The connections of Coffeewithchris alerted the Pimlico Race Course racing officials Saturday morning that the Maryland-bred son of Ride On Curlin is being pointed toward a start in the May 20 Preakness Stakes (G1).
The Maryland-based multiple stakes winner had been entered for Saturday's Long Branch at Monmouth but was scratched in favor of a run in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. John Salzman Sr., Fred Wasserloos, and Anthony Geruso's Coffeewithchris most recently finished fifth in the Federico Tesio, a win-and-in Preakness prep at Laurel Park.
“Our plan was to run in the Preakness. We were hoping to win the Tesio. The biggest thing is coming up with the money sometimes. I'm a poor working guy. Thirty thousand is a lot of money,” Salzman said “I looked at the Long Branch. It wasn't an easy spot. If it was an easy spot, I might have gone on to the Long Branch. I worked it out to come up with the funds to take a chance. I don't get to take a chance very often.”
Jaime Rodriguez will ride Coffeewithchris, who captured the Miracle Wood Feb. 18 and finished second in the Private Terms, both at Laurel Park.
Bill Dory and Adam Ference's Chase the Chaos walked Saturday morning at Golden Gate Fields, one day after turning in his final timed work for the Preakness. The son of Astern covered five furlongs in 1:00.80 over the all-weather track.
Trainer Ed Moger Jr. said he moved the planned work ahead by one day because the gelding is being shipped from California to Maryland on Tuesday. Moger said that the track at Golden Gate Fields is closed on Mondays, and he wanted to see Chase the Chaos on the track following the breeze before putting him on a plane. By training Friday, Chase the Chaos could walk Saturday and go back to the track on Sunday.
“He worked brilliant,” Moger said.
The veteran trainer said he expects to have settled on a jockey to ride Chase the Chaos by the end of the weekend.
Chase the Chaos earned an expense-paid berth in the 148th Preakness with this victory in the El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 11 at Golden Gate Fields.
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