Pletcher runner in Chipit (Tapit), who broke his own maiden at first
asking four weeks prior. This time it was Chipit who had the advantage
at the wire; Grand Bili fought on gamely but was second best.
Still, the performance was enough to convince Delgado that his charge was ready
to take the next step. Grand Bili will ship to Pimlico next week. He’s breezed
twice since his last start, most recently working five furlongs in 1:03 on
May 1 at Gulfstream Park West.
“He’s doing well.
He’s been training steadily since his last race,” Delgado said.
Other probables for the Preakness are Lexington S. (G3) winner Divining Rod
(Tapit) and Federico Tesio victor Bodhisattva (Student Council). Trainer Todd Pletcher is monitoring the
training of Materiality (Afleet Alex), Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), Competitive Edge
(Super Saver) and Stanford (Malibu Moon) to determine
their respective statuses for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
In other Preakness weekend news:
Delgado will also send Grand Tito (Candy Ride) to Maryland to run on Preakness weekend,
which will feature 14 other stakes races outside of the middle jewel of the
Triple Crown. The
five-year-old gelding, who notably came a neck from defeating next-out Gulfstream
Park Turf (G1) winner Mshawish (Medaglia d’Oro) in the Fort Lauderdale (G2) on January 10, will run
in the Dixie Stakes (G2) on the Preakness undercard. Grand Tito most
recently finished second in the Miami Mile (G3) at Gulfstream on April 25.
Trainer Ian
Wilkes is planning to send two
horses to Pimlico to race Preakness weekend. Randal L. Bloch, Phil Milner and Six Column LLC’s homebred gelding Senor
Grits (Elusive Quality) is scheduled to compete in the Chick Lang on the Preakness undercard, and
his filly Sweetgrass (Street Sense) will make her stakes debut in the Black-Eyed Susan (G2)
the day before.
Last time out, Senor Grits ran a close second
behind Bill and Corinne Heiligbrodt’s Cinco Charlie (Indian Charlie) in the William Walker S. on
Churchill’s opening night. Wilkes expects the horse to run a big race next Saturday.
“He’s a very talented colt, I
expected him to run good,” Wilkes said. “He’s actually improved and gotten
better and better with more races and he’s had six starts.”
In four starts, Sweetgrass never has
made a start against stakes company, but will see her first start against such
competition in the Black-Eyed Susan.
Wilkes says that he is very pleased with how the daughter of 2007
Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense has been doing and that he thinks she will do
well stretching out. Last time out, she won an allowance race at Keeneland going
seven furlongs.
“The race would be a good test for
her, and I think she wants to go long,” he said. “I think that it is a good spot
for her. I want to see if she belongs with the good horses because it will be a
step up. The Black-Eyed Susan will be no pushover. It’s going to be a tough
race.”
Also scheduled on Black-Eyed Susan Day is the Ultimate Girls Power Luncheon at Pimlico. The luncheon,
one of several events and activities celebrating the spirit and strength of
women, will feature keynote speaker Carla Harris, Vice Chairperson of Global
Wealth Management, Managing Director and Client Advisor for Morgan Stanley,
author of “Strategize To Win” and “Expect To Win,” and recording artist.
The
all-inclusive ticket allows guests to enjoy crab cakes, afternoon tea, the
finest Thoroughbred racing and great music while mixing and mingling throughout
the day.
The
Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance (http://thoroughbredaftercare.org), caring for
Thoroughbreds following the conclusion of their racing careers, joins Susan G.
Komen Maryland, a major partner in the day’s charitable endeavors since 2010, as
Black-Eyed Susan Day’s event beneficiaries.
The Ultimate Girls Power Luncheon kicks off with a welcome and registration
at 11:30 a.m. followed by luncheon at noon. Harris will deliver her keynote
speech from approximately 1-2 p.m. Afternoon tea is 3-5 p.m. and the Infield
Girls Galleria & Concert Series entertains all afternoon from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Former jockey Linda Reantillo-Penkala will give an informal “Racing 101” seminar
and WPOC’s Laurie DeYoung will serve as emcee.
Tickets are
$100 for Baltimore Washington Corridor Chamber (BWCC) members and $125 for
non-members. For tickets go to http://www.ticketfly.com/event/812211-morgan-stanley-ultimate-girls-baltimore/.
The special
event line up Black-Eyed Susan Day also includes the Hooves & Heels Fashion
Show, “Bet Like A Girl” All-Female Handicapper Challenge and Seminar, and the
Preakness Concert Series featuring the Gin Blossoms and Fuel.
The clubhouse
and grandstand open at 9:30 a.m. First race post is noon.
Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com