Preakness S.

Medina Spirit (Protonico), unraced since a third-place finish behind Rombauer (Twirling Candy) in the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico May 15, was not among the nominees to the Aug. 29 Shared Belief S., but may be ready for the GI Pennsylvania Derby Sept. 25, trainer Bob Baffert said Saturday. "There have been rumors about that horse since May 1," Baffert said with a laugh. "There has been a lot of talk about that horse. He's going to breeze this week and I'll know more after that. I go work-by-work with...

The suspension of Tex Sutton charters meant that GI Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit (Protonico) and his once-beaten stablemate, 'TDN Rising Star' Concert Tour (Street Sense) (video), had to endure a lengthy van ride over from Churchill Downs, but GI Preakness S.-bound duo arrived safely at Pimlico Race Course shortly after 2 p.m. Monday afternoon. The horses were overseen by assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes, who said they departed Louisville about 4:45 a.m. Monday morning. "It seemed simple," he said. "Actually, we're here even earlier than we fly sometimes. If you...

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC's Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow) tuned up for Saturday's GI Preakness S. Monday morning at Churchill Downs, working an easy half-mile in :50.20. A $525,000 Keeneland September yearling, Midnight Bourbon won the GIII Lecomte S. in January and earned additional points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby with a third in the GII Risen Star S. and a runner-up effort in the GII Louisiana Derby. Unable to go forward after taking a bump at the start of the GI Kentucky Derby May 1, the strapping bay colt raced...

Kentucky-based horses that ship to Maryland for this week's GI Preakness S. and supporting races will no longer face health-related return restrictions when they try to re-enter the state, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture announced Monday. According to a press release issued by the agency, "Effective Monday, May 10, [the] Office of State Veterinarian rescinds restrictions on horses originating from both Pimlico and Laurel. All horses from these facilities that meet the standard health requirements for Kentucky tracks and training centers (including EHV1 vaccination, 72-hour Certificate of Veterinary Inspection, and...

Joel Rosario, who guided Japan's France Go de Ina (Will Take Charge) to a troubled sixth-place effort in the G2 UAE Derby when last seen Mar. 27, will retain the ride aboard the colt for the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico May 15, his agent Ron Anderson confirmed Wednesday. France Go de Ina landed at Los Angeles International Airport early Wednesday morning, the first leg of his journey to Old Hilltop for the second leg of the Triple Crown. According to Kate Hunter, a Triple Crown recruiter who frequently accompanies...

Three runners campaigned by Seth Klarman's Klaravich Stables—one bound for Kentucky, one for Maryland and a third to stay at home--worked Saturday morning over the Belmont main track. Crowded Trade (More Than Read) and Risk Taking (Medaglia d'Oro), third and seventh, respectively, when last seen in the GII Wood Memorial S. at Aqueduct Apr. 3, worked a half-mile in :47.55 in company for trainer Chad Brown. "They both seem to have bounced out of the Wood in fine shape," said Brown . "We'll monitor them week to week, but they...

Overnight rains in greater Baltimore resulted in a muddy main track at Pimlico Race Course, but that did not stop GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) from getting his first feel for the track Wednesday morning as he prepares for Saturday's GI Preakness S. Under the watchful eye of seven-time Preakness-winning trainer Bob Baffert, Authentic jogged the wrong way on the outside rail one day after arriving from Churchill Downs. "He just went out there for a little jog. He looked good," Baffert said. "Coming off that plane yesterday,...

The Breeders' Cup announced the $5k Preakness Spin to Win contest, which highlights the GI Preakness S, scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 3 at Pimlico Race Course. The grand prize is $5,000, while five additional winners will receive $250 gift cards which can redeemed at the Breeders' Cup Shop. For more information on the $5K Preakness Spin to Win, which continues through 6:45 p.m. ET Oct. 3, visit www.breedersCup.com/Preakness. Winners must be legal residents of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Quebec) and be at least 18 years of age at the...

At this stage exactly four weeks ago, trainer Tom Drury, Jr. was sitting pretty with Art Collector (Bernardini), who figured the solid second choice in the GI Kentucky Derby four days hence. But, as happens all too often in this game, fate intervened, and 24 hours later, Bruce Lunsford's homebred was a high-profile defection from the Run for the Roses. A month later, the colt will again try to play the role of spoiler, this time as the morning-line 5-2 second favorite to Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) in Saturday's...

GI Kentucky Derby hero Authentic (Into Mischief) was assigned gate nine in a field of 11 and was installed the 9-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday' GI Preakness S. at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. John Velazquez has the return call on Authentic, who goes for a third consecutive victory at the Grade I level, having beaten Ny Traffic (Cross Traffic) in the GI TVG.com Haskell S. before defying those who concluded he would not stay the 10 furlongs of the Derby by outfighting heavily favored Tiz the Law (Constitution) beneath...

Authentic (Into Mischief), winner of the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby, worked for the final time prior to the Oct. 3 GI Preakness S. with a four-furlong move in :47.60 at Churchill Downs Monday morning. The Bob Baffert trainee recorded splits of :12.20, :24, and :36, then galloped out five furlongs in 1:00 and three-quarters in 1:13.40. Jockey Martin Garcia was aboard for the 7:30 a.m. move. "He's such an amazing horse," Garcia said following the work. "He worked awesome. I've worked a lot of nice horses for trainer Bob...

A trio of candidates for the GI Preakness S. at Pimlico Oct. 3 turned in their final serious moves Saturday morning at Churchill Downs. Bruce Lunsford's Art Collector (Bernardini), who was forced to miss the Sept. 5 GI Kentucky Derby owing to a minor foot injury, tuned up for the final leg of this year's reconstituted Triple Crown by drilling a half-mile in :48 flat with big-race rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. in the saddle. The GII Toyota Blue Grass S. and Runhappy Ellis Park Derby hero was caught in fractions...