Pneumatic (Uncle Mo–Teardrop, by Tapit) has been sold to stand the 2022 southern hemisphere season at Haras Abolengo in Argentina. Campaigned by Ron Winchell and Steve Asmussen, the bay colt won his first two starts at three before finishing third in Churchill's GIII Matt Win S. Fourth in the GI Belmont S., the homebred bounced back to win the TVG.com Pegasus S. And subsequently finished 10th after sustaining injury during the running of that season's GI Preakness S. Placing in one of two starts the following season, he retired with three wins and two seconds from eight starts and $275,390 in earnings. The 5-year-old hails from the Winchell blue hen mare Carol's Christmas, tracing to Tapizar, Olympio and Monomoy Girl.
Haras Abolengo, the breeder of champion sire Candy Ride (Arg), also stands Equal Stripes (Arg) and G1 Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach.
7th-SA, $61K, Msw, 2yo, 6f, post time: 7:03 p.m. ET SIR LONDON (Malibu Moon) was led out unsold on a bid of $135,000 at the 2020 Keeneland January Sale, but improved over the next 17 months and was knocked down to agents Alex Elliott and Ben McElroy for $700,000 after breezing a furlong on his wrong lead in :10 flat (see below) at this year's Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Sale. The priciest of 24 juveniles (32 ring) for his late sire in 2021, Sir London is a half-brother to MSP Castellani (Quality Road) and GSP Seeking Her Glory (Giant's Causeway). His multiple Grade III-winning grand-dam is responsible for GSW Converge (Sidney's Candy) and SP Hot Dad (Sidney's Candy). Winning Map (Liam's Map) cost Pick View just $55,000 as a KEESEP yearling but blossomed into a $525,000 OBS March acquisition by Emmanuel de Seroux's Narvick International after a quarter-mile drill in :20 3/5. TJCIS PPs
'Rising Star' Back In Action at Churchill… 9th-CD, $141K, Alw/Opt. Clm., 3yo/up, 7f, 4:55 p.m. ET
Winchell Thoroughbreds' PNEUMATIC (Uncle Mo) earned 'TDN Rising Star' status for a fast-finishing allowance victory going a mile at Oaklawn last April and went on to complete the trifecta behind Maxfield (Street Sense) in the GIII Matt Winn S. the following month. Fourth to Tiz the Law (Constitution) in the GI Belmont S., the homebred made light work of seven rivals in the Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park in August and was last seen finishing well down the field in the GI Preakness S. exactly 52 weeks ago. TJCIS PPs
2019 OBS April Topper Makes Belated Bow… 4th-WO, C$123k, Msw, 3yo/up, 1mT, post time: 2:48 p.m ET MILANO (Into Mischief) was purchased by DeMeric Sales for $300,000 at the 2018 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga Sale and was successfully resold at OBS April the following spring, fetching a sales-topping $1.3 million from Team Casse on behalf of owner John Oxley after the colt breezed two furlongs in :21 flat. The bay colt is out of an unraced half-sister to MSW & GISP By the Light (Malibu Moon), the dam of MGISW By the Moon (Indian Charlie) and GSP Wonderful Light (Tiz Wonderful). TJCIS PPs
Freakish First-Out Winner Takes Next Step… 7th-WO, C$101K, Alw, 3yo/up, 6fT, post time: 4:27 p.m. ET ARTIE (Artie Schiller) had plenty of admirers as a 7-2 chance making his debut in a 6 1/2-furlong turf maiden Sept. 4 and was a clear last early after being steadied right out of the machine. But he traveled sweetly thereafter, pinched ground on the turn and exploded through the lane while switching his leads back and forth to graduate by 9 1/2 lengths in fast time (video), good for an 89 Beyer Speed Figure. The 8-5 morning-line favorite has gate six with Kazushi Kimura back in the irons. TJCIS PPs
Ed DeRosa of Brisnet.com takes on TDN’s Steve Sherack and Brian DiDonato as they handicap Triple Crown prep races plus the big three races themselves. The three will make $100 Win/Place bets in the preps and $200 Win/Place bets in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Highest bankroll at the end wins.
DeRosa – Bankroll: $5480 – GI Kentucky Derby Result – Max Player rallied for fifth.
GI Preakness S.– I wanted to bet Art Collector in the Kentucky Derby, so why not in the Preakness against arguably a softer group with the defections of Tiz the Law and Honor A. P.? Art Collector would have been half the price as Authentic in the Derby, but now we get twice the price since Authentic won the race Art Collector wasn’t in. I’m not up on all that newfangled math my kids take, but I still know logic, and it’s telling me to bet my lungs on Art Collector. I don’t give a lot of wagering advice in this spot, but mine would be to save whatever it is you plan to bet across all the great racing this weekend and put it all on the nose of Art Collector. Best bet of the Triple Crown Throwdown series right here in the Preakness. Selection: #3 Art Collector (5-2).
Sherack – Bankroll: $4110 – GI Kentucky Derby Result– Honor A. P. was up against it from the moment they sprung the latch and was along for fourth after an impossible trip.
GI Preakness S. – Pneumatic finally posted the breakthrough victory I was waiting for in the TVG.com Pegasus S. at Monmouth, and if his subsequent training at Saratoga is any indication, he may have another leap forward coming here. He’s tactical enough to work out the right trip in a race that appears to have plenty of speed signed on as well. Selection: #10 Pneumatic (20-1).
DiDonato – Bankroll: $5840 – GI Kentucky Derby Result – Tiz the Law (+$340) settled for second best on the day. Not sure that’s his favorite track, and it’s tough to dance every dance even when the order and spacing are different.
GI Preakness S. – This seems like a good spot to take a chance with a longshot. Authentic’s last effort almost certainly wins this too, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he turned out to be a little bit over the top here. His pre-Derby worktab suggests he was 100% cranked for last time, and while his two breezes for this were fast, he’s not going to work out the same trip here. There’s plenty of other pace, which is part of the reason I’ll also oppose Art Collector, who I wasn’t totally sold on before his late Derby defection. He can win, but he’s another who’s probably not going to get the same perfect trip he’s enjoyed in recent outings. Max Player is the one I’ll try. His Derby run was sneaky good–he traveled on the dead rail for a good chunk of the race, and made a legitimate stretch run. One of these days he’s going to get the meltdown he needs. Maybe it’ll be Saturday. Selection: #8 Max Player (15-1).
Time to analyze the 2020 Preakness Stakes field, in post position order, in the form of Haiku; a Japanese poem of 17 syllables, in three lines of five, seven, and five.
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
