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Authentic Draws Nine for Preakness

GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) was assigned gate nine in a field of 11 and was installed the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’ GI Preakness S. at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

John Velazquez has the return call on Authentic, who goes for a third consecutive victory at the Grade I level, having beaten Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. before defying those who concluded he would not stay the 10 furlongs of the Derby by outfighting heavily favored Tiz the Law (Constitution) beneath the Twin Spires Sept. 5. The Sackatoga runner was removed from Preakness consideration last week and will instead train up to the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland Nov. 7.

Authentic is one of two Preakness starters for Bob Baffert, who can become the winningest trainer in Preakness history (currently tied with R. Wyndham Walden on seven winners) with a victory from Authentic or Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile). The $1-million Keeneland September was to represent Spendthrift and Albaugh Family Stable in the Run for the Roses, but was scratched after flipping in the paddock while being saddled. Thousand Words carries Florent Geroux and breaks from gate five as a 6-1 chance.

Art Collector (Bernardini) was no worse than the second betting selection for the Derby, but he, too, was withdrawn from the second leg of this year’s Triple Crown with a minor foot ailment. He has trained well since for trainer Tommy Drury, Jr., and was made the 5-2 second favorite for Saturday’s race. Brian Hernandez, Jr. should have the Bruce Lunsford runner close from the three hole.

After some deliberation, trainer Ken McPeek has opted for a Preakness run for his crack filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), who exits a game runner-up effort in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks Sept. 4. The Preakness marks her second start against the boys, as she led into the final furlong of the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland July 12 before being run down by Art Collector. Robby Albarado takes the reins on the 6-1 gamble from gate four.

Saturday, Pimlico Race Course

PREAKNESS S.-GI, $1,000,000, 3yo, 1 3/16m

1 Excession (Union Rags), Russell, Asmussen, 30-1

2 Mr. Big News (Giant’s Causeway), Saez, Calhoun, 12-1

3 Art Collector (Bernardini), Hernandez Jr., Drury, Jr, 5-2

4 Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), Albarado, McPeek, 6-1

5 Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile), Geroux, Baffert, 6-1

6 Jesus’ Team (Tapiture), Toledo, D’Angelo, 30-1

7 Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic), Joseph Jr., Karamanos, 15-1

8 Max Player (Honor Code), Lopez, Asmussen, 15-1

9 Authentic (Into Mischief), Velazquez, Baffert, 9-5

10 Pneumatic (Uncle Mo), Bravo, Asmussen, 20-1

11 Liveyourbeastlife (Ghostzapper), McCarthy, Abreu, 30-1

The post Authentic Draws Nine for Preakness appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Authentic Draws Post Nine; 11 Entered In 2020 Preakness Stakes

Kentucky Derby winner Authentic will be the 9-5 morning-line favorite in Saturday's Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, and drew post nine of 11 in the 1 3/16-mile contest. Hall of Famers John Velazquez and Bob Baffert will team up again to try to win two of three legs of this unique 2020 edition of the Triple Crown.

Second choice on the morning line at 5-2 will be Blue Grass Stakes winner Art Collector, who missed the Kentucky Derby with a minor cut to his hoof suffered on Monday of Derby week. The talented colt is fully healed, according to trainer Tommy Drury, and will break from post position three under regular jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr.

Trainer Ken McPeek will send out the Kentucky Oaks runner-up Swiss Skydiver from post position four in the Preakness Stakes, and the filly will get a new pilot in jockey Robby Albarado. She was tabbed at 6-1 on the morning line.

Baffert will also enter Kentucky Derby late scratch Thousand Words, who flipped over in the paddock and broke the wrist of assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes. The difficult colt will be ridden by Florent Geroux from post position five, and is 6-1 on the morning line.

Kentucky Derby runner-up Tiz the Law decided to skip the Preakness, but third-place finisher Mr. Big News will enter the classic for trainer Bret Calhoun. The late-running colt will break from post two and is 12-1 on the morning line.

Additionally, trainer Steve Asmussen will send out three entrants in the 2020 Preakness Stakes: Excession (Post 1, 30-1), Max Player (Post 8, 15-1), and Pnuematic (Post 10, 20-1).

The full field, with jockey, trainer, and morning-line odds, is as follows:

  1. Excession – Sheldon Russell – Steve Asmussen (30-1)
  2. Mr. Big News – Gabriel Saez – Bret Calhoun (12-1)
  3. Art Collector – Brian Hernandez, Jr. – Tommy Drury (5-2)
  4. Swiss Skydiver – Robby Albarado – Ken McPeek (6-1)
  5. Thousand Words – Florent Geroux – Bob Baffert (6-1)
  6. Jesus' Team – Jevian Toldeo – Jose D'Angelo (30-1)
  7. Ny Traffic – Horacio Karamanos – Saffie Joseph, Jr. (15-1)
  8. Max Player – Paco Lopez – Steve Asmussen (15-1)
  9. Authentic – John Velazquez – Bob Baffert (9-5)
  10. Pneumatic – Joe Bravo – Steve Asmussen (20-1)
  11. Liveyourbeastlife – Trevor McCarthy – Jorge Abreu (30-1)

The post Authentic Draws Post Nine; 11 Entered In 2020 Preakness Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Palace Sold to Saudi Arabia

Palace (City Zip–Receivership, by End Sweep), his sire’s only multiple Grade I winner currently at stud, has been sold to continue his career in Saudi Arabia. The deal was brokered by Chad Schumer of Schumer Bloodstock.

Trained for the majority of his racing career by Linda Rice, Palace raced at a top level into his 6-year-old season and was a leading sprinter of 2014, with victories in the GI A. G. Vanderbilt H. and GI Forego S. at Saratoga. He retired to Spendthrift Farm with 12 wins from 30 starts and earnings of $1,586,550.

From two crops of racing age, Palace is the sire of 37 individual winners, including the stakes-winning Chacha Real Smooth and Auberge, runner-up to Bast (Uncle Mo) in this year’s GII Santa Ynez S., and who cost $570,000 at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.

City Zip’s ‘TDN Rising Star’ Improbable made Saturday’s Awesome Again S. his third top-level success of 2020 and fourth overall.

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