The Preakness Stakes might not have a points system to sort out which horses make the gate like the Kentucky Derby, but that doesn't mean the second jewel of the Triple Crown doesn't have its own unique prep schedule.
Three horses earned automatic berths to Saturday's Preakness Stakes after taking “win and you're in” races around the country. In the opening edition of the Preakness Stakes News Minute, bloodstock editor Joe Nevills spoke with connections from all three automatic qualifiers, each looking to crash the party at long odds.
The road to the Preakness started on Feb. 11 at Golden Gate Fields, when Chase the Chaos kicked clear to clinch the first spot. Though the gelding has gone unplaced in his two subsequent efforts, trainer Ed Moger Jr. felt confident that his charge could outrun his 50-1 morning line odds.
On April 15, Perform rallied from far back, and overcame punishing traffic to get up at the wire and win the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park for an ownership group that includes Bill Farish of Lane's End. While the automatic berth grants the winner immunity from being excluded from the field if the Preakness oversubscribes, Perform's connections still had to pay a $150,000 late nomination fee to make the horse eligible for the Triple Crown, putting even higher stakes on Saturday's race.
Rounding out the trio is Red Route One, who rallied furiously from his usual dawdling start to nip the Bath House Row Stakes on April 22 at Oaklawn Park. David Fiske, racing and bloodstock manager for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds said watching the colt race is never a dull experience.
Watch the first installment of the Preakness Stakes News Minute below.
A spokesman for the New York Racing Association said May 17 that embattled trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., is not expected to ship horses to Belmont Park in the immediate future.
“Following recent events at Churchill Downs, which remain under investigation by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission, NYRA has engaged in discussions with trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.,” read a statement from NYRA vice president for communications Patrick McKenna. “Mr. Joseph has no horses stabled at Belmont Park and, to our understanding, is not currently planning on shipping horses to New York or entering races at Belmont Park while the matter is under investigation.
“NYRA will continue to evaluate our response should new information come to light.”
In media interviews after the track's announcement, Joseph expressed frustration over the situation, characterizing the track's actions against him as an attempt to distract from a broader issue with equine fatalities there. A total of seven horses died at the racetrack in the span of 10 days.
No ruling has been issued against Joseph by the commission, though a spokeswoman told the Paulick Report on May 10 that the investigation into Joseph's operation continues.
Those Derby week scratches included the removal of Lord Miles from the Run for the Roses. Joseph told the Thoroughbred Daily News last week that while he had considered sending the horse to the Preakness, a four-furlong workout at Palm Meadows on May 12 convinced him to point for the Belmont Stakes instead.
Joseph has continued to fill the entry box at Gulfstream Park throughout the month of May, where he has 15 horses entered over the next four days.
OGMA Investments LLC, Ramiro Restrepo, Sterling Racing LLC and CMNWLTH's Mage continued to give off positive vibes to his connections during a 1 ½-mile gallop Wednesday morning at historic Pimlico Race Course in preparation for Saturday's $1.65 million Preakness Stakes (G1).
“It was the same routine since we got here. He looked better, had more energy,” said Gustavo Delgado Jr., trainer Gustavo Delgado's son and assistant. “He wanted to do more. His exercise rider J.J. Delgado said he's doing good.”
The Kentucky Derby (G1) winner reared up as he was leaving the racetrack as though he indeed wanted to do more.
“He was showing off. He was showing off a little bit,” Delgado Jr. said. “He was just feeling good.”
The son of Good Magic appears to have bounced back nicely from his rallying one-length victory in the May 6 Derby, in which he made only his fourth career start. His victory caused widespread celebrations in Venezuela, where his trainer achieved legend status and his jockey, Javier Castellano, began his Hall of Fame career before immigrating to the U.S.
Delgado Jr. is proud that Mage's connections have been able to show their fellow Venezuelans and others that achieving success is not just a dream.
“It means a lot. I think it's a good message for our community that anyone can do it if they have the will to succeed. It's not a matter of where you come from. It's if you want to do it,” Delgado Jr. said.
Mage is the 8-5 morning line favorite for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, in which he is scheduled to face seven rivals, none of which ran in the Kentucky Derby.
Cox: First Mission 'Had a Great Morning'
Trainer Brad Cox said Wednesday that Godolphin's First Mission is doing very well at Pimlico Race Course in the days leading up to Saturday's 148th Preakness Stakes (G1).
The Lexington (G3) winner went to the track for some routine exercise.
“We had a great morning,” Cox said. “He galloped a little further today than yesterday but was every bit as good as yesterday.”
First Mission drew the outside post in the field of eight for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown and is 5-2 on the morning line. Cox said with a long run to the first turn, draw positions are overrated.
Luis Saez rode the colt in the Lexington and has the Preakness mount, his fourth start in the race. His best finish was in 2018 when he and Bravazo were second to Justify.
First Mission will be Godolphin's first Preakness starter since Worldly Manner was 12th in 1999.
Baffert Trying Different Formula for Success in Preakness
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert will try to use a different formula for success Saturday as he seeks his record-breaking eighth victory in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course with National Treasure.
Each of Baffert's seven Preakness winners had previously competed in the Kentucky Derby (G1). National Treasure, a son of Quality Road, finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) and did not go on to the Kentucky Derby. He drew the rail in the eight-horse 148th Preakness and will wear blinkers for the third time in what will be his sixth career start.
Baffert is tied for the lead in victories with 19th century trainer R. Wyndham Walden.
Five of Baffert's seven Preakness winners came to Baltimore off victories in the first leg of the Triple Crown at Churchill Downs. Two others, both Derby favorites, Point Given in 2001 and Lookin At Lucky (2010), prevailed at Pimlico after failing to finish in the top three in the Derby. Baffert's first three Derby-Preakness winners, Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002) were unable to complete the Triple Crown sweep at Belmont Park. The last two with the Derby-Preakness double, American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018, swept the Triple Crown.
Baffert's assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said that National Treasure, co-owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madakat Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, had a routine gallop at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Blazing Sevens Putting Smiles Connections' Faces
Jose Hernandez, the assistant trainer to Chad Brown, has been smiling all week around the Pimlico Stakes Barn. That's because he continues to be impressed with how John and Carla Capek's Rodeo Creek Racing LLC's Blazing Sevens has taken to Old Hilltop as he prepares to run in the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1) Saturday.
“I think he is sitting on a big race,” Hernandez said Wednesday morning after the son of Good Magic galloped about 1 ¼ miles for the second consecutive day with exercise rider Peter Levia.
The only difference in the routine was that Blazing Sevens went out at 6:30 a.m., a half hour earlier than the last two days.
Blazing Sevens, winner of the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park as a 2-year-old, finished fourth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at Keeneland. In two starts this year, he ran a disappointing eighth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park and an improved third in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland in his last start April 8.
Hernandez also took care of Brown's two Preakness winners – Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting last year – before the boss showed up in Baltimore to saddle the horses.
“I've got the same feeling with this one that I did with the others,” Hernandez said. “This is a pretty nice horse to work with.”
Blazing Sevens will return to the track at 6:30 Thursday morning and will also school in the paddock between races. Brown is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore Friday night.
Winchell Taking 'Route' to Triple Crown Success
Red Route One follows the roadmap for Winchell Thoroughbreds' rise to the top echelon of racing by both breeding and buying outstanding horses. Now the ownership team is hoping the chestnut colt can show the path to the family's first victory in the Triple Crown series with Saturday's 148th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.
The late-running Red Route One, whose name is derived from the Tom Clancy book The Hunt for Red October, is rated fifth at 10-1 on the morning line. Joel Rosario has the mount as he seeks his first Preakness victory after four seconds.
The Steve Asmussen-trained Red Route One is a son of Gun Runner, in whom the Las Vegas-based entrepreneur Ron Winchell's Winchell Thoroughbreds purchased half-interest from Three Chimneys farm as a 2-year-old before the horse ever ran. Gun Runner went on to be the 2017 Horse of the Year and in his first crop as a Three Chimneys stallion sired Winchell's unbeaten 2-year-old filly champion Echo Zulu, last year's Preakness winner Early Voting and four other Grade 1 winners.
Red Route One also hails from one of racing's great female families that started when Winchell's late father, Verne, claimed Carols Christmas for $25,000 in 1981. Carols Christmas, Red Route One's fourth dam, had the downside of being swaybacked but she possessed the speed Verne Winchell coveted. Other horses whose bloodlines trace to Carols Christmas include Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) winner Untapable and Grade 1 winners Tapizar, Pyro, Paddy O'Prado, Olympio and Cuvee and as well as multiple graded-stakes winners such as Tapiture, Finite and Bien Nicole.
Red Route One's mom, Red House, did not race. But she is a full sister to Untapable. Red Route One is her second foal to race. The first was the stakes-winning Red Run, who on May 9, 2021 became Gun Runner's first offspring to win a race.
“Red House was an unknown quantity,” said David Fiske, the long-time racing and bloodstock manager for both Verne and Ron Winchell. “I think we had like four full sisters to Untapable. So it was kind of like, 'I hope one of them works out.' Red Run was pretty decent. So when Red Route One was a 2-year-old and training, we thought, 'Oh, boy. This could be the one.'
“The expectations got a little higher once some of the Gun Runners in the first crop ran,” he added.
With seconds in both Oaklawn's Southwest (G3) and Rebel (G2) Stakes, Red Route One seemed headed to the Kentucky Derby (G1) before those plans were derailed with his sixth place in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Rerouted to Oaklawn's Bath House Row Stakes, the colt's victory there earned him a fees-paid spot in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.
Red Route One arrived Tuesday afternoon and has settled into the Pimlico Stakes Barn.
“He settled in nice, jogged a mile this morning on the track, and seemed to do everything right,” said Asmussen's assistant, Darren Fleming. “Relaxing now.”
Fleming said the plan is for Red Route One to school in the paddock Thursday during the third race.
Eventful Morning for Perform Wednesday at Pimlico
There were some anxious moments for Preakness Stakes (G1) entrant Perform is his first visit to the track at Pimlico Race Course Wednesday morning.
Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey, Perform and exercise rider Noemi Pauquet were scheduled to gallop a mile just after the break.
With Perform standing just after entering the track, a loose non-Preakness horse running at full speed the wrong way came his way.
“It didn't really bother him, but he got buzzed pretty good,” said Anthony Hamilton, McGaughey's assistant who witnessed the incident. “It was right as we got on the track. Obviously, it's not what you want, but Noemi did a great job. The horse was as professional as a horse could be in that situation. He is a feel-good horse and that woke him up a little bit. Then he went out and galloped a mile just like we wanted him to.”
Perform vanned to Pimlico from McGaughey's base at Belmont Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Owned by Woodford Racing LLC, Lanes End Farm, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone and Edward J. Hudson Jr., Perform has won two of three starts this year, including the Federico Tesio at Laurel on April 15 in his last start.
The Tesio is a Preakness win-and-in event. The son of Good Magic was supplemented to the Preakness for a fee of $150,000.
McGaughey was scheduled to arrive at Pimlico sometime Wednesday afternoon. Hamilton said Perform would school in the paddock on Wednesday. He said the plans for Perform for Thursday would not be finalized until McGaughey got to town.
Perform gallops at Pimlico on May 17, 2023
Chase the Chaos Trainer: 'We'll Have a Chance'
Bill Dory and Adam Ference's Chase the Chaos made his transcontinental trip from North California Tuesday and trainer Ed Moger Jr. said the son of Astern was scheduled for an easy day at Pimlico Race Course Wednesday.
Chase the Chaos completed his trek from Golden Gate Fields close to midnight Tuesday.
“He traveled about 16 hours, but it looks like he handled it good,” Moger said. “He cleaned up his food and he was pretty happy this morning,”
Chase the Chaos earned his fees-paid berth in the Preakness with a victory in the win-and-in El Camino Real Derby on Feb. 11 at Golden Gate, where the Moger stable is based.
Though the gelding disappointed in his next two starts, Moger said he is training well, and his connections decided to bring him to Baltimore.
“It's just the opportunity,” Moger said. “We've never run a horse in a Triple Crown race, myself or my owners. We're excited to run. We're a longshot, but he's a good horse. We'll have a chance.”
Maryland-based jockey Sheldon Russell will ride Chase the Chaos, who is 50-1 on the morning line, from Post 2.
Chase the Chaos at Pimlico
Maryland Hopeful Coffeewithchris Checks in at Pimlico
John Salzman Sr.'s Coffeewithchris vanned from his home at Laurel Park to Pimlico Race Course Wednesday to complete preparations for a start in Saturday's Preakness Stakes (G1).
“He's settled in. He's doing fine,” trainer John Salzman Jr. said. “He's doing good.”
Coffeewithchris, a multiple stakes-winning son of Ride On Curlin, will be ridden by Maryland-based Jaime Rodriguez.
“He's training perfectly. He's done everything I've asked of him,” Salzman said. “he's galloping, playing and kicking, so at this point he's doing as good as he can do. If he goes forward a little bit I'm looking forward to him running a big race.”
Trainer Brad Cox said Tuesday morning that he is happy with the way Godolphin's homebred First Mission has settled in at Pimlico Race Course since arriving from Churchill Downs Monday evening.
First Mission, winner of the April 15 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland, will step into the Triple Crown series Saturday in the 148th Preakness Stakes (G1). He drew the outside post in the field of eight. He will be ridden by Luis Saez, who was up for the Lexington.
“I'm super-pleased with how he shipped in last night,” Cox said. “He jumped right into the feed tub. It was kind of late when he got here, but I thought it made the most sense in regards to travel time and when to send him.”
This will be Cox's second Preakness and First Mission will be his third runner in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. In 2019 he entered a pair: Owendale, who was third and Warrior's Charge, who was fourth.
Cox sent the lightly raced son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Street Sense out to the track at Pimlico during training hours Tuesday.
“I'm happy with what we've done so far,” Cox said. 'He had a really good morning and just galloped an easy mile. He's a kind horse. He's easy on himself. He doesn't over-train. He doesn't pull too much. He has settled in well. So far, so good.”
First Mission did not race as a 2-year-old and debuted on Feb. 18 with a second by three-quarters of a length at Fair Grounds. Cox said the timing of the Preakness fits nicely with the colt's schedule.
“He's getting five weeks since the Lexington,” Cox said. “He ran in February, then he was back in four weeks. Then he was back again in four weeks in the Lexington. So, he's getting five weeks. He has never regressed, based off his numbers, the figures I use. He's been very steady with his figures.
“I think he's got to take a step forward. I think he will take a step forward,” he added. “He's given me every reason to be super-confident with what he's done in the mornings at Churchill. His three works since the Lexington have been really good. His first was just a maintenance half-mile by himself. Super easy in 49 (seconds). His last two works have been really, really good. So, we'll see.”
National Treasure's Post 1 Brings Back Pleasant Memories
After the Monday draw for Saturday's 148th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert got a phone call from his son Bode. He gave his dad the news: National Treasure, Baffert's horse for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, had been assigned the not-so-popular rail post position.
“The only time I like the one is after the results,” Baffert said with a laugh.
Getting Post 1 for this year's Preakness brought back memories of 2015, when American Pharoah, who would go on to win the Triple Crown, got the rail and Baffert's other horse in the race, Dortmund, got Post 2.
“After that draw, [wife] Jill called me from Dulles [International] Airport and asked me how we drew,” Baffert said. “I told her Pharoah got the one and she said, 'should I turn back and go home (to California)?”
Baffert had another chuckle at that memory because, of course, it turned out okay as American Pharoah sloshed down the sloppy Pimlico Race Course track the easiest of winners. He romped to a seven-length win, while Dortmund was fourth.
National Treasure, who is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madakat Stables LLC, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan, is coming off a fourth-place finish in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) on April 8.
After breaking his maiden in his first start as a 2-year-old, the son of Quality Road has raced in graded stakes, finishing second in the American Pharoah (G1), third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and, in his first start of 2023, third in the Sham (G3).
National Treasure has been ridden in all five of his starts by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who will be aboard again on Saturday.
“I think he fits here,” said Baffert, who has won the Preakness a record-tying seven times. “He will have to step it up. He is a horse that has not filled into his frame yet, but we have always been high on him. He hasn't really run a bad race.”
Baffert will equip National Treasure with blinkers for the Preakness. The colt wore them in his career debut as well as the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
“We are going to put them back on to keep him a little bit more focused,” Baffert said. “I'm glad we are going to have them now that we are in the one. It's not ideal being in the one, but it's not the end of the world. Johnny knows the horse real well, and you still need a clean break, no matter where you draw.”
Baffert's longtime assistant Jimmy Barnes said that National Treasure has settled in well at Pimlico since arriving Saturday evening.
“He's very relaxed here. The track is pretty quiet here,” Barnes said. “He's right where I want him to be,” Barnes said.
National Treasure went out for his morning exercise, a 1 3/8-mile gallop, when the track opened for training at 6 a.m. Tuesday.
“That's pretty much our basic gallop if we'd be at home,” Barnes said. “We shipped in, gave them a walk day and just did a little lighter training (Monday). Today we were pretty much up on our normal training routine and should be up until the race.”
Blazing Sevens trains for the Preakness Stakes
Blazing Sevens in Good Hands Preakness Week
For the second straight day, Rodeo Creek Racing LLC's Blazing Sevens went to the track at Pimlico Race Course at 7 a.m. as he continues to prepare for Saturday's 148th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1).
With regular exercise rider Peter Levia aboard, Blazing Sevens galloped about 1 ¼ miles during the cool Maryland morning.
“He went pretty good,” Levia said. “He handled the track very well. He's happy. He is a super easy horse. He is an easy horse to train; you can do whatever you want with him.”
Levia, 35, has been working for trainer Chad Brown for 10 years. Among the horses Levia has exercised include 2016 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner Practical Joke, three-time Grade 1 winner Domestic Spending and 2017 Preakness winner Cloud Computing. A small sample.
“I am really happy to be able to work for (Brown),” Levia said. “He has given me a lot of good opportunities in this business.”
Levia, who is originally from Chile, said he has gotten on Blazing Sevens since he was a 2-year-old. The son of Good Magic is a bit different than Cloud Computing, who Levia helped prepare for the Preakness six years ago.
“Cloud was a very exciting horse, very happy all the time,” Levia said. “(Blazing Sevens) is very quiet, but very smart. He saves his energy all the time. Cloud, I think, had more personality than this one. This one knows his business. He can go out and stand on the track all the time you want him to.”
Blazing Sevens has won two of six career starts and is coming off a third-place finish in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland on April 8. As a 2-year-old. Blazing Sevens won the Champagne (G1) at Belmont Park.
In the Blue Grass, Brown equipped Blazing Sevens with blinkers for the first time. He will also have them when he runs in the Preakness.
Jose Hernandez, Brown's assistant, said Blazing Sevens will likely return to the track to gallop on Wednesday.
He also plans to school on Thursday at a time to be determined while races are being run at Pimlico. Hernandez said Brown is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore Friday night.
McGaughey-Trained Perform Arrives at Pimlico
Perform, who has a date in Saturday's 148th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1), arrived at Pimlico Race Course just before 1:30 Tuesday afternoon.
The son of Good Magic, who is owned by Woodford Racing LLC, Lanes End Farm, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone and Edward J. Hudson Jr., will be Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey's first Preakness starter since 2013 when Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb finished fourth.
Perform arrived via Sallee Horse Van and was led off by McGaughey's assistant Anthony Hamilton. Hamilton drove to Baltimore from Belmont Park in his own car. Hamilton said Perform left Belmont at 8:30 Tuesday morning.
“It was a smooth trip, a little traffic getting out of New York, but nothing crazy,” Hamilton said. “They didn't stop, but I did for a burger.”
Hamilton said that Perform, who won the Federico Tesio at Laurel in his last start, which is a Preakness win-and-in event, will go to the track Wednesday morning, likely after the break.
The horse was supplemented to the Preakness for a fee of $150,000.
Red Route One En Route to Pimlico
Red Route One, who earned a fees-paid spot in the Preakness by virtue of winning Oaklawn Park's $200,000 Bath House Row Stakes on April 22, left Churchill Downs around 3:30 Tuesday morning to van to Pimlico Race Course, said Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen.
Asmussen is seeking a third Preakness victory, following Horses of the Year Curlin in 2007 and the filly Rachel Alexandra in 2009. Asmussen was second the last two years with eventual 3-year-old champion Epicenter last year and Midnight Bourbon in 2020. Like those two horses, Red Route One is owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds.
