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Preakness Contenders Get Acquainted With Pimlico

GI Kentucky Derby champion Mage (Good Magic) stretched his legs around Pimlico Race Course Monday morning in preparation for a start in Saturday's GI Preakness S.

The Gustavo Delgado-trained 3-year-old, who went to the track shortly after 8:30 a.m., jogged in the company of a pony once around the mile oval before galloping once around under exercise rider J.J. Delgado.

“He looked good, quiet, relaxed,” said Gustavo Delgado, Jr, his father's assistant. “There were only one, two, three horses on the track the same time he was. He was getting to know the track mainly.”

Rodeo Creek Racing LLC's Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) also got his first look at Pimlico Race Course Monday as he jogged once around with exercise rider Peter Leiva aboard.

“Just once around,” said Jose Hernandez, assistant to trainer Chad Brown. “He liked it out there; he was happy. He went out there, stood a little bit, looked around and was back in about 15 minutes. So far, so good,”

Bob Baffert's National Treasure (Quality Road) got a feel for the surface and a look around when he went out for his routine daily exercise at 6 a.m.

“It's our first day to hit the track,” said Jimmy Barnes, Baffert's long-time assistant. “We walked yesterday. Just galloped about a mile and quarter.”

Red Route One (Gun Runner), who earned a fees-paid spot by virtue of his win in Oaklawn's Bath House Row S., will be the sole representative for owner Ron Winchell and trainer Steve Asmussen in Saturday's Preakness S., with stablemate Disarm (Gun Runner) now pointing toward Saratoga's GI Travers S.

“Red Route One is a horse that ran decent in the preps leading up to the Kentucky Derby until the Arkansas Derby,” Asmussen said. “That didn't go his way that day. He rebounded with a nice win in the 'win-and-you're-in' Bath House. He is a horse that will appreciate more ground, (but) we're very concerned about the lack of pace that is obvious in the Preakness.”

At Churchill Downs Monday morning, First Mission (Street Sense) jogged once around the track on his first morning back training after working five-eighths of a mile Saturday in :59.20 in preparation for the Preakness. First Mission and trainer Brad Cox's other horses headed to Baltimore for Preakness Weekend were scheduled to leave Churchill Downs at 9 a.m. Monday.

Perform (Good Magic) continues to perform the way trainer Shug McGaughey wants the 3-year-old colt to as he heads into the Preakness. He had his final breeze Sunday, working a half-mile in :48.09, the second-fastest clocking of 42 works at the distance.

“I thought his work was excellent,” McGaughey said. “I thought it was the best I had ever seen him go. His work last Sunday (five furlongs in 1:00.56) was good, but this one was better.”

Bill Dory and Adam Ference's Preakness candidate Chase the Chaos (Astern {Aus}) came out of his final timed work in good shape, trainer Ed Moger, Jr. said and will ship from Northern California to Baltimore on Tuesday. Chase the Chaos worked five furlongs in 1:00.80 on Friday, walked Saturday and went back to the track Sunday.

“He couldn't be better,” Moger said.

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Kentucky Derby Winner Mage Among Those Pointing Towards Preakness

Gustavo Delgado Jr., son of and assistant to trainer Gustavo Delgado, said GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) has shown all the right signs following his victory in Saturday's race and will run in the GI Preakness S. May 20 as long as everything continues to go well. The colt is expected to jog around the racetrack Tuesday morning.

“He ate up everything, his feed, he's feeling good,” Delgado Jr. said.

Forte (Violence), the scratched morning-line favorite from the Derby, galloped at Churchill Downs Monday morning in an apparent preparation towards an anticipated run in the Preakness S., but a statement from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission seems to have left those plans in jeopardy. The release said that after a state vet scratch like Forte's, a horse has a mandatory 14-day period when he cannot race, after which he must work for a state regulatory vet and pass a blood test.

Trainer Larry Rivelli said via text Monday afternoon that GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil's (Hard Spun) has exited his strong performance Saturday in the first leg of the Triple Crown in good order.

“He's back home and chilling,” reported Rivelli from his home base at Hawthorne Park.

A firm decision has yet to be made regarding a Preakness start.

Another pair yet to make a final call on the Preakness is National Treasure (Quality Road) for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and 10th-place Derby finisher Confidence Game (Candy Ride {Arg}) for trainer Keith Desormeaux.

“He's tired, as to be expected,” Desormeaux said Monday morning at Churchill Downs. “He'll go back to the track tomorrow or Wednesday. We'll see how he does walking this afternoon. If he's showing some energy, we'll train tomorrow. If not, we'll wait until Wednesday. We'll make a decision by Sunday whether we're going to Baltimore or not. He'll tell us.

Godolphin's First Mission (Street Sense), winner of Keeneland's GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. in his last start April 15, jogged at Churchill Downs Monday morning also in preparation for the Preakness while resuming training following a five-eighths of a mile workout in 59.80 seconds May 6.

“First Mission is amazing, he looks very good,” said Jorje Abrego, assistant to trainer Brad Cox. “He's ready. He'll gallop (Tuesday).”

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Santa Anita Derby Contenders Have Final Works

Multiple contenders pointed to Saturday's GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby had their final works Sunday including the top three finishers from last month's GII San Felipe S.

Practical Move (Practical Joke), winner of the San Felipe March 4, drilled five furlongs in 1:01.20 for trainer Tim Yakteen. Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}), who was second the San Felipe, worked five furlongs in company in :59.4 for Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella.

“We're all set,” Mandella said following the work.

Skinner (Curlin), who was third in the San Felipe, worked five furlongs in :59.2 seconds under Hall of Famer Victor Espinoza for John Shirreffs.

“He was just cruising,” Espinoza said. “He's ready now.”

Also working Sunday was National Treasure (Quality Road), scratched as the morning-line favorite for the San Felipe, who went six furlongs in 1:12.6.

Japanese import Mandarin Hero (Shanghai Bobby) will work for the first time Monday with Kazushi Kimura in the irons. Mandarin Hero arrived at Santa Anita on Friday and his traveling party indicated he has taken well to his new surroundings.

Saturday's GII Santa Anita Oaks could have up to a field of eight including Faiza (Girvin) and And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate), the top-two finishers in the GIII Santa Ysabel March 5.

Faiza completed her final preparations on Saturday with a six-furlong work in 1:12.60 for trainer Bob Baffert while And Tell Me Nolies also had her final tune-up on Saturday with a five-furlong work in 1:01.80.

Clearly Unhinged (Bernardini), a front-running 3 1/4-length maiden winner Feb. 5, worked a bullet on Saturday when going five furlongs in :59.60 seconds for the Oaks. It was the fastest of 53 moves at the distance.

Princess Bettina (Will Take Charge) is also targeting the Oaks with an easy half mile move in :49.20 seconds.

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West Coasters Breeze Towards Next Preps

Edited Press Release

Both National Treasure (Quality Road) and Skinner (Curlin) worked five furlongs Sunday in preparation for the GI Santa Anita Derby that also serves as a final west coast prep for the GI Kentucky Derby. A day earlier, Geaux Rocket Ride (Candy Ride {Arg}) had his first work since finishing second in the GII San Felipe S.

National Treasure, the morning-line favorite in the San Felipe before scratching due to a bruised foot, worked five furlongs in 1:00 for trainer Tim Yakteen. Stablemates Practical Move (Practical Joke) and Reincarnate (Good Magic) each worked. Following the drills, Yakteen said Practical Move, last-out winner of the San Felipe, would most likely stay and run in the GI Santa Anita Derby. In turn, Reincarnate would probably return to Oaklawn Park where he finished third in the GII Rebel S. to run in the GI Arkansas Derby April 1.

Yakteen said National Treasure would run in either the Santa Anita Derby or GI Blue Grass S. at Keeneland April 8.

“He had a very nice work this morning, very happy,” Yakteen added.

Skinner's five-furlong work was completed in 1:01.60 for trainer John Shirreffs who confirmed Skinner was on track for the Santa Anita Derby.

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