Midnight Bourbon | Horse Racing Free Tips

Rombauer Does it in the Preakness

The vast majority of the headlines leading up to the 146th renewal of the GI Preakness S. had to do with one horse, one trainer and one subject. But when the dust had settled at Pimlico at approximately 7 p.m. Saturday, the narrative had suddenly changed. In the span of 1 3/16 miles, the story was no longer one of rumors and speculation. It became a story about an improving horse, John and Diane Fradkin's Rombauer (Twirling Candy), that finally had his chance to prove his mettle on the big stage. Settled off the early pace set by GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) and 3-1 second choice Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), Rombauer produced a powerful turn of foot late to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Scoring as 11.80-1 fifth choice in the wagering, the El Camino Real Derby winner recorded a number of firsts–first Preakness win for the trainer Michael McCarthy and jockey Flavien Prat and the first win for the colt's owners and breeders, John and Diane Fradkin. Prat was winning his second Classic, however, after Country House (Lookin At Lucky) was elevated to a Kentucky Derby win after the disqualification of Maximum Security (New Year's Day) two years ago.

“Just really surreal, all of it,” said a visibly moved McCarthy.

“I'm stunned, but not totally surprised, if that makes any sense? The horse had been touting himself here all week. His last two works were very, very good.”

“I thought the horse would run well. Turning up the backside, I was a little concerned. He's usually a little bit farther back than that..Watching live, going back to the Jumbotron, when he hit the front, I don't think I said a word. I certainly didn't root, at least I don't think I did. Just kind of watched Flavien and the horse in a rhythm.”

Anatomy of the Win

Things appeared to set up as anticipated in the first part of the race. Breaking a hair outward, Rombauer was quickly taken back as Medina Spirit assumed his customary place at the head of affairs with the speedy Midnight Bourbon in hot pursuit on his outer flank. Reeling off an opening quarter in :23.77, the front-running duo were closely pursued by the triumvirate of Crowded Trade (More Than Ready), France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge) and Concert Tour (Street Sense), who was floated several paths wide into the first turn. Meanwhile, Rombauer and Prat bided their time in sixth as the leaders took them through a half in :46.93. Approaching the far turn, the Japanese invader narrowed the gap on the pacesetter, briefly passing inside of Midnight Bourbon as Rombauer improved to fourth. France Go de Ina's move was short-lived, however, and he was soon overtaken by Midnight Bourbon who returned to pound away at the Derby winner up front. Running with purpose and drawing closer to the leading rank approaching the quarter pole as Midnight Bourbon inched ahead of Medina Spirit, Rombauer rounded the home turn in the four path but had built the most momentum to that point. Under left-handed encouragement from Prat, Rombauer overtook Medina Spirit, who was starting to show the effects of his early efforts, and forged past the ultra-game Midnight Bourbon before drawing off to an eye-catching 3 1/2-length victory. Medina Spirit was a clear third ahead of Keepmeinmind (Laoban). Crowded Trade was fifth, while Concert Tour faded to ninth.

“I had a great trip,” said Prat. “We broke well. Never intended to rush him. Naturally down the backside, he was traveling well and was passing horses one by one. So, I was pretty confident going to the three-eighths pole, and then I was behind the two favorites in the race, and I was traveling well, and I thought, well, maybe if he switched [leads] and gave me a good kick, I might be able to run them down, which he did.”

McCarthy added, “Coming through the half-mile pole, looked like the horse was still traveling well. I saw Chad [Brown]'s [Crowded Trade] inside of us going to three-eighths pole, was starting to go up and down, looked at the horses behind us, didn't see anybody posing a threat behind us. [Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon], obviously carried each other through the quarter pole. When we wheeled out coming to the three-sixteenths pole at the head of the lane, I started to get excited.”

Rombauer kicked off his career with a narrow win going a mile over the Del Mar turf last July before finishing sixth in the grassy Del Mar Juvenile Turf S. in early September. A close-up second behind Get Her Number (Dialed In) in Santa Anita's GI American Pharoah S. Sept. 26, he made a mild bid to finish fifth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Keeneland Nov. 6. Given some time off after that performance, he returned in 2021 with a neck victory in the El Camino Real Derby over the Golden Gate synthetic Feb. 13. Closer-up than usual in his latest start, he came home third, beaten 5 3/4 lengths by defending Juvenile Champion Essential Quality (Tapit) in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland Apr. 3.

“Well, fate did play a role,” said Fradkin of the decision to keep the colt rather than sell him. “We intend to sell all our horses. They're all aimed for either yearling sales or 2-year-old sales. We have had better luck at 2-year-old sales. This horse was in Ocala with [consignor] Eddie Woods, and he was being aimed for the April OBS 2-year-old sale. And Eddie told me that he didn't have confidence that sale was going to come off, and this was probably in March. So, he suggested maybe just run this one and try and win early at the track and maybe sell him at the track. So that's what we did. It was Eddie's call, and I went along with it, and we shipped him off to Michael McCarthy.”

Derby vs. Preakness

McCarthy had been a strong proponent in running Rombauer in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, was ultimately overruled by John Fradkin, who preferred to wait for the Preakness.

“I was bullish on running the horse in the Kentucky Derby,” admitted McCarthy. “I had mentioned it a couple of times to John and Diane. They seemed to think that this was the better route. I just thought he'd get a wonderful setup in the Derby, tons of pace in there. I thought it would be over a racetrack that he would really like. Usually on Derby day, Churchill Downs is hard and fast, and I think that's what this horse has kind of been wanting all along.

The conditioner continued, “John made some valid points. As I had said to him earlier, we probably would have done the same thing two weeks earlier, but I'm glad we got it done today.”

Fradkin appeared to recall the issue a bit differently.

“We had a pretty heated discussion about that. Let's just leave it at that. We wanted to run in easier spots, if possible, and I didn't think the Kentucky Derby would suit him. I thought there was a chance we would not hit the board because of his running style. I can understand why Michael wanted to run, but I think he can understand why I didn't. I think Michael and I are really a good team. I think there's going to be some clashes at times, because I come from a total handicapping background and I'm not a horseman. Michael is the consummate horseman. He's focused on the horses and getting them to be their best. Where we disagree is usually just a handicapping thing.”

On to Belmont?

While running in the Derby was more of a debate between owner and trainer, it seems the team is in closer agreement on running the colt in the GI Belmont S. in three week's time

“You'd have to think so,” said McCarthy of a trip to New York. “We'll see how he comes out of it, and we'll take a good look tomorrow.”

Added Fradkin, “Well, I think we'll have to see how he's doing after this race. That was the intent. I mean, all along I actually thought that was our best chance of a race to win, because I think he's going to like the distance.

“But now that we've won this one, it kind of takes the pressure off to do that, and that race is only three weeks out, and the spacing isn't superb to go into a mile-and-a-half race with just three weeks of rest. I know Michael is a disciple of Todd Pletcher. They don't like running on three weeks' rest.”

“I'm not going to make [the decision], we're not going to make a decision on that tonight, but I'd say it's a possibility, but it's probably a little less of a possibility than if we had run like a good third or something.”

Pedigree Notes:

With his Preakness win, Rombauer becomes the 10th group/graded winner and the fifth Grade I/Group 1 scorer for Twirling Candy (by Candy Ride {Arg}). Unraced Cashmere, the winner's dam, is a half-sister to graded winners California Flag (Avenue of Flags) and Cambiocorsa (Avenue of Flags), who is the dam of graded winners Moulin de Mougin (Curlin) and Schiaparelli (Ghostzapper). She is also a half-sister to Vionnet (Street Sense), responsible for European highweight Roaring Lion (Kitten's joy). In addition to Rombauer, Cashmere has produced six-time winner Treasure Trove (Tapizar), who was well-beaten in Friday's GIII Pimlico Special S.; the stakes-placed Cono (Lucky Pulpit); an unraced 3-year-old filly by Strong Mandate named Republique and the yearling colt Alexander Helios (Cairo Prince). The 10-year-old mare was bred back to Khozan.

Saturday, Pimlico
PREAKNESS S.-GI, $1,000,000, Pimlico, 5-15, 3yo, 1 3/16m, 1:53.62, ft.
1–ROMBAUER, 126, c, 3, by Twirling Candy
                1st Dam: Cashmere, by Cowboy Cal
                2nd Dam: Ultrafleet, by Afleet
                3rd Dam: Social Conduct, by Vigors
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-John &
Diane Fradkin (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy; J-Flavien Prat.
$600,000. Lifetime Record: 7-3-1-1, $890,500. *1/2 to Cono
(Lucky Pulpit), SP, $167,822. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple
Plus*. Click for eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Midnight Bourbon, 126, c, 3, Tiznow–Catch the Moon, by
Malibu Moon. ($525,000 Ylg '19 KEESEP). O-Winchell
Thoroughbreds LLC; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC
(KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen. $200,000.
3–Medina Spirit, 126, c, 3, Protonico–Mongolian Changa, by
Brilliant Speed. ($1,000 Ylg '19 OBSWIN; $35,000 2yo '20
OBSOPN). O-Zedan Racing Stables; B-Gail Rice (FL); T-Bob
Baffert. $110,000.
Margins: 3HF, 2, 4. Odds: 11.80, 3.10, 2.40.
Also Ran: Keepmeinmind, Crowded Trade, Unbridled Honor, France Go de Ina, Risk Taking, Concert Tour, Ram.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Rombauer Upsets 146th Preakness With Powerful Stretch Run

Trainer Michael McCarthy made his first start in a Triple Crown race a big one at Pimlico race course in Baltimore, Md., winning Saturday's 146th running of the Grade 1, $1-million Preakness Stakes with John and Diane Fradkin's homebred Twirling Candy colt Rombauer. Ridden to perfection by Flavien Prat, Rombauer came from off the pace to win the Triple Crown's middle jewel, racing past dueling leaders Midnight Bourbon and Medina Spirit in midstretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths.

Midnight Bourbon held second, with 2-1 favorite Medina Spirit third, Keepmeinmind fourth and Crowded trade fifth in the field of 10 3-year-olds. Unbridled Honor, France Go de Ina, Risk Taking, Concert Tour and Ram completed the order of finish.

Rombauer paid $25.60 for the win, his third from seven career starts. He ran the 1 3/16 miles in 1:53.62.

“I'm so proud of this horse, everybody involved,” said McCarthy, fighting back tears as he spoke to NBC's Kenny Rice. “It means a lot to be here and participate on a day like this. I'm happy for the Fradkins. It just goes to show you that small players in this game can be successful, as well. Hats off to everybody. I wish my family could be here. Fantastic.”

Rombauer was produced from the Cowboy Cal mare, Cashmere

With just two mares, the Fradkins typically sell their foals but they opted to race Rombauer after COVID-19 altered the 2020 auction schedule of 2-year-olds in training. On the advice of consignor Eddie Woods, they put him in training instead, sending him to McCarthy in California, and had hoped to sell him privately once he raced.

Rombauer won his debut on July 25, coming from off the pace to win a one-mile maiden race on turf by a half length. John Fradkin was hoping that would generate interest in the horse, but when the Beyer Speed Figure came up a relatively low 55, there were no calls.

After Rombauer's Preakness victory, Fradkin said he later would learn that Del Mar's timing system was not working properly and the race was probably run much faster than the official time. If the real time was published, Fradkin said, the horse probably would have been sold.

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Preakness Notes: Fradkins Happy To Take Detour From Commercial Market With Rombauer

At this time a year ago, Diane and John Fradkin were trying to figure out what to do with the 2-year-old homebred colt they would later name Rombauer. A couple of unexpected turns, six races and $290,500 in purse earnings later, the versatile son of Twirling Candy has brought the Santa Ana, Calif. couple to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., for Saturday's 146th Preakness Stakes (G1).

Rombauer is their first starter in a Triple Crown race.

“That's exciting,” John Fradkin said. “Generally speaking, we think of ourselves as small-time, commercial breeders. We aim to sell our progeny. This is a rarity. In the past we've pretty much only raced horses that we couldn't sell. This is kind of an exception, just the way it all transpired.”

Rombauer earned a fees-paid entry into the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown by winning the Feb. 13 El Camino Real Derby, a Preakness 'Win & In' event, at Golden Gate Fields. Most recently, he finished third in the Blue Grass (G2) on April 3 at Keeneland.

Under normal circumstances, the Fradkins would not be in Baltimore to watch their colt run in the Preakness. Because 2020 was anything but normal, the Fradkins did not sell the colt from their two-mare breeding operation. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the April OBS sale of 2-year-olds was delayed a couple of months.

Since the dam, Cashmere by Cowboy Cal, typically produced precocious babies that win early in their careers, consigner Eddie Woods advised the Fradkins to sell him in a private sale after he had proven himself at the track. They sent Rombauer to their trainer, Michael McCarthy, at Santa Anita. Rombauer promptly won his first career start at a mile on turf at Del Mar on July 25.

“He closed, he came home really well, and I honestly thought there would be some pretty big offers after that race,” Fradkin said. “But there weren't because the time was really bad and the initial Beyer number they gave him was 48. The time was 1:38 and change (1:38.30). It didn't really surprise me that there really weren't any solid offers.”

Rombauer landed in the keeper category and is writing an interesting story.

“It was sort of two lucky breaks on our part that caused us to still own the horse,” Fradkin said. “There's actually been substantial offers since that we've perhaps stupidly turned down.”

Rombauer had a troubled trip in his next start, the Del Mar Juvenile Turf Stakes on Sept. 6 and ended up sixth, but beaten only two lengths. McCarthy recommended that they try Rombauer on dirt and he ended up second, three-quarters of a length back, after a wide trip in the American Pharoah (G1) at Santa Anita. He completed his 2-year-old season with a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland.

In late January, Fradkin told McCarthy that he wanted to opt out of the Robert B. Lewis (G3) and wait for the El Camino Real Derby.

“I thought it was going to be a much easier race,” Fradkin said. “We scratched out of the Robert Lewis because I thought the field was really, really tough. We had a pretty heated discussion about that. I thought that even if we ran it really well, we were likely to finish fifth because that was probably the best field ever assembled for 3-year-old colts for only $100,000. Two weeks later, we had a race up north for the same amount of purse money and I knew the field was going to be a lot easier. So that was my thinking. That continues to be my thinking, that I want to pick easier spots for the horse.”

Fradkin, who spent a handful of years as a professional horseplayer, was right: Medina Spirit, who went on to prevail in the Kentucky Derby, won the Robert Lewis. Hot Rod Charlie was third in both races.

“And I think if a horse runs his best race ever, he should be earning money,” he said. “I felt that probably would not have happened in the Robert B. Lewis and it probably wouldn't have happened in the Kentucky Derby either. We could have run our best race ever and wouldn't have made any money. So that's why we've chosen the path we've chosen.”

The road to the Preakness began in the summer of 1993 when Fradkin claimed Ruff Hombre for $25,000 at Hollywood Park. He finished last in the race and was off for two months before winning what turned out to be his career finale at Del Mar. The Fradkins invested the earnings from Ruff Hombre's win at the Keeneland September Sale in a skinny New Jersey-bred Afleet filly they named Ultrafleet. She failed to hit the board in her four starts.

“We decided to retire her and make her a broodmare,” Fradkin said. “Pretty much everybody said that was stupid, but we did it anyway and it turned out pretty well.”

Ultrafleet became the foundation mare for the Fradkins. She dropped 14 foals before her death in 2012. Among them were California Flag, who won the 2009 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1), and graded stakes winner Cambiocorsa, who is the granddam of 2018 European Horse of the Year Roaring Lion. The Fradkins retained Cashmere, Ultrafleet's next-to-last foal. Cashmere also produced Treasure Trove, who runs in the Pimlico Special (G3) on Friday.

'Fresh and Happy' Medina Spirit, Concert Tour Set for Preakness
Medina Spirit and Concert Tour, the two highest-rated colts in the morning line for Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1), each galloped 1 ¼ miles Friday morning at Pimlico Race Course under the direction of Jimmy Barnes, trainer Bob Baffert's longtime assistant.

Medina Spirit, owned by Zedan Racing Stables, is rated as the 9-5 favorite in the field of 10 after leading the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) from start to finish. Gary and Mary West's Concert Tour is rated second at 5-2 in the morning line. In his most recent start he was third as the favorite in the Arkansas Derby (G1) on April 10.

“We had a little bit of a lighter day for them today because they have such a big day tomorrow,” Barnes said. “Both horses came off the track fresh and happy and looking awesome.”

Medina Spirit and Concert Tour are Baffert's hopes for a record-breaking eighth Preakness winner. He is a tied with Robert Wyndham Walden, who dominated the race during the final quarter of the 19th century.

Medina Spirit will break from Post No. 3 under his regular rider, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez. Mike Smith, the 55-year-old Hall of Fame jockey, will ride Concert Tour for the first time from Post No. 10. Velazquez will be riding in the Preakness for the 11th time. He has a record of 0-3-3. Concert Tour will be Smith's 19th starter. His two wins came with Prairie Bayou in 1993 and Triple Crown winner Justify in 2018. Smith also has finished second twice and third four times.

Asmussen 'Expecting a Very Good Run' from Midnight Bourbon
Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon galloped over the Pimlico surface the day before Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1). Irad Ortiz Jr. will be aboard for the first time. The defending three-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey will seek his first Preakness victory after finishing off the board in two prior mounts.

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen again will lead the massive, good-feeling colt from the barn over to the paddock for the Preakness. When Midnight Bourbon schooled in the paddock Thursday afternoon, Asmussen was on the left side of the horse with assistant trainer Darren Fleming on the right.

One sign to expect something big from Midnight Bourbon may be that Asmussen has been using words like “giddy” and “jazzed up” for his quest to saddle a third Preakness winner with the sixth-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby (G1).

“He's a fun horse to train,” Asmussen said. “The horse is obviously very strong-minded and willful. But he's exciting to be around. He's extremely physical. He's a gorgeous horse to watch. Like I said, we're very optimistic as horsemen. The giddy part, or the humorous part, was that less than two weeks after the disappointment of the Derby, here we are crazy enough to think we can do it again.”

Asmussen said it's a positive that they haven't noticed a change in Midnight Bourbon since before the Derby.

“We're expecting a very good run from him,” he said. “I thought he was in great physical shape going into the Derby…everything was going extremely well. Missing the break did not put him in the position necessary for him to have success. From where he was, he ran reasonably well but not good enough. Here we are with a lot of horse going into the Preakness and expecting a better outcome.”

Asmussen earned his first Triple Crown victory in the 2007 Preakness with two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, who nipped Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in a photo finish. Two years later, in her first start for majority owner Jess Jackson and Asmussen after being sold, Kentucky Oaks winner (G1) Rachel Alexandra held off Derby winner Mine That Bird to become the first filly since 1924 to capture the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. Rachel Alexandra went on to be the 2009 Horse of the Year.

“Coming back to Pimlico is extremely special,” Asmussen said. “Curlin's Preakness win here over Street Sense was as exciting as it can get for us. Being a Classic, it being Curlin, being the first time to have success on that level, you can't duplicate that again. And then to have the amazing opportunity to run Rachel Alexandra here, with the queen that she was, you can't top those memories.”

'Reward Outweighs Risk' for Brown Trainees in Middle Jewel
Klaravich Stables' Risk Taking and Crowded Trade repeated their routine on Friday. The Preakness runners of trainer Chad Brown took turns galloping 1 ¼ miles at Pimlico – the same thing they did on Thursday while preparing for starts in Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1) – and Jose Hernandez, Brown's assistant who is caring for the horses here, said they are both ready to roll.

“They are doing good, and they are training good,” Hernandez said. “We will see what happens on Saturday. Everything they have done here, they have done well.”

Crowded Trade was the first to hit the track, going out at 6 a.m. with exercise rider Kelvin Perez on board. A half hour later, Perez was on Risk Taking's back for his gallop. Brown was expected to be in town Friday afternoon.

Hernandez said he would like to see Crowded Trade, who was third in the April 3 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct, race closer to the pace. Risk Taking, he said, should be doing his best running late. He also ran in the Wood and was a disappointing seventh as the 2-1 favorite.

Both horses have trained well since the Wood and Brown was encouraged with their last works, five-furlong breezes last Sunday at Belmont Park. Working in company, both horses were timed in 1:01.76.

“A couple of their best workouts of the season,” said Brown, who won the 2017 Preakness with Cloud Computing. “This is a good opportunity to take a shot in a Classic race. Going into a race like this, you want to have a horse really thriving and doing well and I think we have two of them. The reward outweighs the risk to take a shot.”

Crowded Trade, who will be ridden by Javier Castellano, is 10-1 in the Preakness morning line. Risk Taking, who will team with jockey Jose Ortiz, is 15-1.

Connections Hoping Keepmeinmind Will Show His Worth Saturday
Keepmeinmind marks the first Preakness appearance for both trainer Robertino Diodoro and jockey David Cohen.

Diodoro knows Keepmeinmind, a late-running seventh in the Kentucky Derby, probably will need a good setup to hit the board for the first time this year and to win for the first time since the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs Nov. 2. But he expects Keepmeinmind is sitting on a big performance.

“What needs to happen is what it looks like is going to happen on paper,” Diodoro said. “We just need it to happen on dirt now, where we need Midnight Bourbon, we need both of [trainer Bob] Baffert's horses (to go out to the lead) to get a little pace to run out. But definitely with his running style, we need a pace to run at.”

Before Keepmeinmind ran in the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1), Ned Toffey said it was just a matter of time before the colt reaffirmed why Spendthrift Farm bought part-ownership following his victory in the Kentucky Jockey Club. Spendthrift is partners with Cypress Creek Equine and Arnold Bennewith.

Keepmeinmind heads out to the racetrack on Friday morning

“If you look at him, he doesn't look like a horse that would be a good 2-year-old and that would be it,” said Toffey, Spendthrift Farm's general manager. “We saw so much potential as a 2-year-old, he ran some nice races. He ran a very nice race at Churchill Downs and showed he could run with these horses [finishing third] in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile [G1; at Keeneland]. If you look at him, he's a big stretchy horse and really looks like he could do some more maturing. He's a long drink of water now. He's a beautiful animal, but I can see this horse the second half of the year being formidable.”

Diodoro took the blinkers off Keepmeinmind for the Derby. Toffey is among those extremely encouraged by that effort, when Keepmeinmind closed from last to come in seventh.

“I think he confirmed in the Derby that he's a horse that wants to come from well off the pace,” he said. “That was the approach Robertino wanted to take: let him come out of the gate, find his stride and make a run. He really did that well in the Derby. Of course, that's one of the problems when you're a come-from-behind horse in the Derby in a 20-horse field. You're probably going to be forced wide. Obviously, being wide didn't help his chances. It seems unlikely to think he was going to come away with a win there. But it looks like he could have been a touch in behind those first four horses, with a little luck on the turn.

“But I thought he ran a really good race,” he added. “He showed he belonged and that he can run with anybody. We're looking forward to a good race from him in the Preakness.”

With merely a length separating the Kentucky Derby's first and fourth-place finishers, Toffey said that victorious Medina Spirit, the Preakness' 9-5 morning-line favorite, “hasn't proven to be a dominant horse, but he's certainly proven to be a very consistently good horse.”

Saez Shooting for Initial Triple Crown Success in Preakness
Luis Saez, third in North America in both wins and purse earnings in 2020, has been a rising star the past couple of years. That includes earning his first Breeders' Cup victory last fall aboard champion Essential Quality in the Juvenile (G1), along with seconds in four other Cup races that weekend at Keeneland.

With Essential Quality skipping Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1) after his Kentucky Derby (G1) fourth-place finish, Saez landed on Whisper Hill Farm's Unbridled Honor for trainer Todd Pletcher. Unbridled Honor comes into the 1 3/16-mile Classic off a second in the Lexington (G3) at Keeneland that followed a fourth in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). His lone victory was a maiden race at Tampa.

While Unbridled Honor is 15-1 in the morning line, consider that Saez's only prior Preakness mount was Bravazo, who in 2018 finished second by only a half-length behind eventual Triple Crown hero Justify. Bravazo also was 15-1.

Saez is still seeking his first official Triple Crown victory. He finished first aboard Maximum Security in the 2019 Kentucky Derby, only to be disqualified for interference.

Pletcher is seeking his first Preakness victory to go with his two Kentucky Derbys and three Belmonts. The newly-elected Hall of Famer knows Unbridled Honor likely needs some help from a fast pace to effectively set up his closing kick.

“Hopefully he can get away a little better, get in a little better stalking position and then have a good pace to run at,” Pletcher said. “In the Tampa Bay Derby, he left himself way too much to do. In the Lexington, he got a good pace setup. He dropped a little bit farther back than we'd like, but he got a really clean run at it. He was kind of making a move at the same time as (victorious) King Fury, and King Fury went inside and he went outside. King Fury was able to cut the corner and save ground, but I thought it was a good effort.”

Unbridled Honor galloped Friday morning at Pimlico.

Game Time for France Go de Ina and Trainer
Before he returns home to Japan following Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1) and a planned run in the June 5 Belmont Stakes (G1), trainer Hideyuki Mori wouldn't mind seeing some American baseball. He lives in the city of Osaka and is a fan of the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball back home.

When asked if he wanted to see the New York Yankees or Mets when he goes to New York, he smiled. He would be happy to stay right here and watch the hometown Orioles, who are playing the Yankees this weekend at Camden Yards.

“If anyone has tickets …” he said through an interpreter.

First things first. Mori will saddle Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina for Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1). He went through his final preparations Friday morning, walking on the track with exercise rider Masaki Takano aboard. The son of Will Take Charge then did some schooling in the starting gate, which was an important priority.

In his last start, France Go de Ina broke poorly from the gate in the March 27 UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai and finishing a non-threatening sixth. Friday, the horse stood in the gate and it was hand opened for him to walk out.

“We wanted him to get used to people standing around him.” Mori said.

Mori said he will rely on jockey Joel Rosario to make the decision on where to put France Go de Ina in the race. He said he would like to have the colt close to the pace.

“I don't want the horse to get boxed in,” Mori said. “It depends on how he breaks. If he is traveling fast, he will go, if not, he will settle and wait for his opportunity.”

Mori said that France Go de Ina will not go to the track on Saturday morning, but will have his daily hour-long walking session around the barn.

Ram Conserves Energy for Stakes Debut in Preakness
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent Ram to the track for light training Friday morning at Pimlico Race Course in preparation for a start in Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1), later turning his attention to interviews with television and print reporters.

Lukas, 85, is aiming for his record-tying seventh Preakness victory with Ram, a son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. Ram, 30-1 in the morning line, drew the rail. Lukas made a splash in the 1980 Preakness, winning the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown with his first starter, Codex. His most recent victory was in 2013 with Oxbow.

Ram, co-owned by Christina Baker and William Mack, is trying stakes company for the first time. He is running back in two weeks following a victory in an allowance race on the May 1 Kentucky Derby (G1) program.

“We tapered off a little today. We just went a mile,” Lukas said. “Tapered off and let him get his energy. He had a lot of energy, too. He was sharp today. He's gotten better every single day on his energy level since we're been here.”

Throughout the week leading up to the race Lukas has said his colt must improve in order to have a chance to finish in the top three. Handicapping the race, Lukas said he likes the chances of Midnight Bourbon, trained by Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds.

“That horse, I think, is really dangerous,” Lukas said. “He looks good to me. And Concert Tour looks good to me.”

Ricardo Santana Jr. will ride Ram for the first time in the Preakness. Santana has ridden twice in the race. His best finish was a third on Tenfold in 2018.

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The Show Continues in Preakness

BALTIMORE, MD–Immediately after the May 1 GI Kentucky Derby, it appeared that the GI Preakness S. two weeks hence would be a routine affair. Trainer Bob Baffert would be heading to Pimlico with a record seventh Derby victory under his belt and he would be in the enviable position of trying to collect his eighth win in the second jewel of the Triple Crown. And then the unthinkable happened. The Derby winner, Medina Spirit (Protonico), tested positive for Betamethasone, a substance banned on race day. That single event sparked a week of drama, statements, interviews and a ton of speculation. Initially, the public was told the horse did not receive the drug. Then, it was discovered the colt, who had been wrestling with a skin condition, required an anti-fungal. Enter Otomax, said anti-fungal which contains, you guessed it, Betamethasone. As the week progressed, the speculation continued, lawyers racked up billable hours and later in the week, the local officials gave the green light for the Baffert horses to race after early testing came back negative for any prohibited substances. While many must have given a sigh of relief, the next hurdle remains, can Medina Spirit follow up with a win Saturday? Will a victory silence his detractors or will it simply give the media more fodder for the ensuing three weeks to the June 5 GI Belmont S.? And while the morning line favorite appears to be, at least on paper, the one to beat, nine rivals will try to stand in his way.

Team Spirit
Which ever way you cut the cake, Zedan Racing's Medina Spirit and stablemate TDN Rising Star Concert Tour (Street Sense) enter Saturday's Classic with the deepest credentials. Medina Spirit took his debut at Los Alamitos last December before finishing second in the Jan. 2 GIII Sham S. to another Baffert monster, TDN Rising Star Life Is Good (Into Mischief). That duo met again in the Mar. 6 GII San Felipe S. and once again, Medina Spirit had to settle for second–beaten eight lengths–while the early Derby favorite was forced to the sidelines after suffering a leg injury in training later in the month. Medina Spirit forged on the Apr. 3 GI Santa Anita Derby, and finished runner-up behind Rock Your World (Candy Ride {Arg}). Sent off no better than 12-1 for the Derby, Medina Spirit went to the front and never looked back en route to a half-length victory over 26-1 chance Mandaloun (Into Mischief).

Taking a difference approach early in his 3-year-old season, Gary and Mary West's Concert Tour earned his Rising Star status with an emphatic score going six panels at Santa Anita before making it two straight with a victory in the seven-furlong GII San Vincente S. Feb. 6. Back on top in the Mar. 13 GII Rebel S. over 8 1/2 furlongs, he finished third in the Apr. 10 GI Arkansas Derby.

Medina Spirit, accompanied by a returning John Velazquez, exits the three hole, while Concert Tour breaks from the 10. Mike Smith gets the call.

“[Concert Tour] is a speed horse, so he will get out of there and get a position and be on the outside somewhere,” said Baffert assistant Jimmy Barnes. “I think we're fine with both our positions. They are both front-running horses, so they will probably will be up there in the clear, hopefully. He's one that is placed forwardly in the racing. Being on the outside should be fine.”

Chad Brown offers up two in this year's Preakness renewal, Crowded Trade and Risk Taking (Medaglia d'Oro). The former won at first asking at the Big A before coming up a nose short in the Mar. 6 GIII Gotham S. Mostly recently, the chestnut came from off the pace to finish third behind a pair of longshots in the Apr. 3 Wood Memorial S. Risk Taking came home a winner in two consecutive starts, including the Feb. 6 GIII Withers S. before offering little when seventh as the 2-1 choice on the Wood. Javier Castellano climbs aboard Crowded Trade for the first time, while Jose Ortiz joins Risk Taking.

“Crowded Trade ran a really good race in only his third start,” Brown said. “He did hang a little bit in the lane, but he made up a lot of ground after breaking bad. Risk Taking was quite a disappointment that day. He was coming into the race in excellent form and his numbers were heading the right way. He just didn't fire.”

According to Brown, Risk Taking took a lot of kickback in the Wood, causing the colt to have one eye closed the following day.

“Clearly, the kickback impacted him to some degree,” Brown said. “Whether that fully explains why he just quit in that race, I will never be certain of it. I am just going to draw a line through that race. I just hope he can get back to his race in the Withers, which would put him in contention here.”

Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), winner of the Jan. 16 GIII Lecomte S., followed up with a third behind Mandaloun in the GII Risen S. before finishing second in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 20. Typically on or near the engine in his races, the imposing bay broke slowly after the ground gave away under him at the start of the Kentucky Derby, leaving him uncharacteristically far back in the early going. He rallied to finish a respectable sixth.

“We're expecting a very good run from him,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, who previously won the Preakness with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009. “I thought he was in great physical shape going into the Derby..everything was going extremely well. Missing the break did not put him in the position necessary for him to have success. From where he was, he ran reasonably well but not good enough. Here we are with a lot of horse going into the Preakness and expecting a better outcome.”

Midnight Bourbon exits Post 5 with Irad Ortiz Jr. in the irons for the first time.

GII Kentucky Jockey Club winner Keepmeinmind (Laoban) has failed to hit the board in a trio of starts this term, including a seventh in the Kentucky Derby, but his trainer Robertino Diodoro thinks the late-closing colt can turn things around Saturday.

“The only thing is, the race is run on dirt and not paper,” he said. “You know how that goes sometimes. But on paper, I think there's definitely enough pace and the smaller field helps. I think we drew well [Post 2], and will stay on the rail as long as we can..You got to worry about your own horse, and we're not going to change our running style. We tried that once a couple of starts ago, because of the lack of speed and it didn't turn out [fifth in the GII Blue Grass S. Apr. 3]. We're going to go back to our normal way of just worrying about our horse and hoping he's doing well–and definitely don't take him out of his element.”

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