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| Staff Writer |
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As racing's focus shifts from Churchill Downs to Pimlico Racecourse ahead of the US$2 million Gr.1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, Clever Again put in his final preparation with an easy half-mile maintenance work in :50 2/5 beneath exercise rider Carlos Rosas at Churchill Downs on Monday morning.
The American Pharoah colt, trained by Steve Asmussen, worked under a light rainfall, impressing connections with his attitude ahead of Saturday's race.
"The horse is happy, the ears were forward, moving smoothly," said assistant trainer Scott Blasi. "We really like how he's doing. We thought a lot about him the whole time. We're excited about running him."
Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Clever Again enters the Preakness off a wire-to-wire four-length victory over Grade One winner Gaming in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park on March 30. That victory was his second following a 10-month layoff after finishing runner-up on debut at Keeneland in April last year.
With the final move complete, Blasi confirmed the colt will leave Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning, targeting a mid-afternoon arrival at Pimlico. Also making a Tuesday departure is Bob Baffert-trained Goal Oriented, who walked the shedrow Monday following his Sunday morning breeze.
Six of the nine expected Preakness entries woke up in Louisville on Monday, but are now starting to filter out. Virginia Derby winner American Promise got a head start, leaving by trailer around 5:15 a.m. to meet trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who arrived in Baltimore on Sunday.
Gr.2 UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor emerged from the quarantine barns to get some exercise in. Beneath trainer Jamie Osborne's assistant Jimmy McCarthy, the son of Gr.1 Santa Anita Derby winner Honor A. P. jogged a mile and galloped a mile before vanning to Pimlico later Monday morning.
Gr.1 Arkansas Derby winner Sandman was also prepared to leave for Pimlico Monday afternoon, walking trainer Mark Casse's barn in the morning.
Also leaving from Churchill Downs Tuesday will be the Preakness' expected favourite Journalism, who was confirmed to enter Sunday by co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. The Curlin colt took his final spin around the Churchill Downs oval Monday under the watchful eye of trainer Michael McCarthy.
"He's had a couple of good mornings since I've been here," McCarthy said. "I'm very pleased with what I've seen so far. He's a horse that's doing well, he's thriving in his environment."
McCarthy arrived on Sunday to check in on the colt after returning to California for the week following a runner-up effort Gr.1 Kentucky Derby in May. After seeing him, he decided with Eclipse and co-owners Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
"I hadn't seen the horse in a couple of days," the trainer said on why they waited until the day before entries to decide. "I wanted to come and make sure everything was as I would have expected it to be."
McCarthy said he has not re-watched the Derby, stating he saw enough in real time to understand what occurred. He stated that if he could change anything, it would be the start, in which Journalism was bumped on two separate occasions by Burnham Square to his outside.
"If I could have anything over again, I'd like to have the first 100 yards over," McCarthy said. "I thought the start was a bit unfortunate. I wanted to be five lengths off the lead. I think (track announcer) Travis Stone called him about 12 lengths off the lead going into the first turn. If I'm five lengths behind where I'd like to be—you know?"
Asked whether Journalism would be under consideration to participate in the final leg of the Triple Crown should he run well in the Preakness, McCarthy said, "Yes. Possibly. Maybe."
Journalism, who will break from post 2 in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favourite. The Kentucky Derby runner-up will face eight rivals including Goal Oriented (post 1), American Promise (post 3), Heart of Honor (post 4), Pay Billy (post 5), River Thames (post 6), Sandman (post 7), Clever Again (post 8), and Gosger (post 9). McCarthy said, "We're fine with post position two. He's tactical enough. He's got some early speed, if need be. It looks like an evenly matched field."