Tag: Triple Crown

One week ago, trainer Eric Reed stood on hallowed grounds in the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner's circle following Rich Strike's shocking 80-1 victory in the “Run for the Roses.” Reed joined the cast of “Inside Churchill Downs” on ESPN Louisville Friday to relive his memorable Kentucky Derby experience. Following is part of that interview:

Question: Does it finally feel real that you are a Kentucky Derby winner?

Reed: “I think it has. The first couple of days I can't say it did. It has now. I shed a lot of tears watching the videos and reading the fan mail that's come in. It's finally sunk in.”

Question: Can you relive the events leading to the late scratch of Ethereal Road and getting in the race?

Reed: “I don't really want to go through that kind of stress anymore. We were No. 24 after the Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3), then we got to No. 22 in points. They ran the Lexington and we got back to No. 24. Then, we arrive at Churchill and we hear a couple may defect. We got to No. 21 and the last three days (before the scratch) it was like watching every tic of sand in the hour glass drop. About 15 minutes before (scratch time) we were told we wouldn't get in. They took our security guard away and I made some texts. I gave (Daily Racing Form's) Marty McGee a condolence speech. Then, with a minute to go, they called me and said we were in. You just can't go explain going through those emotions so quickly. It's just something I never experienced.”

Question: At what point in the race did you think you had a chance to win?

Reed: “When Sonny (Leon) made the move at the quarter pole to drop inside I hadn't seen him. I knew going into the turn he had fallen into that group of horses just off the pace. Then, it was just a matter of if he could get a seam and how many could he run by. Then, when they turned for home, I couldn't see him. I asked my friend where we were and he said: 'That's you on the rail. I think you're fifth or sixth.' I still didn't think I could win it but I was so happy because I knew he would run good. When he went around Messier (at the eighth pole) I remember telling my dad 'I think we're going to hit the board.' It wasn't much after that he collared the leaders and won. Man, it was a rush.”

Question: In 2016 you had a barn fire caused by a lightning strike at Mercury Equine Center that killed 23 horses. What does it take to overcome the pain of losing those horses to rebuild your stable?

Reed: “It was a night that no person on Earth should ever have to live through. It wasn't just me that had to live through it. All my employees lived through it. All my clients lived through it. All of my friends who were there the next day lived through it. My family lived through it. We thought the flames and the burning and the screaming of the horses that night was as bad as it could get. But, when the sun came up that next morning, and you actually saw what happened, that was the worst part. It was a massive storm system that went through the area. We had lightning rods on all the barns and buildings – we still do. It was just one of those things that wasn't going to make a difference. It was a terrible, terrible thing. You learn a lot about yourself and the people around you when those things happen. I can tell you exactly what got me through it and that was love and kindness.”

Question: Did you come close to throwing in the towel?

Reed: “I had thrown the towel in the next day when I had to look through the barn and identify the horses. I had given up. I told my daughter and my dad 'I'm done.' This is a game that you have to have it in your heart and it was like someone just ripped it out. I just was so bitter and angry. When I saw my 23 horses laying there it's someone that no one should have to see. It didn't' last long because people brought me out of that dark spot. And I thank God because we wouldn't be here today.”

Question: What did you see in Rich Strike to claim him for $30,000?

Reed: “We actually tried to claim another horse in that race as well (Twitchy). We picked that horse immediately when we were handicapping the race. I found out that horse never ran again. We lost that (three-way) shake. I had handicapped the race and I told (owner) Rick (Dawson) I wonder if there was another horse in the race that would save the condition for next time. I kept looking and I kept coming back to Rich Strike. This horse had really super workouts. He had great connections. He was bet on (first out). The only thing that didn't make sense was running on the turf first out. Then I got to thinking it was early in the 2-year-old campaign. Probably the only way you could get a distance race was running him on the turf. And they probably just took a shot. The logical thing after he ran last would be to run him back for a tag. So, they did what I would have done if I was training him. Probably no one realized he would be a Derby horse. I told Rick we should claim this horse as well. If the turf made him run poorly you're going to make a really good claim for the dirt. Rick asked, 'What if he didn't like the dirt?' I said, 'He wouldn't have been working so fast on it before his first start and they wouldn't have bet on him.'”

Question: Rich Strike paid 80-1 in the Derby. Did you have any friends that made big scores on the race?

Reed: “I had one of my friends make six figures. I had some other friends that made $70,000-$80,000. After taxes, of course. I heard a lot that made $12,000-$15,000 betting $50 across the board or something like that. I think many of them did it just because it was us and to root for the horse as a fun bet. I had some guys that keyed him in the exotics and did some crazy things. It was really good for them. I can tell you I did not bet $2. I wanted to bet a $2 ticket just for a souvenir but I was so caught up in what was happening that I forgot to do it. I'm probably the only one in the entire barn that didn't have at least $2 on him.”

Question: How difficult was the decision skip the Preakness and forego an opportunity at the Triple Crown?

Reed: “In one aspect, it's the hardest decision I ever had to make as a trainer and in another it wasn't hard at all because I knew it was the right thing for the horse. In the horse industry there's the Triple Crown and there's our egos to try and become a Triple Crown winner. We sat down and weighed out all the options. What kept coming across to me was all along I told Rick I couldn't work him every seven days, I had to work him every 10. That's how he likes it. I can't run him back quickly because it takes him that long to get mentally focused again. I kept coming back to the race at Fair Grounds (the Gun Runner) and how he wasn't on schedule and he missed training. And he was not himself. I kept replaying that in my mind and no matter how good he was doing that running back in two weeks has never been tried with him. If he went to Pimlico and wasn't mentally ready to run it was all for nothing. Then it would kill my chance for the race I think we're most likely to be competitive in and that's the Belmont. So, in the best interest of Richie and his career, which I hope is a long career with lots of races involved, the Preakness didn't line up for him. He has the worst running style in the world for a race like that. If he was a stalker and had more speed, the decision to run him may not have been as hard. He's just the opposite.”

To listen to more of Reed's interview on “Inside Churchill Downs”, click here.

The post Reed Still Relishing Rich Strike’s Sensational Kentucky Derby Upset; ‘Preakness Didn’t Line Up For Him’ appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Armagnac, a front-running first-level allowance winner May 8 at Santa Anita, will make his next start in the 147th Preakness Stakes (G1), middle jewel of the Triple Crown, next Saturday at historic Pimlico Race Course.

Both the $1.5 million Preakness at 1 3/16 miles and the $100,000 Sir Barton for 3-year-old non-winners of an open stakes going 1 1/16 miles on the undercard were being considered for Armagnac, according to managing partner Tom Ryan of SF Racing.

The ownership group also includes Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable and Siena Farm.

“We had some considerable conversation about it this morning,” Ryan said. “They were the two races we were considering. It feels like with his progression, he's really trending in the right direction.”

Irad Ortiz Jr., a three-time Eclipse Award winner as champion jockey (2018-20), has signed on to ride Armagnac. Ortiz finished second in the 2021 Preakness aboard Midnight Bourbon.

“We're excited,” Ryan said. “The horse is well, and statistically we've got one of the best jockeys in the nation. Sometimes when you're healthy and well, if the opportunity is there you have to make a decision. Do I want to go large or [not]? It's coming together in a way that we feel comfortable with the challenge.”

Armagnac has raced exclusively at Santa Anita, making two starts since being transferred to trainer Tim Yakteen from the barn of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who is serving a 90-day suspension that goes to July 2. The Quality Road colt was fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 9 at odds of 72-1 prior to his recent 4 ¼-length allowance triumph, which was his first race without blinkers.

The top three horses from the Santa Anita Derby – Taiba, Messier and Happy Jack – all ran back in the Kentucky Derby (G1) May 7. Happy Jack is also Preakness-bound, along with Derby runner-up Epicenter, and fourth-place finisher Simplification.

“We've always felt that he has talent. Obviously, this is an incredible step up in class, no question, but he has some racing under his belt,” Ryan said. “He's a fit, sound horse. Running him back in 13 days I suppose is an aggressive move but, that said, horses are coming back from the Derby in 14 days.”

Ryan said the plan for Armagnac is to ship to Pimlico on Wednesday, gallop Thursday and Friday over the main track, and run Saturday.

“He had a good, confidence-building race last Sunday. I thought he got out there and enjoyed himself. You could see he was pricking his ears,” Ryan said. “The one thing that kind of swayed me was he really galloped out with energy. It wasn't a case that he just kind of got around there and won the race; the case was he won it and he kept on rolling. I just really felt good about that.”

Early Voting Looking Good for Preakness; Zandon Out

Trainer Chad Brown expressed complete satisfaction with Klaravich Stables Inc.'s Early Voting's preparation for next Saturday's Preakness while officially removing Jeff Drown's Zandon from consideration for the race.

Early Voting, who bypassed the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1), has exited his five-furlong workout in 1:00.63 Friday at Belmont in good order.

“I'm extremely pleased. He's been here all winter. What a tough horse to stay here in the winter. My crew here at Belmont really did a fantastic job with this horse all winter,” Brown said. “He's just come around. We always thought he would be a later horse and he turned out to be. I just couldn't be more pleased how he looks and how he's training.”

Early Voting, who will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, registered a pair of eye-catching front running victories at Aqueduct in his first two career starts before setting the pace in the April 9 Wood Memorial (G2), only to fall short of holding off Mo Donegal by a head.

Zandon, a 2 ½-length winner of the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, finished third in the Kentucky Derby, 1 ½ lengths behind winner Rich Strike.

“We're going to pass the Preakness and rest him at this point. I want to give him a little bit more time after what I saw today,” Brown said. “He's nice and sound but definitely a little fatigued from that tough Derby run. I'm so proud of him for that race. We'll see him later on in the summer.”

Secret Oath Worth a Look in Preakness

Secret Oath gave owner-breeders Stacy and Rob Mitchell their first Grade 1 victory as the 3-year-old filly dominated a deep field in last Saturday's Kentucky Oaks (G1). Having won America's most important stakes for 3-year-old fillies, Secret Oath now will try to enhance her legacy by winning in next Saturday's race.

But the Mitchells might not be in Baltimore to see it. They take a lot of pride in doing all the work on the farm, and that includes Stacy virtually always assisting their mares in foaling. And it just happens that Secret Oath's dam, Absinthe Minded, is due to have a foal by Liam's Map right around Preakness Day – the last of Briland Farm's three 2022 foals to be born.

“We may be watching the Preakness on TV from Lexington,” Rob Mitchell said by phone Saturday morning. As for hoping that Absinthe Minded has her baby before Saturday, he joked, “Yeah, because we might have to put her on a plane, bring her up there, put her in the hotel or something.”

As was Absinthe Minded, Secret Oath is trained by six-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas.

The Mitchells' passion for their horses came out in the post-Oaks winners' interview at Churchill Downs, when Rob Mitchell told the media, “If we raise a horse, we foaled it and we delivered the foal itself,” before Stacy Mitchell added, “We have invested our heart and our soul into that horse.”

The Mitchells got into the breeding industry a little more than 20 years ago when Stacy got a Quarter-Horse to ride on their newly purchased 90-acre Briland Farm in Lexington, Ky. Told that horses are social animals and they should get a companion horse, they wound up buying their first Thoroughbred mare, who had never raced, for $1 from a friend of a friend.

They bred the $1 mare, Chao Praya, to Storm Cat's son Level Sands for $1,500. The result was Level Playingfield, who was sold for $15,000 and wound up a graded-stakes winner and $664,822 earner. The Mitchells' subsequent $36,000 purchase Rockford Peach produced Absinthe Minded, a multiple stakes-winner who was Grade 1-placed while making $607,747 racing for the Mitchells.

The Mitchells have had extraordinary success with limited numbers, having only three or four foals a year and never more than six mares on the farm. According to the Paulick Report, between 2002 and 2018, Briland Farm had 44 foals that went on to race, of which three were graded-stakes winners, six were graded-stakes placed, five were stakes winners and 11 were stakes-placed.

“We haven't bought a mare in over 20 years,” Rob Mitchell said. “We have never put a horse on the racetrack to race that wasn't born on our farm — kind of the way they did it 100 years ago.”

The Mitchells often sell their foals, racing those who don't fetch the price they believe the horse is worth. Secret Oath, a daughter of the late Arrogate, was one they pulled from the yearling sale after few people came by to see her.

“They keep a list of how many people look at a horse, and I didn't think many people looked at her,” Rob Mitchell said. “And not many people 'vetted' her and looked at her X-rays in the repository. Very few people looked at her twice. You like to see people come back and look two or three times. It was not going to be a situation where you had 10 people bidding on her. So, I'm thinking, 'Why put her through the ring and not have her bring what I think she's worth?' So, I dropped her out of the sale.”

On May 6 at Churchill Downs Secret Oath, a two-length Oaks winner over the highly regarded Nest, was one of the most looked-at fillies in the world.

“She had at least 100,000 looks last Friday,” Rob Mitchell said with a laugh.

The same will be true at the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, with its massive on-track crowd, international television audience and the interest generated whenever a top filly takes on top males in a major race.

As Stacy Mitchell concluded after the Oaks: “We're very blessed that the clouds and the heavens worked out just right and she didn't sell for a reason. And here we are.”

Secret Oath galloped early Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. She is scheduled to van to Pimlico on Monday.

Un Ojo Breezes 5F at Churchill; Preakness Decision Sunday 

Oaklawn's Rebel (G2) winner Un Ojo, withdrawn from Kentucky Derby consideration because of a minor but untimely foot bruise the morning of entries, worked an easy five-eighths of a mile Saturday morning at Churchill Downs under Colby Hernandez. The Churchill clockers caught the one-eyed gelding in 1:02, with a six-furlong gallop-out time of a strong 1:14 3/5.

“He worked really well,” said Clay Courville, the assistant and son of trainer Ricky Courville. “He seemed happy after his work. I'm excited with the way he worked and came out of it. We'll see how he is (Sunday) and we'll make a final decision. So far, everything is excellent. He dragged Colby around there. He didn't need anything hard, just something to keep him happy. He's a fit horse.”

Ramon Vazquez, who guided Un Ojo to the Rebel victory at 75-1, will be back aboard for the Preakness. With Vazquez now based in California, Hernandez has been working Un Ojo for the Courvilles, who are longtime friends from Louisiana.

“I thought the horse worked really well,” Hernandez said. “He just kind of tugged me around there. I never even had to ask him. I caught him in like 1:01 3/5, and it was a very strong gallop-out. He felt good before the Derby, and he feels the same now.”

Clay Courville said if everything continues well, Un Ojo will van to Baltimore Monday.

Simplification Thriving in Pimlico Environment

Tami Bobo and Tristan De Meric's Simplification galloped 1 ½ miles early Saturday morning at Pimlico Race Course while sending positive signs to his connections that the son of Not This Time is sitting on a big race for the Preakness.

“He really likes it here. He likes the track [surface],” said Jesus 'Chino' Prada, longtime assistant to the Florida-bred colt's trainer, Antonio Sano. “I think he likes it here more than he liked it at Churchill Downs.”

Simplification is coming off a fourth-place finish in the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill, where he closed from 15th with a very wide rally to finished 3 ½ lengths behind victorious Rich Strike.

Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Simplification for the first time next Saturday, replacing Jose Ortiz, who has a commitment to ride Chad Brown-trained Early Voting in the Preakness.

“I think he can win the Preakness,” Prada said. “I read John Velazquez hasn't won the Preakness. He will win the Preakness with this horse.”

Simplification began his 3-year-old campaign with a front-running four-length victory in the one-turn-mile Mucho Macho Man at Gulfstream Park, where he went on to finish second in the Holy Bull (G3); win the Fountain of Youth (G2) by 3 ½ lengths while rallying from off the pace; and finish third in the Florida Derby (G1).

Sano, who saddled Gunnevera for a fifth-place finish in the 2017 Preakness, is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore from South Florida Sunday morning.

O'Neill Seeking 2nd Preakness Score with Happy Jack

In his last three starts, Calumet Farm's homebred Happy Jack hasn't moved the needle much when it came to how much the betting public perceived the 3-year-old son of Oxbow. When he goes into the starting gate at Pimlico the Preakness, he won't be one of the favorites, either.

His trainer, Doug O'Neill, has had success in Triple Crown races of years gone by. He saddled I'll Have Another for a victory in the 2012 Preakness (G1) two weeks after he won the Kentucky Derby (G1). That was the first Preakness starter of his training career. O'Neill brought another Derby winner to Charm City in 2016 but Nyquist could only manage third in that Preakness. His other Preakness runners, Goldencents (fifth in 2013) and Term of Art (10th in 2017) did not hit the board.

To the 53-year-old O'Neill, he feels the stress whether he has the odds-on choice in a race or the longest shot in the field.

“As a professional, you always put some pressure on yourself to have your horse perform to the best of their ability,” O'Neill said.

When he was in Kentucky preparing Happy Jack for his date in the Derby, O'Neill saw media types wandering all over the backstretch. None of them seemed interested in finding him or Happy Jack, who was 30-1 on the Derby morning line. He finished 14th at 23-1 odds.

“You would see schools of media walking towards you and then they would walk right by you,” he said with a laugh. “That's ok. It's a sign the pressure is off, media wise, anyway.”

In his two starts prior to the Derby, Happy Jack was 26-1 in both the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and San Felipe (G2). He finished a well-beaten third in each race.

Happy Jack will continue to gallop at Churchill Down, where he has remained since the Kentucky Derby. He is scheduled to ship to Pimlico on Tuesday.

O'Neill, who returned to his base in California after the Derby, is expected to fly to Baltimore Wednesday night and be on the Pimlico grounds Thursday afternoon.

Creative Minister Set for Preakness Test

Derby Day allowance winner Creative Minister might be light on experience with only three races heading into the Preakness (G1), but he's handled those three races like a pro. After finishing a close second in his debut at Gulfstream Park, he registered 1 1/16-mile victories at Keeneland in the slop and Churchill Downs over a fast track.

“He's run over three difference racetracks and handled it all well,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “I think he'll like the little added distance. Does he fit against the top 3-year-olds? I've worked him against (graded-stakes winners) Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll, and he holds his own every day.

Any time you raise one up, it's like 'OK, he's jumped through these two hoops, but they weren't very high: a maiden and an 'a-other-than' [entry-level allowance]. But once you get a 3-year-old who has jumped through both of those, they don't write a 'two-other-than' anymore. You might as well find out how good he is,” he added. “Both owners [Paul Fireman and Greg Back] are game as Dick Tracy. That's what they want: They want a top horse. I'd like to have another week, but none of them have another week.”

Creative Minister will be supplemented into the Preakness at a cost of $150,000. The Creative Cause colt galloped Saturday at Churchill Downs. McPeek said depending on the weather, he'll van to Baltimore either Monday or Tuesday.

Anticipated Preakness favorite Epicenter, the Kentucky Derby runner-up who appeared headed to the winner's circle until passed late on the inside by 80-1 Rich Strike, had a routine gallop Saturday at Churchill Downs. Trained by two-time Preakness winner Steve Asmussen for Winchell Thoroughbreds, Epicenter is scheduled to have any easy half-mile breeze Monday and van to Pimlico on Tuesday. Asmussen has been in Texas the past few days and is expected back in Louisville on Sunday.

Skippylongstocking 'Very Well' Following Friday Work

Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking was reported to be 'very well' Saturday morning, one day after breezing five furlongs in 59.60 seconds at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, in preparation for the Preakness.

“I think he'll leave tomorrow between 11 [a.m.] and 12 [noon] and get there Monday between 4 and 6 [a.m.],” trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “When he gets on the road, we'll have a better idea.”

Skippylongstocking, a son of 2016 Preakness Stakes winner Exaggerator, is coming off a third-place finish behind Mo Donegal and Early Voting in the April 9 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.

Junior Alvarado has the return mount aboard Skippylongstocking.

Joseph is scheduled to travel to Baltimore Sunday.

Owner/trainer Rudy Sanchez-Salomon's Shake Em Loose galloped at Laurel Park Saturday morning in advance of a scheduled workout on turf Sunday morning. Following the breeze, Shake Em Loose will be pointed to either the Preakness or the James W. Murphy, an undercard turf feature.

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Taiba and Messier are back home at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, Calif., preparing to fight another day after absorbing one of the greatest upsets in the 148-year history of the Kentucky Derby last Saturday, inflicted by 80-1 shot Rich Strike.

Taiba, sent off at 5.80 to one in the field of 20, finished 12th, beaten nearly 18 lengths, while 7-1 shot Messier was 15th, beaten just over 19 lengths.

“They both made it back to Santa Anita in good shape,” said Tim Yakteen, trainer of the two colts that finished one-two in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby on April 9.

“We'll regroup for their next starts. We'll figure it out over the next couple of weeks and come up with a game plan.

“I was happy my family was able to enjoy it, although we wish we would have run better, but it is what it is. We have two really nice horses and look forward to their next starts.”

While there is no known analyst who gave Rich Strike a pre-race mention, in hindsight, Yakteen pointed out a “horse for course” theory that was overlooked on the son of Keen Ice.

“Horses that show a fondness for Churchill Downs have a tendency to repeat that in big races,” Yakteen observed. “Rich Strike had won a race at Churchill by 18 lengths (actually 17 ¼).

“I know it was a maiden 30 ($30,000 on Sept. 17, 2021), but you can go back and look at other examples. One of the greatest was when Blame beat Zenyatta (in the 2010 Breeders' Cup Classic).”

In his 13-race career, four of Blame's five races at Churchill resulted in victories, with one third.

“He was a horse that loved Churchill,” Yakteen said.

Ditto for Rich Strike.

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Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking tuned up for the May 21 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course with a five-furlong workout Friday morning at Palm Meadows, Gulfstream Park's satellite training facility in Palm Beach County, Fla.

The Saffie Joseph Jr.-trained colt, who finished third in the April 9 Wood Memorial (G2), worked in company with Alonso's Novo Sol, a multiple Group 1 stakes winner in Brazil who captured an allowance on Tapeta and finished third on turf in the April 2 Pan American (G2) in his two U.S. starts. Both horses were timed in 59.60 seconds.

“I thought it was a very good work,” Joseph said. “It went really well for both horses.”

Skippylongstocking had won one of his first seven starts – his maiden-breaking triumph coming by 10 ½ lengths in a one-turn mile race at Gulfstream Park in September – before winning his first race around two turns March 2. The Kentucky-bred colt made a sweeping move into the stretch in a 1 1/8-mile optional claiming allowance before drawing off to win by 3 ½ lengths and earn a shot at a Kentucky Derby (G1) prep. The Joseph trainee raced evenly while running on the outside throughout the 1 1/8-mile Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, finishing third behind Mo Donegal and Early Voting.

“The two mile-and-an-eighth races have definitely moved him forward. It was [jockey] Junior Alvarado's recommendation after he ran the one-turn mile race before and stopped. He said 'Try him two turns and longer. It might be a better fit.' He was 100 percent spot-on. He ran two really good races,” Joseph said.

The 1 3/16-mile distance of the Preakness isn't a concern for the trainer of the son of 2016 Preakness winner Exaggerator.

“I think the distance is going to help him, but obviously he's going to face quality horses like Epicenter and the Chad Brown one that beat him in the Wood [Early Voting],” Joseph said. “We're just taking a chance. We feel the distance is going to help him. We'll hope for the best.”

Skippylongstocking is scheduled to arrive at Pimlico Sunday morning following a van ride from Florida.

O'Neill-Trained Happy Jack Joins Preakness Cast

One of these days, Calumet Farm's homebred Happy Jack is due to run a big one in a big race.

Trainer Doug O'Neill hopes that day comes Saturday, May 21, when Happy Jack runs in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness at historic Pimlico Race Course.

After speaking with Calumet owner Brad Kelley, O'Neill reported that Happy Jack will get a second try in this year's Triple Crown. He finished 14th in the May 7 Kentucky Derby (G1) at odds of 23-1. The colt is still at Churchill Downs. O'Neill, back at his California base, said Happy Jack will ship to Pimlico “probably on Tuesday.”

“We did a bunch of diagnostics on him, pulled blood,” O'Neill said. “He is checking all the boxes of a horse that exited his recent race in good shape. We like the Preakness distance, and we like a shorter field than the 20 horses in the Derby.”

Then, after a pause, O'Neill said, “Oh, by the way, his sire, Oxbow, won this race and that is kind of a cool thing.”

Oxbow, also owned by Calumet Farm, won the 2013 Preakness for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Oxbow got the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans after winning the race at odds of 15-1.

“Mr. Kelley runs a huge operation,” O'Neill said. “He has a lot of skin in the game. He loves his horses and takes no shortcuts and surrounds them with the best people he can find. If a horse is doing well and showing they can get in and compete against the finest, he is game that way. I love it. No guts, no glory.”

Of course, O'Neill has a little history of his own in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, having saddled Kentucky Derby (G1) winner I'll Have Another for a victory in the 2012 Preakness.

Unraced as a 2-year-old, Happy Jack broke his maiden in his first career start, winning a six-furlong race at Santa Anita on Jan. 22 by 1 ¼ lengths. O'Neill was so impressed that he sent the colt to the Feb. 6 Robert B. Lewis (G3), in which he finished fifth, beaten 27 ¼ lengths.

He finished a distant third in his next two starts, the San Felipe (G2) March 5 and Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 9.

“In the mornings, Happy Jack has shown us some pretty special stuff,” O'Neill said. “To win his debut the way he did, we know there is definitely talent there. I could see him jumping up and winning a big race like this.”

O'Neill said he will put the blinkers back on Happy Jack for the Preakness. He shed them for the Derby after the colt wore them in three of his first four starts. Happy Jack will also have a new rider for the Preakness in Tyler Gaffalione. Rafael Bejarano rode him in the Derby.

“It's not a big thing,” O'Neill said. “Tyler will be at Pimlico and Rafael was not planning on riding there [Preakness Day].”

Happy Jack will gallop daily at Churchill before shipping to Pimlico Tuesday morning. O'Neill said he expects to be on the grounds either Wednesday or Thursday.

Creative Minister's Team Taking $150,000 Swing

Trainer Kenny McPeek doesn't mind swinging for the fences, and he's got two Triple Crown race victories to show for it.

In 2002, McPeek ran Pimlico's Sir Barton winner Sarava back in the Belmont Stakes (G1), for which his $142.50 win mutuel remains a record for the Triple Crown finale. McPeek then won the COVID-delayed 2020 Preakness with the 11-1 shot Swiss Skydiver, who had finished second in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) but beat eventual Horse of the Year Authentic at Old Hilltop.

But this swing is going to cost $150,000, which is required to supplement the Derby Day allowance winner Creative Minister for the 147th Preakness, because he isn't nominated to the Triple Crown.

“We have felt like this was a real nice horse from the beginning,” McPeek said. “He was behind schedule last year as a 2-year-old. He had what I call some growing issues, and we had to turn him out a couple of times. When we got him ready this spring, I didn't Triple Crown nominate him because I didn't think he'd be ready. Since then, he's just blossomed. His last two starts have been completely professional.”

After finishing second by a neck in his debut March 5 at Gulfstream Park, the son of 2012 Preakness third-place finisher Creative Cause ripped off 1 1/16-mile maiden and allowance victories at Keeneland and Churchill Downs, respectively.

“One of the partners, Greg Back, has been really ambitious to run in stakes races,” McPeek said. “He wanted to run in a stakes out of a maiden win. I insisted that we go in (an allowance) race and then after that, 'we'll go wherever you want.' At this point, we're going to give him a shot at the Preakness. He ran 1:42 1/5 going a mile and a sixteenth the other day. I'm hopeful that puts him in the mix.”

While Creative Minister is eligible for the $100,000 Sir Barton on the Preakness undercard, restricted to horses that have not won an open stakes, “we swing high and hard,” McPeek said. “Yes, the Sir Barton would be an easier spot. We could wait for the Matt Winn here at Churchill, as well. But he's on tune right now. The horse is doing super. Epicenter has been running all year. How that unfolds, it's hard to say, with the Derby winner out. The race is wide open. We're going to stick him in there and give him a chance.

“Weirder things have happened,” he added of Creative Minister's chances of winning the Preakness. “It happened last Saturday. You just never know in this game if you have a horse doing well.”

Still, McPeek admits there was some sticker shock at the cost of making Creative Minister eligible for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown's.

“Well, they blinked a little bit,” McPeek said. “I own part of the horse as well, so I also have to pay toward the supplement. But we're OK with that. In hindsight, I probably should have nominated him (for $600 by Jan. 29). But he hadn't even raced yet, and it didn't look like he was going to make that window of time. But the race the other day was ultra-impressive, and maybe he's taking us there. We're going to see how good he is.”

Picked out by McPeek for $180,000 at Keeneland's 2020 September Yearling sale, Creative Minister's ownership features a 45 percent stake apiece by Paul Fireman's Fern Circle Stables and Back, with the trainer retaining 10 percent.

Epicenter Program Favorite With or Without Rich Strike

Maryland Jockey Club oddsmaker Keith Feustle expected to make Winchell Thoroughbreds' Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Epicenter the favorite for the 147th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course even before Thursday's defection of Rich Strike, the Derby winner at 80-1 odds.

“Once I heard Epicenter was a 'go,' there was no doubt in my mind that he was going to be the firm favorite for the Preakness,” Feustle said. “Now, a lot hinges as far as the price on whether Zandon goes or doesn't go. I'm thinking in my mind right now that if Zandon doesn't go, Epicenter will be in the 7-5 range more than likely.”

With Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Zandon not expected to run, Feustle said Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Early Voting, Zandon's stablemate who bypassed the Derby to await the Preakness, will be close in the odds with Kentucky Oaks (G1) heroine Secret Oath as the second and third choices.

“Early Voting maybe a touch lower in the odds than Secret Oath, and we'll go from there on the rest,” Feustle said. “But very close between them, anywhere from 3-1, 4-1, 9-2. But Epicenter is going to be a solid favorite, especially if Zandon doesn't go.

“Epicenter, for what he did, it was just a valiant effort in the Derby. I was a little skeptical about him leading into the Derby, and I went back and watched his races. He got back on my radar. Just a tough beat for the connections, for a horse to run that hard, that well and just a great ride by Joel Rosario, just to get run down.”

Even if Zandon would run, Feustel said Epicenter might be 9-5. Another factor is Epicenter's trainer, with Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen being a two-time Preakness Stakes winner in addition to holding the record for the most victories in North American history.

“The betting public is obviously familiar with Asmussen, too,” Feustle said. “And the horse has been consistently faster than anybody in the field. That factors in making the odds, knowing what the public is going to gravitate toward.”

Epicenter galloped Friday morning shortly before 6 at Churchill Downs under exercise rider Roberto Howell.

Lukas Keeping Oaks Winner Secret Oath Happy

Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Secret Oath galloped at Churchill Downs under exercise rider Danielle Rosier shortly after the track opened at 5:30 a.m. Friday.

“Just going along with the routine and keeping her happy,” said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, seeking a seventh Preakness victory.

Lukas said Secret Oath, who was third against males in the Arkansas Derby (G1) before her Kentucky Oaks score, will have a couple of open gallops but not a timed workout before the Preakness. He plans to leave Louisville early Monday morning to van Secret Oath and Ethereal Road to Pimlico.

Lukas praised how well Ethereal Road has done in recent days after being scratched from the Kentucky Derby but said he's sticking with plans to run the colt in the Sir Barton. He hopes to use that spot as a launching pad to New York's Belmont Stakes (G1).

“Boy, he's having a great week,” said Lukas on the decision to go in the restricted Sir Barton rather than the Preakness, “I wonder if I really screwed up there. But he's going in the Sir Barton. I'm going to try to make the Belmont Stakes with him.”

Cypress Creek Equine LLC's Un Ojo, the one-eyed winner of Oaklawn Park's $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), jogged twice around the Churchill Downs oval under Clay Courville, the son and assistant to trainer Ricky Courville. Un Ojo, withdrawn from Derby consideration because of a minor foot bruise five days before the race, is scheduled to work Saturday with jockey Colby Hernandez. Ramon Vazquez, who recently moved his tack to California, has the mount in the Preakness.

Simplification Keeping it Simple at Pimlico

Once again Friday morning, Simplification's morning routine was pretty much a variation on his name: simple.

Jesus 'Chino' Prada, assistant to trainer Antonio Sano, said the colt went out on the track with the pony at 6 a.m. and galloped about 1 ½ miles as the son of Not This Time prepares for the 147th Preakness (G1).

“Everything is excellent with him,” Prada said.

Simplification arrived at the Pimlico Stakes Barn at 5 a.m. Tuesday following is four-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. He has been the only horse on site this week, but other runners will be arriving in the coming days to get ready for the Preakness and the 15 other stakes being run by the Maryland Jockey Club at historic Pimlico Race Course May 20 and 21.

Owner/Trainer Rudy Sanchez-Salomon's Shake Em Loose is scheduled to breeze on turf at Laurel Park before a decision is made whether he will run in the Preakness or the James W. Murphy on turf.

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