144th PREAKNESS – WAR OF WILL DRAWS POST 1 (AGAIN)
OWENDALE won the Lexington Stakes and by passed the Kentucky Derby to point for Preakness – KEENELAND PHOTO
The post positions are set for the second jewel of the American Triple Crown, the PREAKNESS STAKES (G1) and a field of 13 will run for the $1.5 million prize at 1 3/16 miles on the Pimlico dirt Saturday at about 6:50 p.m.
It has been more than 2 decades since the Kentucky Derby winner missed the Preakness (Grindstone in 1996). This year, MAXIMUM SECURITY the Derby winner who was disqualified, is out and COUNTRY HOUSE, the Derby winner in the history books, is also out.
Preakness Posts/Notes:
1. War of Will (4-1) by War Front
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Last race: seventh in Kentucky Derby (May 4 at Churchill Downs) 95, 78, 90
2. Bourbon War (12-1) – Blinkers ON
Trainer: Mark Hennig
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Last race: fourth in Florida Derby (March 30 at Gulfstream) 90, 93, 89
3. Warrior’s Charge (12-1) SUPPLEMENTED $150,000 by Munnings
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Last race: first in allowance optional claiming race (April 12 at Oaklawn) 97, 89, 76
4. Improbable (5-2) by City Zip
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Last race: fourth in Kentucky Derby (May 4 at Churchill Downs) 96, 99, 95
5. Owendale (10-1) by Into Mischief
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Last race: first in Lexington (April 13 at Keeneland) 98, 74, 91
6. Market King (30-1) by Into Mischief
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas.
Jockey: Jon Court
Last race: 11th in Blue Grass (April 6 at Keeneland) 39, 93, 77
7. Alwaysmining (8-1) by Stay Thirsty
Trainer: Kelly Rubley
Jockey: Daniel Centeno
Last race: first in Federico Tesio (April 20 at Laurel) 92, 96, 87
8. Signalman (30-1) by General Quarters
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Last race: third in Blue Grass (April 6 at Keeneland) 88, 83, 84
9. Bodexpress (20-1) by Bodemeister – dam is Ontario bred Pied a Terre
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Jockey: John Velazquez
Last race: 13th in Kentucky Derby (May 4 at Churchill Downs) 80. 96, 91 (maiden)
10. Everfast (50-1) by Take Charge Indy
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Last race: fifth in Pat Day Mile (May 4 at Churchill Downs) 74, 79, 65
11. Laughing Fox (20-1) by Union Rags – dam is Ontario bred SASKAWEA (stakes winner by Stormy Atlantic)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Last race: first in Oaklawn Invitational (May 4 at Oaklawn) 91, 89, 77
12. Anothertwistafate (6-1) by Scat Daddy – CANADIAN OWNED – PETER REDEKOP
Trainer: Blaine Wright
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Last race: second in Lexington (April 13 at Keeneland) 95, 94, 94
13. Win Win Win (15-1) BLINKERS ON by Hat Trick (Jpn)
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Jockey: Julian Pimentel
Last race: ninth in Kentucky Derby (May 4 at Churchill Downs) 89, 88, 89
WinStar Farm LLC, China Horse Club International and Starlight Racing, principles in the ownership group of 2018 Triple Crown champion Justify, will once again be represented by a morning-line favorite for the Preakness Stakes (G1) Saturday when Improbable is scheduled to take on 12 rivals in the 144th running of the 1 3/16-mile Spring Classic at Pimlico Race Course.
Installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite, Improbable may not be as highly regarded as Justify, who was the 1-2 morning-line favorite and won the Preakness by a half-length as the 2-5 betting choice last year. However, the 3-year-old son of City Zip would appear to have a solid chance to give trainer Bob Baffert back-to-back victories and a record-breaking eighth success in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.
Currently tied with Robert Wyndham Walden, who won the Preakness seven times from 1875-1888, Baffert has been victorious with Triple Crown champions Justify (2018) and American Pharoah (2015), as well as Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), War Emblem (2002), Lookin At Lucky (2010) and Point Given (2001).
Improbable had the best finish of the four Preakness entrants that ran in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, finishing fifth before being placed fourth through the disqualification of first-place-finisher Maximum Security.
Mark Casse (trainer, War of Will; PP #1; 4-1): “It is what it is and we’re going to have to deal with it [Post. No. 1]. Do I wish we had drawn farther outside? Of course, but we’re going to have to deal with it. [Jockey] Tyler [Gaffalione] is going to have to play the break and see how it works. I don’t think the ‘1’ hole is quite as tough here, but I’m going to have to go study that. I didn’t study it on purpose because I was hoping not to get it.”
“We have to play the hand we we’re dealt. You never can tell how things can go. All we can hope for is a clean trip and I think if he can get that, he’s going to be tough to beat.”
(On pace) “I thought the pace would be a little slower in the Derby, but they went a half in 46-and-3 [seconds]. So I don’t see it going a whole lot faster than that. We’ll be fairly close and if someone wants the lead really bad I guess they’ll have it.”
“I think he’s doing good. I think he’s doing as well as Classic Empire [second in 2017 Preakness]. This horse has a lot of energy and he’s extremely tough.”
“We definitely know the (‘1’ hole) is not as bad as in the Derby. You have Bourbon War who is going to come from out of it. Warrior’s Charge he’s fast. But I think if he tries to get in front of War of Will – that could be his demise. One thing about it is the ‘1’ hole can be extremely good or extremely bad. In the Derby it was extremely bad, so I’m thinking we’re going to get extremely good this time.”
Blaine Wright (trainer, Anothertwistafate; PP #12; 6-1): “For right now it’s going to have to be our spot. You can’t change things. We’ll take it, move forward and see how good we are.”
“We’ve been covered up a little bit in the Sunland Derby and the Lexington, so maybe he can keep his face clean from out there. Maybe our jockey can adapt to things that are happening in front of him. If we have the lead, well, hey, we have the lead.”
“I’m not going to make that assumption at this point [how the race plays out]. I’ll wait to see it on paper. We just have to hope that our horse comes away from the gate well. It’s a long run to the first turn and we’ll just let the jock do the work.”
VINTAGE PREAKNESS – The foul heard ’round the world
1980 – Codex and Genuine Risk
FASIG TIPTON MIDATLANTIC 2-YEAR-OLD SALE
May 20-21
More than 600 2-year-olds are up for sale next week in Maryland with a handful of Canadian breds in the book.
Ontario-breds in the sale
401 UNION RAGS-RIBBON CUTTER, DKB C
WAVERTREE STABLES INC. (CIARAN DUNNE) AGENT XII
ON
404 OUT EGYPTIAN NIGHTS CAIRO PRINCE-QUITE A KNIGHTMARE, GRR F
DE MERIC SALES AGENT
410 UNCLE MO-RAVENIST, B C
WAVERTREE STABLES INC. (CIARAN DUNNE) AGENT FOR JSM EQUINE LLC
436 CREATIVE CAUSE-SAMSAL, CH C
DE MERIC SALES AGENT
481 OUT THE FACTOR-SONGOFTHECITY, GRR C
BOBBY DODD AGENT
490 BAYERN-STARLITE STARBRITE, B F
SBM TRAINING & SALES LLC AGENT
WOODBINE – LONGRUN LADIES LUNCH JUNE 15
Popular event of the spring
LADIES LUNCH @WoodbineTB to benefit @LongRunTB – our retired racehorses!
Now one of the most popular social events of the spring!
Saturday, June 15th, Amazing food, fun and racing! $85, contact LONGRUN http://longrunretirement.com/contact/
