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Preakness could feature full field

Posted: Sunday, May 02, 2010 12:15 PM

SUPER SAVER

PhotosByZ.com/Thoroughbred Times

by Rob Longley

The Kentucky Derby (G1) is a grueling and demanding race under ideal conditions. Throw in an off track and a physically run race, and the first leg of the Triple Crown is even more taxing.

As a result, on the morning following the Derby, the connections of only two Derby runners were willing to commit to the second stop on the Triple Crown trail on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

The morning after Super Saver won the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands, winning trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed that WinStar Farm’s homebred Maria’s Mon colt will continue to the Preakness Stakes (G1) in his bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

Pletcher plans to train Super Saver at Churchill Downs before shipping the colt to Baltimore on May 12. Others from his stable who could join Super Saver include Dogwood Stable’s Aikenite and Twin Creek Racing Stables' Mission Impazible, who was ninth in the Derby.

“We’ll take a couple of days and think about him running there,” Pletcher said of Louisiana Derby (G2) winner Mission Impazible. The Preakness remains the only U.S. Triple Crown race that Pletcher has not won.

Super Saver probably will not have to worry about late-charging Derby runner-up Ice Box in Baltimore. Trainer Nick Zito said the colt is doubtful after an eventful trip at Churchill Downs, where the Pulpit colt was steadied at least three times. Ice Box shook loose near the sixteenth pole, where he unleashed his furious rally.

“To run the horse off a six-week layoff and to see him have to check three times makes it hard to run back in two weeks and then again three weeks later [in the Belmont Stakes (G1)],” Zito said. “If we had won, it would have been a different story. Never say never, but it looks doubtful.”

Zito said his other Derby starter, 12th-place finisher Jackson Bend, is “hopeful” for the Preakness.

On Sunday, the only other trainer of a Derby horse willing to confirm his horse for the Preakness was Pletcher's former boss, D. Wayne Lukas, who could saddle Dublin in his quest for a sixth Preakness win.

“It’s tough to make a decision the day after the race, but I would say more than likely he will go,” Lukas said. “He’s fine this morning and came out of the race good.”

Bob Baffert said that he would make a decision concerning beaten favorite Lookin At Lucky later this week. Baffert lost the 2001 Derby with 9-to-5 favorite Point Given before going on to win the Preakness, Belmont, and two other Grade 1 races with the colt.

The connections of third-place finisher Paddy O’Prado and fifth-place finisher Noble’s Promise also are considering the Preakness.

As many as eight so-called “new shooters” could attempt to emulate Bernardini and Rachel Alexandra as Preakness winners who did not compete in the Derby.

The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial Stakes (G3) could provide three starters in winner Hurricane Ike; the aforementioned Aikenite, who finished second in that race; and Pleasant Prince, who finished third in the Derby Trial before not making the Kentucky Derby field because of insufficient graded stakes earnings.

Schoolyard Dreams, who finished ahead of Super Saver when second in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), also is under consideration for the Preakness as are stakes winner A Little Warm, Grade 2-placed winner Bushwhacked, Grade 2 winner Caracortado, and stakes winner Turf Melody.

Jerry Hollendorfer said Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Blind Luck is not under consideration for the Preakness.

Rob Longley is a Thoroughbred Times correspondent based in Toronto