Preakness

Hoping that the GIII Dinner Party S. might be a sampling of things to come later on the Preakness Day card, Never Explain came from off the pace to collect his first black-type victory for trainer Shug McGaughey. Handily away from gate six, the dark bay settled off the pace in fourth as GI Pegasus World Cup Turf winner Atone (Into Mischief), sent off at 5-2, strode to the front with MGSW 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel and Rising Empire (Empire Maker) in hot pursuit rounding the first turn. With the...

'TDN Rising Star' Arabian Lion (Justify) was sent off the 2-5 jolly for Saturday's Sir Barton S. at Pimlico and came away in the final 150 yards to become the 11th worldwide stakes winner (sixth in the U.S.) for his outstanding young stallion. Off extremely alertly in a scratched-down field of five, the $600,000 OBS April breezer led through a leisurely opening quarter in :24.47 under an easy John Velazquez hold, but was forced to pick it up some in the middle stages, as second choice Tapit's Conquest (Tapit) went...

Continuing on the heels of a stacked card Friday, Pimlico offers a robust eight-stakes offering Saturday, led by the $1.5 million GI Preakness S. With GI Kentucky Derby winning Mage (Good Magic) looming as the one to beat, the race suffered a notable blow Friday with the defection of Godolphin's 'TDN Rising Star' First Mission (Street Sense), shaving the field back to seven. Having not only showed a recency in form but also the ability to win at the highest level, none of the chestnut's rivals can really make the...

GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) drew post three in the field of eight set to go in the $1.65-million GI Preakness S., to be held Saturday, May 20, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The second jewel of the Triple Crown drew only one starter from the Kentucky Derby, but it was the one who won the Derby and the only one with a chance for a Triple Crown. Mage was installed as the 8-5 favorite at the draw, which was held at Baltimore's Guinness Open Gate Brewery....

GI Kentucky Derby champion Mage (Good Magic) stretched his legs around Pimlico Race Course Monday morning in preparation for a start in Saturday's GI Preakness S. The Gustavo Delgado-trained 3-year-old, who went to the track shortly after 8:30 a.m., jogged in the company of a pony once around the mile oval before galloping once around under exercise rider J.J. Delgado. "He looked good, quiet, relaxed," said Gustavo Delgado, Jr, his father's assistant. "There were only one, two, three horses on the track the same time he was. He was getting...

Lord Miles (Curlin), who was ordered scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission (KHRC) because he is part of the Saffie Joseph, Jr. stable, will bypass the GI Preakness S. and is unlikely to run in the GI Belmont S., Joseph said Friday. A day earlier owner Peter Vegso had told the TDN that both the Preakness and Belmont were under consideration. The decision came after Lord Miles worked four furlongs in :49.50 Friday morning at Palm Meadows. "He had a good work but the...

Michael Algeo, who was appointed to the Maryland Racing Commission in 2016 and currently serves as Chairman, will receive the Special Award of Merit at Pimlico's Alibi Breakfast. The Special Award of Merit, which recognizes those who have made a positive impact on the racing industry, has previously recognized industry stalwarts like Jim McKay, D. Wayne Lukas, Chick Lang, King Leatherbury, and Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. "When I received the call from [Maryland Jockey Club Acting President] Mike Rogers, I was both humbled and grateful," Algeo said. "When one looks at...

Last Saturday's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mage (Good Magic) is officially headed to Baltimore for the May 20 GI Preakness S. His connections made the announcement via Twitter Friday morning. "Very excited, he's had a magnificent week of training," said co-owner Ramiro Restrepo. "He's shown all the positive signs." The ownership group, which also includes OGMA Investments, Sterling Racing and CMNWLTH, confirmed the colt's participation in the second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course following his Friday morning training session in which he warmed up in the...

A statement from the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission released Monday afternoon indicated that Forte (Violence) will not be eligible to run the Preakness Stakes, despite his owners' stated intention earlier in the day to do so. The release, which was distributed Monday just before 4 p.m, reads: "The Kentucky Horse Racing Commission has the following update on Forte: Forte was scratched from the Kentucky Derby by KHRC veterinarians following Saturday's routine soundness checks. As is the case with all KHRC veterinary scratches related to soundness, and pursuant to HISA Rule...

Recently retired Daily Racing Form columnist Jay Privman and Getty Images photographer Rob Carr will be among the honorees Preakness week at the annual Alibi Breakfast for their outstanding coverage of the 2022 GI Preakness S. The popular and historic breakfast--which dates back to the 1930s--will be held Thursday, May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. Privman, an Eclipse Award winner, will be given the David F. Woods Award for his story on Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He had previously been honored with the same award in 2002...

While currently ranked 28th in points and on the outside looking in for the GI Kentucky Derby, Red Route One punched his ticket to the second jewel of the Triple Crown with a win Saturday in the Bath House Row S. After bursting onto the scene with a third to Derby favorite Forte (Violence) in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity last fall, Red Route One earned a pair of placings in both the GIII Southwest S. and the GII Rebel S. before faltering to sixth when last spotted in the...

Fasig-Tipton has catalogued 575 entries for its upcoming Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, to be held Monday and Tuesday, May 22-23, at the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium, Maryland. "Buyers will be presented with the strongest Midlantic catalogue in recent memory when they arrive in Timonium this year," said Midlantic Sales Director Paget Bennett. "We purposefully tightened up our numbers just a bit, while adding increased quality. We have strong sire power, quality individuals, and from what I hear from our consignors, horses that have showed very promising ability in...