Five-time Preakness-winning trainer Bob Baffert was back at Churchill Downs
“I was happy with both of them. It looks like they have kept the same energy
Baffert, who had returned to his Southern California base the day after the
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“Coming out of a big race like the Derby, you don’t have to do too much. It
is just a matter of keeping them at the same level,” Baffert said. “The good
horses are easier to train. These two are used to running a lot and coming back
in two weeks is not a big concern with them.”
American Pharoah was partnered Monday morning as usual by Jorge Alvarez.
Both colts are scheduled to gallop Tuesday morning and will train Wednesday
before loading for the short van ride to Louisville International Airport and a
Tex Sutton charter to Baltimore, one of two such flights scheduled that day.
Firing Line (Line of David), the Kentucky Derby runner-up, joined the
Baffert-trained Preakness contenders on the Churchill track Monday morning.
Trained by Simon Callaghan, Firing Line stood at the six-furlong gap for a
few minutes before backtracking to the front side. Under exercise rider Humberto
Gomez, Firing Line galloped 1 1/2 miles with the final half of the exercise
being an open gallop similar to Sunday’s exercise.
“It was the same thing as yesterday; maybe a little slower,” Gomez said.
Carlos Santamaria, who is overseeing the colt’s preparations in Louisville
while Callaghan is at his Santa Anita base, continued to give off good vibes
about the colt who has compiled a 6-2-4-0 record in his career.
“He has been galloping good and eating well and very happy with the last two
days,” Santamaria said. “I know he has a lot of heart and will give his best to
the end (like he did in the Derby).”
Santamaria said Firing Line is scheduled to have a regular gallop Tuesday but
likely would not train Wednesday morning before shipping to Baltimore where he
will be trying to reverse a negative trend regarding Derby runners-up in the
Preakness.
Since 1960, only three horses that ran second in the Run for the Roses took
the Preakness. They were Bally Ache (1960), Summer Squall (1990) and Prairie
Bayou (1993).
One of the first horses on a fast main track Monday morning at Churchill
With regular exercise rider William Cano aboard, Danzig Moon galloped 1 1/2
With a start Saturday, Danzig Moon would give owner John Oxley and trainer
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“We have a better gauge since he has faced these horses already,” said Norman
Casse, assistant to his father. “They were better than he was on Derby Day, but
we feel that he is getting better all the time.”
Danzig Moon is scheduled to gallop the next two mornings and ship to
Baltimore Wednesday.
Tale of Verve (Tale of the Cat) walked the shedrow a day after working five
furlongs in company in 1:00 2/5.
“This fits right into our schedule,” trainer Dallas Stewart said of the walk
day. “He’ll train Tuesday and Wednesday and fly Wednesday and won’t miss a
beat.”
Meanwhile, at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Maryland, Lexington (G3)
winner Divining Rod (Tapit) galloped in preparation for the Preakness.
“He’s doing very well. I think he came back in good shape from his breeze. He
galloped this morning and looked very good,” said trainer Arnaud Delacour, whose
colt breezed four furlongs in :51 3/5 Saturday.
In other Preakness news:
Trainer Todd Pletcher reported Monday that he’ll be prepared to make a
decision on the Preakness status of Florida Derby (G1) winner Materiality
(Afleet Alex) on Tuesday.
Materiality, who entered the Derby undefeated in three starts, got away last
from the starting gate and was forced to race wide before closing strongly to
finish sixth.
Daily Racing Form reported Monday that the Pletcher-trained Blue Grass
(G1) winner Carpe Diem (Giant’s Causeway), 10th in the Derby, would bypass the
Preakness and await the Belmont S. (G1) on June 6.
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