Bred by Alfredo Gastaneta, the bay colt is out of the Declaration of War mare Andavete, a half-sister to 2020 GI Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Mr. Big News (Giant's Causeway) and hailing from the immediate family of champion sire Saint Ballado.

“This is a good size colt with good bone and leg underneath him,” said Fernando Macchiavello, agent for Alfredo Gastaneta. “He looks like an Uncle Mo, with that hip and balance and long legs. He has that look to him.”

Mo Donegal joined Nyquist as classic-winning sons of leading sire Uncle Mo when he captured his biggest win in the 2022 GI Belmont S. Campaigned by trainer Todd Pletcher and owners Repole Stable and Donegal Racing, Mo Donegal also won the GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct, defeating Grade I winner Zandon (Upstart), and the GII Wood Memorial S. over classic winner Early Voting (Gun Runner).

Mo Donegal retired to Spendthrift with earnings of $1,511,800. He bred 186 mares in his first book in 2023 and is set to stand his second season for a fee of $15,000 S&N.

For more information about Mo Donegal, please contact Des, Mark, Brian or Daniel at 859-294-0030, or click here.

The post Classic Winner Mo Donegal Celebrates A Colt As His First Foal appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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While his Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic is the program favorite for the 145th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said his other starter should not be overlooked.

“Thousand Words has been very good here. I expect him to run a big race, too,” Baffert said Friday morning.

Thousand Words is a son of Baffert-trained Pioneerof the Nile, who sired Baffert-trained 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. He was scratched from the Derby after rearing and falling while being saddled in the paddock. A lackluster work on Sept. 19 put his Preakness status in question, but he stepped back into the picture for the Maryland classic with a sharp breeze while wearing blinkers on Sept. 26. He will be equipped with blinkers again in the Preakness after having competed without them in his last two races. Florent Geroux will ride the colt, who is 6-1 on the morning line, for the first time.

Purchased for $1 million as a yearling by Albaugh Family Stable LLC and Spendthrift Farm LLC, Thousand Words won his first three starts and was a prime member of Baffert's crew of Triple Crown prospects early this year. Even though he was being successful, Baffert said the colt was a bit behind the other members of his core group of top 3-year-olds: Authentic, Nadal and Charlatan.

“He was so immature mentally,” Baffert said. “It's started to catch up slowly with him. He's always been a bit of a slow learner, but he's getting with it now. He still has to fill out. He's got a beautiful frame; that's why he cost so much money. He's doing really well. They're both doing really well.”

Thousand Words was fourth to Authentic in the San Felipe (G2) in March and stumbled at the start of the Oaklawn Stakes in April. With blinkers off, he was second by four lengths to stablemate Uncle Chuck in the Los Alamitos Derby (G3) on July 4. Four weeks later, he won the Shared Belief, holding off Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Honor A.P. After the Derby paddock fiasco, he is at Pimlico playing second fiddle to Authentic in Baffert's band and getting good reviews from the maestro.

“He's getting over the track really well,” Baffert said. “He's happy. He's pretty sharp. He's fresh; he didn't run in the Derby. He's pretty honest. So you never know. He's getting better. I can tell that he looks better now than he did for the Derby.”

Baffert schooled both his colts in Pimlico's indoor paddock Thursday and said saddling Thousand Words will not be a problem.

Asked to make a case for Thousand Words in the Preakness, Baffert said: “He's fast. He gets away from there. I added a little blinker to him. He's got a lot of speed. He's not as quick as Authentic. If he gets into a nice rhythm and is right there you just never know. As the gamblers say, he is the 'other Baffert.'”

Both of Baffert's Preakness colts galloped on the track Friday morning.

Baffert has won the Preakness with each of his first five Derby winners and will try to extend that record to 6-for-6 with Authentic. With the first five, the Preakness was two weeks after the Derby. The pandemic changed the Triple Crown schedule.

“I've never come in here with a horse that I've had a month to prepare him for it,” Baffert said. “I can see a big difference out of him, what he's doing. To me, I think he's getting better. He's stronger. You can tell he is filling out. At this stage of the game they are ready to run with older horses. Back in May, they are still filling out.

“He's doing good, but I've watched those other horses that are in the race train and everybody looks good. Art Collector looks good. Mr. Big News, he looks good. It's exciting with everybody that is here. There are some new faces here and they are excited about their horses.”

Art Collector

Trainer Tommy Drury Jr. got his first look at Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector training at Pimlico Friday morning and was happy with what he saw from the colt who is rated second at 5-2 in the morning line for Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1).

“I'm just glad to be able to watch him go this morning. It looked like he skipped over the racetrack,” Drury said. “That's all we can ask for. We've all done our part. Maybe a little jog in the morning – we may decide to walk him – and we'll turn our keys over to the jock and hopefully he'll use good judgment and we'll go from there.”

Art Collector will seek his fifth victory in a row since being transferred to Drury this year, including dominating wins in the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Derby and July 11 Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland in his two most recent starts.

“He's pretty straightforward and easy. We just tried to stay out of his way and use good judgment and make logical decisions,” Drury said. “He won off the shelf the right way. The next logical step was to try him around two turns. We did that. The next logical step after that was to try stakes company. He's kind of earned his way into this stuff.”

Art Collector went about his business Friday morning in a thoroughly professional manner.

“He's pretty laid-back and easy going, which is a good thing because I get nervous for both of us,” said 49-year-old Drury, who celebrated his first graded-stakes success in the Blue Grass.

Art Collector has shown versatility during his winning streak while either setting the pace or stalking the leaders under Brian Hernandez Jr.

“He's a kind horse to ride. As Brian kind of jokes, 'He's a fingertips kind of horse.' He's got a little stop-and-go to him. You can use him to get yourself out of a spot if you need to and he'll shut back down,” Drury said. “We're hoping that will be beneficial come raceday.”

The son of Bernardini didn't make his first start this year until May 17, when he came off a 5 ½-month layoff to win a seven-furlong optional claiming allowance at Churchill.

“If the Derby would have ran on a normal schedule, this horse was only five-eighths fit. Not to mention he had 0 [qualifying] points,” Drury said. “[The reshuffling of the Triple Crown] has actually been beneficial for me. You've got to give Bruce credit for stopping on the horse and letting him mature and thinking about the horse first. I think that's the biggest reason why we're here today.”

Swiss Skydiver

Trainer Kenny McPeek pronounced Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver ready for her clash with the boys in Saturday's Preakness (G1) following her early-morning gallop over a wet Pimlico racetrack Friday.

“She's a model of consistency. She just keeps it even. She's very professional. She keeps it even every day,” McPeek said. “There's nothing complicated about her.”

The daughter of Daredevil has finished first or second in her last six starts, including victories in the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn, Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and Alabama (G1) at Saratoga, as well as runner-up finishes in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland and the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill.

Swiss Skydiver, who will be ridden for the first time by Robby Albarado, has tactical early speed but has shown the ability to rate off the pace.

“I'm not going to guess the pace of the race. I learned that a long time ago – you can't guess the pace. She's an honest '12s' horse. When you go 24 and 48 [seconds] and then let her do her thing after that – that's her best race. If there's no pace and they go 48 on the front end and she's up there, that's fine. If they go 46 and she's 10 lengths back, I'm fine with that too,” McPeek said. “Robby's going to have to get her in a nice rhythm. He's been around. He knows how fast horses are going and whether they're doing too much.”

Mr. Big News

Allied Racing Stable LLC's Mr. Big News, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, had a strong 1 ½-mile gallop over a sloppy Pimlico track Friday morning in preparation for a start in Saturday's Preakness (G1).

“He had another good day. Everything has gone well since we got here. I don't know if he's had an opportunity to get across the track like it's going to be Saturday, but he's training very good and he's sharp,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “I feel good going into it, so now it's up to him.”

The son of Giant's Causeway closed from 10th to enter contention at the top of the stretch in the Derby before finishing evenly in the stretch. Calhoun expects that Mr. Big News will once again be sitting well off the early pace in the Preakness.

“He is who he is. I think he's a closer. That's the style he has developed and I think that suits him best. Sometimes they change their style – some will want to show more; some will want to show less. It's kind of strange over time how they can change their styles sometimes, but this suits him well,” Calhoun said. “We're going to leave him alone and let him run how he wants to run and forget what's going on in front of him.”

Gabriel Saez has the return mount.

Liveyourbeastlife

Whether it's horsemen or horseflesh, trainer Jorge Abreu has learned from and worked with some of the best.

Six years spent as an assistant to 72-year-old Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito gave him an up close look at champions Storm Song and War Pass and stars such as Bellamy Road, Birdstone and Commentator. Nine years as an assistant to trainer Chad Brown, a five-time Eclipse Award winner already with Hall of Fame credentials at the age of 41, exposed Abreu to a steady wave of talent including champions Big Blue Kitten, Dayatthespa, Flintshire, Lady Eli, Stacelita and Zagora.

Abreu, a 46-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, also spent time as an assistant under trainer John Terranova, getting the chance to gallop horses that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert would ship East for stakes that took residence in Terranova's barn.

“He used to send us horses like Captain Steve, Congaree around that time,” Abreu said. “I'm lucky. I've been around a lot of nice horses.”

This week, Abreu has shared a shedrow with Baffert at Pimlico Race Course for Saturday's 145th Preakness Stakes (G1). Baffert will send out two contenders, including Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and program favorite Authentic, and Abreu will counter with William H. Lawrence's longshot Liveyourbeastlife, runner-up in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga.

Liveyourbeastlife galloped 1 ¼ miles over the main track Friday morning for Abreu, who is making his Triple Crown debut. Baffert owns a record 16 Triple Crown race wins, including historic sweeps with American Pharoah (2015) and Justify (2018). Also in town for the Preakness are Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and trainer Ken McPeek, both Classic race winners.

“I can't describe it. I'm speechless. Really. It will be my first time. It's a big step. I'm very blessed to be here,” Abreu said. “You're in the barn with Bob, Kenny, Steve Asmussen – you're talking about the big guns. I'm very proud of myself.”

Abreu saddled his first two winners (from two starters) while under Brown's employ in 2016 before going out on his own full-time in 2017. He was thrilled when Stellar Agent ran third to Brown-trained Newspaperofrecord in the 2018 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1).

“She was 71-1 walking over, and I felt like she was 8-1. I had great confidence she was going to run good, and she got beat for second right on the wire,” Abreu said. “Being here, it's a different feel. It's just nervous.”

Liveyourbeastlife is listed at 30-1 on the morning line for the Preakness, but Abreu has similar confidence in the son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper, who had to be supplemented into the race because he was not originally nominated to the Triple Crown.

“He seems like he's really improving since the last race. He had two really good breezes at Belmont Park, and Mr. Lawrence told me, 'If you want to take a shot, why not? Let's take it,'” Abreu said. “The horse is doing everything right, so why not take the shot? I'm not here just to be here. If I know the horse has no chance, why waste time? It's a very competitive race, but I think my horse belongs in there, So why not give him the chance?”

Lawrence won the Preakness in 2017 as co-owner with Klaravich Stable of Cloud Computing. Liveyourbeastlife will leave from outside Post 11 under champion Maryland jockey Trevor McCarthy, riding in his second Preakness and first since 2015.

“Everything in this game has its ups and downs, but I've been around a lot of nice horses,” Abreu said. “It helps a lot, just to define what kind of horse you're dealing with because every horse is different. Some horses are just late bloomers, some horses are good 2-year-olds or 3-year-olds and then you don't see them anymore. I think this horse is coming around, and I think he's going to be even better as a 4-year-old.”

The post Preakness Notes: ‘Other Baffert’ Expected To Run Big, Swiss Skydiver ‘A Model Of Consistency’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver was among the first Preakness contenders to take to the sloppy main track at Pimlico Wednesday morning.

“She likes to go in the early set. She likes to get in and out. We sent her out to gallop, but we just took her around twice the wrong way,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “We'll gallop tomorrow.”

Swiss Skydiver, a multiple graded-stakes winner against 3-year-old fillies, will meet the boys for a second time this year in the Preakness. The daughter of Daredevil, who finished second behind Art Collector in the July 11 Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland, is rated at 6-1 in the Preakness morning line. McPeek's other options were the Spinster (G1) against older fillies and mares on Oct. 4 or the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1)on turf Oct. 10, both to be run at Keeneland.

“If they had written a 3-year-old filly race at a mile and an eighth or a mile and a quarter, a Grade 1, it would have been a no-brainer. We'd probably be in that,” McPeek said. “In the case of running against older fillies and mares, we've got a lot of time to do that. In the case of running on the grass – I think she'd like it; I think she could have won the QE II– you only get a window of time to run against straight 3-year-olds and that's here and now.

“She continues to do good. She continues to impress us every day. She eats great. You can't have fear. We'd like to get the big prize, and here we are.”

Swiss Skydiver, who was bought for $35,000 at the 2018 Keeneland September sale, has earned nearly $1.2 million while winning the Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn, Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and Alabama (G1) at Saratoga. She finished second in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill in her most recent start.

“It's all gravy. She only cost $35,000. She's done more than we'd ever dreamt and she, hopefully, continues to do that,” McPeek said. “That's what keeps this game great. You can take a $30,000 yearling and run against a million-dollar colt and be competitive.”

Mr. Big News

Allied Racing Stable LLC's Mr. Big News galloped 1 ½ miles at Pimlico shortly after 6 a.m. Wednesday in preparation for a bid to improve on his third-place Kentucky Derby finish in Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

“It was pretty dark. The track was obviously pretty wet, but he kind of likes the 'off' going. The track was in very good condition,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “He seemed to love it. He settled in really good, made the trip very, very well. He got across the track great this morning and seemed to come back bouncing and happy.”

Mr. Big News, a son of Giant's Causeway, came from off the pace to enter contention on the turn into the homestretch in the Kentucky Derby but was unable to overtake the 1-2 finishers, Authentic and Tiz the Law.

“He gave me a real thrill in the Derby. Between the three-eighths pole and the quarter pole, I got pretty excited. I knew the horses were running pretty quick up front and I thought there was a pretty good chance they might back up to us,” Calhoun said. “The way he was moving, I thought if they backed up and he continued moving like that, he had a chance to win the whole thing. It was a huge effort on his part. The winner and second-place horse ran outstanding races. They made all the pace, a quick pace, and kept on running.”

Calhoun reported that Mr. Big News came out of his big Derby effort well and has maintained his weight for his second Triple Crown start.

Art Collector

The 3-year-old son of Bernardini galloped over the sloppy racetrack at Pimlico Wednesday morning in preparation for his first start in the 2020 Triple Crown campaign.

Jose Garcia, assistant to trainer Tommy Drury, reported that Art Collector, who is rated second at 5-2 in the Preakness morning line, has quickly adapted to his new surroundings after shipping from Churchill Downs Tuesday.

Bruce Lunsford's homebred colt, who missed a start in the Kentucky Derby due to a minor foot injury, will seek his sixth straight first-place finish in the Preakness. He is coming off victories in the Aug. 9 Ellis Park Derby and July 11 Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland.

Drury is scheduled to travel to Baltimore Thursday.

Ny Traffic

The 3-year-old son of Cross Traffic galloped a mile Wednesday morning at Pimlico under Sabine Langvad, assistant to trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.

“The track was sloppy, so it was a nice easy gallop,” said Langvad, who arrived at Pimlico from Churchill Downs with the gray colt Tuesday evening.

Ny Traffic, who is owned by John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC, LC Racing, Paul Braverman and Team Hanley, finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby after being forwardly placed into the stretch. The NY-bred colt finished second, a nose behind Authentic, in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth in his previous start.

Joseph is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore Thursday.

Max Player, Pneumatic, Excession

Darren Fleming, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's longtime assistant in the Midwest, is handling the stable's trio of Preakness entrants this week. All three had their final workouts Monday and were out of their stalls in the Preakness Stakes barn at Pimlico before dawn Wednesday, their first morning in Baltimore.

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Pneumatic, who shipped in from Saratoga Race Course Tuesday, went to the track and galloped a mile under Roberto Howell. Meanwhile, Calumet Farm's Excession and Max Player, who is owned by George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds, walked the shedrow under tack. Excession and Max Player were part of the group of Preakness runners that were flown from Louisville, Ky. to Maryland Tuesday afternoon.

Fleming said he expects that all three will go to the track Thursday morning.

Liveyourbeastlife

William H. Lawrence's Preakness Stakes (G1) contender Liveyourbeastlife got a quick tour of Pimlico's main track Wednesday, his first morning at Old Hilltop since arriving from Belmont Park with trainer Jorge Abreu Tuesday afternoon.

After going out at 8:45 a.m. under exercise rider Kenneth Cruz, Liveyourbeastlife jogged one clockwise lap around the one-mile surface made sloppy from overnight rain. The original plan was for Liveyourbeastlife to gallop 1 ¼ miles, which Abreu hopes to get in Thursday.

“We just jogged him once around. It was a little wetter than I thought it would be today. That's why I waited until 8:45 because I thought it would dry out a little,” Abreu said. “I'm going to plan on galloping tomorrow. Today the idea was to gallop him, but he's dead fit. One day is not going to hurt him. He got a chance to get familiar with his surroundings.”

Abreu was pleased with the way Liveyourbeastlife has already adjusted to the new environment, even if the trainer – making his Triple Crown race debut – hadn't quite gotten to that point.

“There's a lot of nerves. I didn't sleep last night,” Abreu said. “He had a good night. He ate up everything, which is good. He's got a good attitude. He's doing everything the right way right now.”

Abreu said he spoke briefly Tuesday with jockey Trevor McCarthy, who will be aboard Liveyourbeastlife in the Preakness from outside Post 11. Abreu said he will meet McCarthy Thursday morning before Maryland's four-time champion rider, who owns three Pimlico meet titles, rides the afternoon card.

“I'm not going to give him too many instructions. He knows this track pretty well,” Abreu said. “When the agent called and told me, 'We got you,' I said, 'Great!' Yesterday he gave me a call. We spoke a little bit and he's going to stop by the barn tomorrow. If he wants, he can get on him. That way he could feel him out. The horse is pretty straightforward, though.”

Liveyourbeastlife enters the 1 3/16-mile Preakness off a runner-up finish behind Mystic Guide in the Jim Dandy (G2) Sept. 5 at Saratoga, contested at 1 1/8 miles. The son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper dropped back to last in that race with three furlongs to run but came with a late run under Junior Alvarado that fell less than a length shy of the winner. Fellow Preakness contender Jesus' Team was third.

“I'm pretty sure he could have won, but Junior didn't know the horse. He admitted to me when he came back, he said I probably let him do too much from the quarter pole home,” Abreu said. “But, there's nobody to blame. The horse came out of that race in pretty good shape.”

Lawrence, in partnership with Klaravich Stables, won the 2017 Preakness with Cloud Computing, trained by Chad Brown, the year after Abreu went out on his own after nine years as Brown's top assistant. McCarthy's only previous Preakness ride came on his 21st birthday in 2015, when he was eighth behind Triple Crown champion American Pharoah aboard Bodhisattva.

Jesus' Team

Grupo Seven C Stable's Jesus' Team galloped once around the Pimlico racetrack Wednesday in preparation for joining the 2020 Triple Crown campaign in Saturday's Preakness (G1).

The Jose D'Angelo-trained son of Tapiture, who was the first Preakness candidate to arrive at Pimlico Sunday afternoon, finished third in the Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga in his most recent start. He finished fourth behind Authentic in the July 18 Haskell (G1) at Monmouth.

The post Preakness Notes: Swiss Skydiver ‘Continues To Impress,’ Mr. Big News ‘Bouncing And Happy’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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To read previous editions of The Haiku Handicapper, click here.

#1 – Excession
Hey, remember March?
We were so young then, weren't we?
That was his last start

#2 – Mr. Big News
Do we judge this horse
By his bank-breaking upsets
Or his long-priced duds?

#3 – Art Collector
The most likely threat
To test Authentic up front
With gas to kick on

#4 – Swiss Skydiver
Closer to Rachel
Than Ria Antonia
Not afraid to fight

#5 – Thousand Words
Ought to come in fresh
If he didn't leave his race
In Churchill's paddock

#6 – Jesus' Team
This would be his first
Win not running for a tag
Gonna look elsewhere

#7 – Ny Traffic
Caused Derby trouble
Still lacking killer instinct
No ticket-topper

#8 – Max Player
Always runs his race
Stands to move up with more time
In Asmussen's barn

#9 – Authentic
Minor Derby shock
He might be unbeatable
With an unchecked lead

#10 – Pneumatic
Wisely skipped Derby
His reward? Hooking a field
That might be tougher

#11 – Liveyourbeastlife
Fierce Jim Dandy drive
Is he a Spa specialist
Or finding his form?

Prediction
First, a pace meltdown
Then, Max Player secures the bag
Nine, six, three follow

The post The Haiku Handicapper Presented By BC2A Equine Sports Performance: 2020 Preakness Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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But showing how difficult it is for the overwhelming majority of horsemen to even get a horse to the Triple Crown, Calhoun only last year had his first Kentucky Derby (G1) starter in Chester Thomas' By My Standards. This year he and Thomas had their second Derby starter in Mr. Big News, whose rallying third now is giving the men their first horse in the Preakness Stakes (G1).

“It's exciting. You always have that dream to have a Triple Crown horse,” said Calhoun, whose large stable is a force in Kentucky, Texas and Louisiana. “The horses that I've had the opportunity to train for years haven't necessarily been 3-year-old classic types as far as pedigree or conformation, really. I always would have loved to have competed in the classics but never thought it was realistic until here recently when we got just a little bit better caliber of horses that had talent and could develop into that kind of a horse.”

The like-minded Thomas appreciated Calhoun's work with 2-year-olds and began sending him horses a few years ago at the same time he was going to the sales to upgrade his stock. Another major client, Texan Tom Durant, was doing the same.

“Obviously it gives you a little bounce in your step to know you have those kinds of horses in your barn,” Calhoun said at Churchill Downs.

The son of a Texas school teacher who also owned and trained horses, Calhoun opened his own stable in 1994. His first graded-stakes score came in 2003 with Toby Keith's Cactus Ridge in Chicago's Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3).

A critical career move came in 2007 when Calhoun began a Churchill Downs-based division in Louisville for spring, summer and fall. Three years later, he won a pair of Breeders' Cup races with Chamberlain Bridge in the $1 million Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint (G1) and Dubai Majesty in the $1 million Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) on her way to the female sprinter championship.

Finding the right 2-year-old to join the Triple Crown trail the next spring proved more elusive.

When By My Standards won the Louisiana Derby (G2) at 22-1 odds off a maiden victory, it was Calhoun's biggest victory with a 3-year-old. The Kentucky Derby didn't turn out well, an 11th-place finish in a roughly run race played out over a horribly muddy track, but By My Standards has emerged among this season's top older horses. When By My Standards got a break after the Derby last year, Calhoun and Thomas' Mr. Money picked up the slack by reeling off four graded-stakes victories.

Thomas, the Madisonville, Ky., entrepreneur who races in the name of Allied Racing, looked like he had several promising 3-year-olds in the spring. Others seemed more advanced, but Calhoun and Thomas believed the Giant's Causeway colt would thrive at the longer distances.

Mr. Big News finished fifth behind stablemate Mailman Money's fourth in a division of the Fair Grounds' Risen Star (G2). In only his third start, Mailman Money lost by only 2 1/4 lengths with a wide trip.

When it came time to enter the $1 million Louisiana Derby, staged right after COVID-19 began shutting everything down, Mailman Money got in the race and Mr. Big News landed on the also-eligible list, needing a scratch to run.

“We felt (Mailman Money) deserved to run, but honestly we were desperate to run Mr. Big News because he was doing so, so well,” Calhoun said. “At the last minute we decided to run Mailman Money and not Mr. Big News. And of course Mailman Money didn't run well that day and Mr. Big News worked incredible that next day. I was just sick that I didn't run him.”

With Keeneland canceling its spring meet and options shrinking, Mr. Big News was sent to Arkansas for the $200,000 Oaklawn Stakes, which offered a fees-paid spot in the Preakness Stakes to the winner. That non-graded race on April 11 was positioned on what normally would have been the Arkansas Derby, which was moved to the first Saturday in May after the Kentucky Derby was delayed until Sept. 5.

“Things are a little backward this year,” Calhoun said. “It's interesting because Mr. Big News won a stakes at Oaklawn that won a berth into the Preakness. At that point in time, I don't think we even knew when the Preakness was going to be run. We didn't know if this horse was going to be that caliber or not. Typical situation, improving 3-year-old, and here we are running Oct. 3 and he's moved forward, improved and taken us there.”

Albeit not directly. A sixth in Keeneland's Toyota Blue Grass (G2) rescheduled for July 11 seemed to derail Mr. Big News' Derby hopes. The new Plan B was to run on the new Derby Day, but in the Grade 2 American Turf.

“The Blue Grass was supposed to be his litmus test to figure out if he belonged with the upper echelon of the 3-year-olds,” Calhoun said. “Gabe (jockey Gabriel Saez, who was serving a suspension) wasn't able to ride him that day. Mitchell Murrill rode him well but didn't give him the type of trip that he prefers.

“We did get a little bit discouraged about moving on to the Derby, but we weren't discouraged with him. We thought it would be a safer play to take a little bit of a lower road. Lo and behold, the Derby doesn't overfill, gives us an opportunity to run. We were very confident in him getting a mile and a quarter. So we took our shot and it worked out well.”

Calhoun is realistic about the Preakness and making up 3 1/4 lengths on Kentucky Derby winner Authentic — as well as impressive Blue Grass winner Art Collector, who missed the Derby with a foot issue.

“We've got to be better, honestly,” Calhoun said. “We've got to improve, and Authentic has to either regress a little bit or have some kind of trip that's unfavorable to him and favorable for me. He was very impressive Derby Day. He earned it. He set hot fractions and finished up well. So there's a margin there that we're going to have to find a little more horse.”

Still, he says Mr. Big News has given him “every indication” that the colt is doing as well as he was heading into the Derby. And if Mr. Big News makes headlines in the Preakness?

“That's just another step forward in your career, kind of the pinnacle,” Calhoun said. “It's what I think every trainer and owner in this business strives for, a Triple Crown victory.”

The post ‘You Always Have That Dream’: Calhoun Looking Forward To Saddling Mr. Big News In Preakness appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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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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Veteran jockey Robby Albarado will replace Tyler Gaffalione on the millionaire filly. Albarado won the Preakness in 2007 aboard future Hall of Famer Curlin.

When she goes to the gate at historic Pimlico Race Course, Swiss Skydiver will be the 55th female to run in the Preakness. The most recent of the five filly winners of Maryland's Triple Crown classic was Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Her success against males in Baltimore helped her capture the 3-year-old filly title and the Horse of the Year Award.

McPeek had talked about the 1 3/16-mile Preakness as a possibility for Swiss Skydiver since the summer and decided to send her in against males for a second time when she worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 at Churchill Downs Saturday morning. In June, the chestnut daughter of Daredevil won the Santa Anita Oaks (G2), her third straight victory. In her first attempt against males, she ended up second to Preakness prospect Art Collector in the July 11 Blue Grass Stakes (G2). On August 15 at Saratoga, she won as she pleased in the 1 1/4-mile Alabama (G1). Three weeks later, she was second in the Kentucky Oaks (G1).

“I know she will make the distance without any problem,” McPeek said. “I think she will like that racetrack. Of course, she has raced everywhere. Whatever racetrack she has raced over she has handled great. It was a tough call between racing against straight 3-year-olds or older fillies and mares or turf, which was briefly thought about. I think she will handle it fine.

“My preference would have been if they wrote a race back like the Alabama back for this week. But that doesn't exist. There are no 3-year-old filly Grade 1s. She gets a little bit of weight off and she's continuing to do good,” he added.

A victory against the boys would greatly enhance Swiss Skydiver's quest for year-end honors.

“I think if she wins a race like this you've got to include her possible Horse of the Year,” McPeek said. “She's danced every dance and she's been hickory and she had entertained the fan base like probably no filly in years. I think it's a chance to make history.”

The other dirt option for McPeek prior to the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) at Keeneland on November 7 was the Spinster (G1) on Oct. 4, also at Keeneland.

Preakness entries will be taken Monday. Swiss Skydiver will ship to Maryland from Kentucky on Tuesday.

“It will be interesting to see where she draws,” McPeek said. “I think she runs better from the outside and I think drawing the one-hole cost her the Oaks. I think she got pinned down in there and if my rider had stayed inside he probably would have won. But he went around. Hindsight is 20/20. It is what it is.”

Ny Traffic Likely for Preakness Following Sunday Breeze
Ny Traffic breezed a half-mile in 48 seconds at Churchill Downs Sunday morning to the satisfaction of trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., who stopped just short of committing the Haskell (G1) runner-up to Saturday's Preakness.

“Most likely he's going to go, but tomorrow we'll make the decision,” Joseph said. “We were very happy with the work.”

Ny Traffic's half-mile clocking was the second-fastest of 88 recorded at the distance.

Sunday's workout was his first since finishing eighth in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby (G1), in which he was a forward factor early before weakening in the stretch. He exited the Derby with a cut in his left front ankle.

The son of Cross Traffic had previously lost by a nose to eventual Kentucky Derby winner Authentic in the July 18 Haskell at Monmouth Park.

Derby Hero Authentic Slated to Breeze Monday at Churchill
Following more stakes success at Santa Anita on Saturday, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert flew from California to Kentucky Sunday morning to check on his Preakness candidates Authentic and Thousand Words.

Authentic, Baffert's record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby winner, is scheduled to work Monday morning at Churchill Downs. Thousand Words, a three-time stakes winner, had his final Preakness work Saturday.

“All good. He came out of it really well,” Baffert said about Thousand Words. “He's on course.”

Baffert said he will make the final call on his Preakness horses Monday morning before entries close. The post-position draw is set for noon.

In the Preakness, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will ride Authentic and Florent Geroux will ride Thousand Words.

Saturday afternoon at Santa Anita, Baffert saddled the 1-2 finishers in the Chandelier Stakes (G2), Princess Noor and Varda, before saddling the top two finishers in the Awesome Again (G1), Whitney (G1) winner Improbable and heavy favorite Maximum Security, winner of the Pacific Classic (G1).

Art Collector on Track for Trip to Pimlico
Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector, winner of the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby and Keeneland's Blue Grass (G2) in his last two starts, did a combination of walking and jogging at Churchill Downs under Welter Davilla Sunday morning.

“I just wanted to let him move around a little without actually training,” trainer Tommy Drury said.

Art Collector, a son of 2006 Preakness Stakes winner and 3-year-old champion Bernardini, worked a half-mile in 48 seconds on Saturday.

Lunsford, Drury and jockey Brian Hernandez are shooting for their first Triple Crown win, with Drury making his first start in the series. Lunsford has never had a Preakness starter, but his horse Vision and Verse was second by a head at 54-1 odds in the 1999 Belmont Stakes (G1) won by Lemon Drop Kid.

Allied Racing's Mr. Big News, the Kentucky Derby third-place finisher at 46-1 odds, jogged a mile Sunday morning under regular exercise rider Tony Quinones. Mr. Big News is to fly to Baltimore Tuesday. He's trained by Bret Calhoun and will be ridden by Gabriel Saez. Calhoun, Saez and Allied Racing's Chester Thomas all are seeking their first wins in the Triple Crown series, with the trainer and owner set to participate in the Preakness for the first time.

The Steve Asmussen-trained trio of Pneumatic, Max Player and Excession all galloped Sunday. Winchell Thoroughbreds' Pneumatic, winner of Monmouth Park's Pegasus Stakes, is training at Saratoga, with George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds' Max Player and Calumet Farm's Excession at Churchill Downs.

Max Player was fifth in the Kentucky Derby in his first start under Asmussen's care after finishing third in both Saratoga's Travers Stakes (G1) and Belmont Park's Belmont Stakes (G1). Excession makes his first start since finishing a good second to the highly regarded Nadal (since sidelined) in Oaklawn Park's Rebel Stakes (G2). Pneumatic was fourth in the Belmont Stakes before earning his first stakes triumph in the Pegasus.

Asmussen, who recently became only the second trainer to win 9,000 races, is seeking a third Preakness victory, following Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Both horses went on to be Horse of the Year, with Curlin also earning that title in 2008.

Godolphin's homebred Jim Dandy (G2) winner Mystic Guide breezed five furlongs Sunday in 1:01.60 over the main track at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. Trainer Mike Stidham has all but ruled out the Preakness.

“The work went great. It was on a wet track but he handled it really well. We were comfortable with it being a safe track to work on,” Stidham said. “He just went evenly and finished up nice with a good gallop out, but we're pretty much focused on skipping the Preakness and going into the Jockey Club.”

The post Preakness Notes: Alborado To Ride Swiss Skydiver; Ny Traffic ‘Most Likely’ To Run; Authentic Breezes Monday appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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With regular exercise rider Tony Camacho in the saddle, the bay went in splits of :13.20 and :25.40 with a five-furlong gallop out of 1:03.20, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“He left the pole really strong, which is how he was working before the Derby,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “We only wanted an easy work and I told Tony to go in :49 or :50 and gallop out well. He’s been fit after just running in the Derby and it’s been very promising how strong he’s acting in his works after the race.”

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Mr. Big News, a last minute entry in the $3 million Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, worked with regular exercise rider Tony Camacho in the saddle through splits of :13.20 and :25.40 with a five-furlong gallop out of 1:03.20, according to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

“He left the pole really strong, which is how he was working before the Derby,” trainer Bret Calhoun said. “We only wanted an easy work and I told Tony to go in :49 or :50 and gallop out well. He's been fit after just running in the Derby and it's been very promising how strong he's acting in his works after the race.”

Chester Thomas' Allied Racing Stable will attempt to get one of their other stable stars, Mr. Money, back on track Saturday in the $100,000 Ack Ack (GIII). Mr. Money, who is co-owned by Spendthrift Farm, is a four-time Grade III winner but has not won since July 2019.

“The good news is we know how much he likes this track at Churchill,” Calhoun said. “He had some things not go his way so far this year. I don't think he liked the surface at Oaklawn (in the April 11 Oaklawn Mile) and race at Keeneland (a 6 ½-furlong allowance on July 12) didn't really suit him either.”

The complete field for the Ack Ack in order of post position (with jockey, trainer and morning line oddsd): Warrior's Charge (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox, 9-5); Bourbon Calling (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 12-1); Proverb (Adam Beschizza, Richard Baltas, 30-1); American Anthem (James Graham, Mike Maker, 5-1); Mr. Money (Gabriel Saez, Calhoun, 6-1); Pioneer Spirit (David Cohen, Robertino Diodoro, 12-1); Alkhaatam (Declan Cannon, Danny Peitz, 20-1); Ebben (Corey Lanerie, Steve Margolis, 5-1); Bankit (Ricardo Santana Jr., Steve Asmussen, 10-1); Thirstforlife (Chris Landeros, Wes Hawley, 30-1); Dinar (Rafael Bejarano, Cherie DeVaux, 30-1); Home Base (Joe Rocco Jr., Mike Tomlinson, 30-1); and Everfast (Julien Leparoux, Jack Sisterson 10-1).

Saturday's Ack Ack is carded as Race 9 with a post time of 4:53 p.m. (all times Eastern). The 10-race program has a first post of 12:45 p.m. The Ack Ack could serve as a prep for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Big Ass Fans Dirt Mile (GI), which will be run six weeks later on Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

The post Mr. Big News ‘Really Strong’ In Final Work For Preakness Stakes appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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“He was very sharp this morning,” said trainer Bret Calhoun. “I know it was cool. He went a little quicker than we wanted, but did it very easy, well within himself. He was full of energy, kind of what we wanted to see. It was what we wanted or better.”

Mr. Big News earned a free entry in the Preakness with his win in the Apr. 11 Oaklawn S. Calhoun said his charge will work again Saturday, Sept. 26, which will be his final breeze before the Preakness. If it goes smoothly, Mr. Big News will head to Baltimore for the 1 3/16-mile Classic.

“He’s a fit horse; he doesn’t need a lot,” Calhoun said of next week’s work. “I’m not looking for fitness. Just maintain what we’ve got and hold his edge.”

Owner Chester Thomas and Calhoun said the strong finish by Mr. Big News at the end of the Derby helped determine their colt’s Preakness path.

“The free ride in the Preakness was there,” said Calhoun, “but he needed to prove that he belonged with that group of horses.”

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