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Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is mounting a two-pronged attack on the US$2 million Gr.1 Preakness Stakes next Friday, having notified Pimlico Racecourse officials yesterday of his intention to enter the undefeated Goal Oriented alongside Wood Memorial winner Rodriguez.
Goal Oriented, an impressive winner on the Kentucky Derby undercard, will be joining his stablemate as Baffert seeks to extend his own record of eight Preakness victories. Both horses galloped at Churchill Downs yesterday morning, with the trainer confirming Rodriguez will work this weekend before shipping to Pimlico on Monday.
The son of Not This Time has taken a less conventional route to the Preakness, debuting only last month at Santa Anita Park with an off-the-pace victory before registering a front-running triumph in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance at Churchill Downs on Derby Day.
Tom Ryan, head of SF Racing who co-own both colts with partners including Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables and Stonestreet Stables, explained Rodriguez's name: "Rodriguez is named for lots of things. His groom is Mr. Rodriguez. He's named for (singer-songwriter) Sixto Rodriguez because of the movie 'Searching for Sugarman.'" When asked if the horse was named after baseball star Alex Rodriguez, Ryan replied: "It can be if you want it to be. All the Rodriguezes should feel part of the family."
Journalism, the game second in last week's Kentucky Derby, remains a candidate for the 150th Preakness Stakes with connections keeping options open ahead of Monday's entry deadline.
The Curlin colt, sent off as the 7-2 favourite in the Derby, surged to the lead coming off the second turn before finishing 1½ lengths behind Sovereignty following a rousing stretch battle.
"We're not going to rush into any determination right now. We're going to keep the Preakness in play," said Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners president and founder Aron Wellman. "It's an important American classic that holds with it an extreme amount of prestige. We're going to monitor Journalism to the best of our ability and then make the best decision for the horse."
Wellman added: "We think that this is a classic-caliber colt. Even though we're going back 18 years, which isn't exactly ancient history. His sire was arguably a less-inspiring third in the Kentucky Derby and came back two weeks later and beat Street Sense in the Preakness. Journalism is by Curlin, and history has a funny way of repeating itself."
Gosger, winner of the Gr.3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, is set to make his next start in the Preakness with Luis Saez confirmed to ride. Trainer Brendan Walsh said the Nyquist colt could work tomorrow but more likely Saturday, given the forecast for rain.
"He worked really well," Walsh said. "I was over there (at Keeneland) a couple of days this week. He looks like he's training good. He looks good physically. He's not giving me much reason not to go. If the horse has a realistic chance of being in the first three, then we've got to take a shot."
Virginia Derby winner American Promise, who finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby, returned to the track at Churchill Downs yesterday, jogging two miles as he prepares for the Preakness.
Veteran trainer D. Wayne Lukas reported that the Justify colt came out of the race in fine shape and is fit and ready for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. "I might not do anything," Lukas said. "I'm going to just go the rest of week with light training, and then we're probably going to show up there (at Pimlico) Monday."
Beginning with Codex's victory in 1980, Lukas, now 89, has won the Preakness seven times. Should American Promise win, Lukas would be the first trainer to saddle back-to-back winners since Baffert in 2001-02 with Point Given and War Emblem, having previously achieved the feat with Tabasco Cat (1994) and Timber Country (1995).
Pay Billy breezed a half-mile in :49 yesterday at Delaware Park in his final tune-up for the Preakness. It was the second work for the bay son of Improbable since earning an automatic berth through his victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes.
"He worked good," trainer Mike Gorham said. "I worked him in company with another one of mine. I kind of let the other one start out in front of him and he ran after him, ran up to him, and went by him and galloped out strong."
Regular rider Raul Mena, who will be aboard in the Preakness, was up for the work, which ranked 10th of 34 works at Delaware. Gorham said Pay Billy would likely ship from Delaware to Pimlico on 13 May.
Clever Again jogged at Churchill Downs yesterday morning after a day off following a workout. Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said Clever Again would school at the starting gate today before a half-mile breeze on Monday and shipping to Pimlico on Tuesday.
River Thames, who finished second behind Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty in the Gr.2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream on 1 March, is scheduled to breeze at Belmont Park on Saturday in preparation for a start in the Preakness.
Sovereignty and Baeza, the Derby winner and third-place finisher respectively, are both bypassing the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.