Preakness Stakes | Horse Racing Free Tips

Preakness: Pletcher ‘Weighing Out All Of Our Options’ With Happy Saver, Dr Post

Trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday he is still unsure if he will enter Happy Saver or Dr Post in the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness October 3 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md.

Owned by Wertheimer et Frere, Happy Saver, a chestnut son of Super Saver, is unbeaten in three lifetime starts, including a winning stakes debut in the Federico Tesio on September 7 at Laurel Park.

The Kentucky homebred worked a half-mile in 49.03 seconds over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga on Friday morning.

“I like the way he worked. He's doing well,” Pletcher said. “I haven't decided yet. We'll just continue to survey what shakes out here.”

St Elias Stable's Dr Post, a last out fourth in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy on September 5 as the favorite, worked an easy half-mile in 50.06 seconds over the Oklahoma training track on Saturday morning. The son of Quality Road was a respective second and third in the Grade 1 Belmont Stakes on June 20 and the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational on July 18 at Monmouth Park.

“We're weighing out all of our options. We'll try to sort it all out this week,” Pletcher said.

Pletcher also indicated that the Grade 1, $250,000 Jockey Club Gold Cup on October 10 against older horses going 1 1/4 miles would be a possible option for either horse should they skip the Preakness.

On Saturday, Repole Stable and St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables' Likeable powered home to an 8 1/4-length maiden victory. The 2-year-old son of freshman sire Frosted extended his advantage at every point of call going the one-turn mile and registered an 81 Beyer for the win.

“We always liked him,” Pletcher said. “He had a solid debut but took a big step forward [Saturday]. He handled the stretch out well and galloped out strongly. We were very happy with it.”

Pletcher was non-committal to a next start but said a stakes race would likely be in order.

“We'll let the dust settle a little bit,” Pletcher said. “He'll probably move up into a stake of some sort. The [Grade 1, $250,000] Champagne [on October 10] is here, and he's now won here at the distance. It's also back in three weeks so we'll have to play it by ear.”

Bred in Kentucky by co-owner Stonestreet Stables, Likeable was purchased for $350,000 from last year's Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Elm Tree Farm, and is out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d'Oro mare Dashing Debby, who also produced stakes winner and multiple graded stakes-placed Dawn the Destroyer.

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‘We’ll Take Our Best Shot’: Art Collector In ‘Stiff’ Work For Preakness

Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector, who would have been co-second choice for the Kentucky Derby (G1) until a minor foot issue forced him out of the race, worked five-eighths of a mile at Churchill Downs in a strong 59.40 seconds – a time for the distance eclipsed Saturday only by Kentucky Derby winner Authentic's 59.20.

“I thought it was good,” said trainer Tommy Drury, who will have his first Preakness starter. “We wanted to make sure we did enough today. They had him in 59-and-change, and I had him three-quarters (of a mile) in 1:12. It was what we were looking for. We went a little longer between races than we'd hoped to be. We just wanted to make sure we're where we want to be. Leading up to the race from here, now you're just kind of back on a maintenance program. You know you've got him where you want him, and hopefully we'll be on the flight the Tuesday before the Preakness (G1) and we'll take our best shot.”

The fractional times for Art Collector's work were 24.20 seconds for the first quarter-mile, and 36 for three-eighths, reflecting a final quarter-mile time in 23.40. He then galloped out six furlongs in 1:11.60, with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. reporting that the gallop-out extended to a mile.

“He worked a really good five-eighths and then his gallop-out was huge,” Hernandez said. “He galloped out a really, really good mile. We knew going into this work that we needed it to be a pretty stiff one because we're going into the Preakness, and they're not going to give you anything. We needed to make sure our horse was in good shape. What was nice about him was that he came back after the work and it was like he didn't even do anything. We seem to be on the right page…. I had him on my watch in '12s' the whole way, 11-and-2 from the eighth pole to the wire, and then he galloped out the same way, just kind of cruising along.”

Turned over to Drury in January, Art Collector is 4-for-4 as a 3-year-old after breaking his maiden last year on grass at Kentucky Downs and finishing first in an entry-level allowance race, only to be later disqualified for registering over the permitted level for a dewormer. After ripping off a pair of allowance races to start 2020, the son of 2006 Preakness Stakes winner Bernardini powered to victory in Keeneland's rescheduled Toyota Blue Grass (G2) and then in the $200,000 Ellis Park Derby.

The Ellis race on Aug. 9 was meant as a bridge between the July 11 Blue Grass and the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby. But to the chagrin of his team — all from Louisville — Art Collector nicked the bulb of his left front heel in a routine gallop the day before Derby entries were to be taken. While a minor issue, it was bad timing, leaving the foot tender and with strict medication rules limiting how it could be treated.

“He's been good,” Drury said when asked how Art Collector is doing now compared with how he was doing before the foot mishap. “Fortunately he's been good mentally and he's certainly happy enough. He had his ears thrown up galloping out this morning. He's doing all the things you want to see a horse do at this stage of the game. The nice cool morning I think had them all feeling good, and he certainly was one of them.”

Art Collector would have been the first Derby starter for Drury, a lifelong Louisvillian, and the 72-year-old Lunsford, who has lived in the city most of his adult life. Hernandez has made Louisville his home since he began riding full-time in 2004.

While missing the Derby at home was a huge disappointment, Art Collector's team quickly set their sights and enthusiasm on a road trip to Baltimore.

“If you'd asked me in January, 'You've got a shot to go to the Preakness, what do you think about that?' I'd have been doing backflips,” said Drury, whose first graded-stakes victory in 30 years of training came with Art Collector in the Blue Grass. “It's one of the most historic races in the country. We'd have loved to have been in the Derby because this is home for us, but gosh, to be able to run in the Preakness four weeks later. That's the one thing that gave me comfort, knowing that we've got a huge race coming up right around the corner, that we can miss this one and be ready for that one — be on our game and take our best shot. That's really all we've been trying to do: make good decisions, use good judgment and make sure that our horse is taken care of.

“Ever since the morning that we didn't enter for the Derby, the Preakness has been our primary concern. He seems like he's going into it the right way, and now we've just got to stay out of his way a little longer.”

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Derby and Oaks Winners Return to the Worktab

GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) and GI Kentucky Oaks victress Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) both returned to the worktab Saturday at Churchill Downs.

GI Preakness S.-bound Authentic covered five panels in :59.20, the fastest of 38 works at the distance. With jockey Martin Garcia aboard, the bay clicked off splits in :23.80 and :35.40, galloping out six furlongs in 1:12.20.

“It went very well. Martin has been with me,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who came to Louisville from the Keeneland Sale in Lexington. “He knows what I expect. I told him we’re going to go three-quarters from the [five-eighths pole], and he just went off, didn’t have to move on him. This horse, he gets over any track. He couldn’t have looked better, coming off a race like that. Everything is all systems go for the Preakness. Got a nice work out of him. I’ll come back, give him an easier work next week and he should be ready to go.”

His stablemate Thousand Words (Pioneerof the Nile), who was forced to scratch from the Derby after flipping over in the paddock, also breezed Saturday. Florent Geroux was in the irons for the five-panel move in 1:02.40 (26/38). The bay was clocked in splits of :25.80, :8 and :50.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60.

“He’s not a real good work horse,” Baffert said. “I usually have him in company, and today I had him by himself. He’s just a steady kind of horse. Distance is his friend. Flo got to know him today, and I think he’s going to work him back this week. Now he knows the horse a little bit better. But it was fine. I like the way he actually finished up. He started picking it up the last part. I worked him seven-eighths today. That’s him. He’ll never wow you in the mornings. Just steady. He’s funny in that if you try to rush him early, he gets discouraged.”

The incident with Thousand Words in the paddock injured longtime Baffert assistant Jimmy Barns, who required eight screws in his arm.

“But Jimmy is doing fine now,” Baffert said. “He got his arm patched up. He had a great surgeon who patched him up. He’s actually in pretty good spirits.”

With Barnes temporarily out of commission, both Baffert horses have been under the watchful eye of fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas since the Derby. They are scheduled to ship to Baltimore Sept. 29.

Also on the worktab Saturday were Preakness contenders Art Collector (Bernardini) and Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper). A late defection from the Derby with a minor hoof issue, Art Collector breezed five furlongs in :59.40 (2/38) with jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. at the controls. The homebred went in fractions of :12.20, :24.20 and :6 with a five-panel gallop-out in 1:11.60.

“He’s in a great spot right now with his fitness,” trainer Tommy Drury said. “We wanted a bit more of a serious work today and he went well within himself. He’ll have a maintenance work next weekend before we ship to Baltimore.”

GII Jim Dandy S. victor Mystic Guide prepped for a possible start in the Preakness with a half-mile move in :48.60 (2/35) at Fair Hill in company with 2-year-old maiden winner Tate (Quality Road).

“Mystic Guide sat just off of [Tate] breaking from the half-mile pole and he came to him in the stretch and they finished together, which was the planned work,” trainer Mike Stidham said. “Then he had a real solid gallop-out. It was just what we were looking for and we’re very pleased with where we’re at with him right now.”

Oaks upsetter Shedaresthedevil also returned to the worktab at Churchill Saturday, covering a half-mile in :49 flat (40/112). With exercise rider Edvin Vargas aboard, the bay clocked her first quarter in :25.20 and galloped out five-eighths in 1:02. Her champion stablemate Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) also breezed Saturday, going four furlongs in company in :49.60 (70/112). Both fillies are nominated to Keeneland’s GI Juddmonte Spinster S. Oct. 4.

Oaks runner-up Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) was also back to breezing Saturday, going a half-mile in :48 flat (11/112) with Tyler Gaffalione in the saddle. Trainer Ken McPeek tweeted that he is considering the Preakness, Spinster and GI QEII S. on turf for Swiss Skydiver’s next start.

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‘We Are Looking At It’: Jim Dandy Winner Mystic Guide Possible For Preakness After Work

Godolphin homebred Mystic Guide, last out winner of the Jim Dandy (G2) on Sept. 5 at Saratoga, remains under consideration for the 145^th Preakness Stakes (G1) Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md., after returning to the work tab with a half-mile breeze Saturday morning.

Working in company with Godolphin 2-year-old Tate, an eye-catching debut winner Aug. 26 at Delaware Park, Mystic Guide went four furlongs in 48.60 seconds over the main track at Fair Hill Training Center, ranking second of 35 horses.

“[Tate] broke his maiden by seven, so he was a good workmate this morning,” trainer Mike Stidham said. “Mystic Guide sat just off of him breaking from the half-mile pole and he came to him in the stretch and they finished together, which was the planned work. Then he had a real solid gallop out … in 1:01 and 1. It was just what we were looking for and we're very pleased with where we're at with him right now.”

The work was the first for Mystic Guide since coming from off the pace for a three-quarter-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile Jim Dandy. The sophomore son of Hall of Famer Ghostzapper has two wins, a second and two thirds from five career starts, all this year, including a third in the Peter Pan (G3) July 16, also at Saratoga.

“He came out of his last race in good order. He's galloped up until today,” Stidham said. “He's been training very well and this morning's half-mile work went just as we planned. We have the Preakness as a consideration. We're not 100 percent committed at this time, but we are looking at it. He'll have another work next weekend in preparation if we do run in the Preakness.”

The 1 3/16-mile Preakness would be the longest race to date for Mystic Guide, out of the A.P. Indy mare Music Note, who has steadily stretched out from six furlongs to 1 1/16 miles to the 1 1/8 miles of his last two starts. The Jim Dandy marked the first time he raced in blinkers.

“He's bred to run a mile and a quarter and further than that,” Stidham said. “As he ran last time going a mile and an eighth when we added the blinkers he was plenty ready for the added distance, and further distance is going to even help more.”

Based the past four summers at Fair Hill, Stidham has never started a horse in the Preakness. This year's race is being run for the first time as the final jewel in a refashioned Triple Crown as well as a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 7 at Keeneland.

“He was a horse that was a little bit behind as a 2-year-old. He had some maturity issues with just some minor, niggling things that slowed him down,” Stidham said. “We didn't get him until he was close to being a 3-year-old so he made his first start at the Fair Grounds. He ran in a sprint race which we knew was more or less just an educational race.

“He ran well that day and when we ran him back two turns he was very impressive, drew off impressively in that race,” he added. “He was a little bit of a late developer, then when COVID hit and they changed the dates for all these races in the Triple Crown, it gave us a chance and gave us an opportunity to a part of it. We're happy to be in consideration for the Preakness.”

The Preakness is the centerpiece of a blockbuster weekend of 16 stakes, nine graded, worth $3.35 million in purses Oct. 1-3 at Pimlico that includes the 96th running of the $250,000 Black-Eyed Susan (G2), one of the country's most prestigious races for 3-year-old fillies, this year on the Preakness undercard.

Stidham said he is also considering 4-year-old filly Peaceful for the $100,000 The Very One for females 3 and up sprinting five furlongs on the turf Oct. 1, and undefeated Princess Grace for the $100,000 Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies going one mile on the grass.

“She won both of her starts on the grass, both going two turns, so we think she's ready for the step up into stakes company and we're hoping for a good effort there,” Stidham said. “[Peaceful] was second in her last start, the first time in a black-type race. She ran well. That was an off-the-turf race where we kept her in on the dirt, and this would be going back to the turf so we think she's going to be in a good spot there being back on the grass.”

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