Contender Status
Giant Moon is scheduled to arrive at Pimlico on May 15. Trainer Richard Schosberg said Ramon Dominguez, who won a pair of riding titles at Pimlico in 2001, will ride the Giant’s Causeway colt. Giant Moon has won twice with with Dominguez aboard, including victories in the 2007 Damon Runyon Stakes and the '08 Count Fleet Stakes.
Giant Moon finished fourth in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) on April 5.
"The horse has matured enough and has enough natural and tactical speed that he would be comfortable making the lead or racing off the pace if he had to," Schosberg said. "He showed speed in the Wood and had no problems while he was covered up in fifth and he was able to make a run up and finish strong."
May 13 - Four furlongs handily in :47.77 at Belmont Park, track fast. Best of 26 workouts at the distance.
Trainer Richard Schosberg observed that the May 13 workour was "a little quicker than we had anticipated. I was looking at somewhere between :48 and :48 2/6, but he seemed to have done it in good order.
"He jumped on the bit right away at the beginning of the work, which for him is a bit unusual when he's working by himself."
May 7 - Five furlongs breezing in 1:01.04 at Belmont Park, track fast. Sixth best of 26 workouts at the distance.
Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 17 at Pimlico Race Course
Trainer Richard Schosberg, after Giant Moon worked on May 7 at Belmont Park under exercise rider Caesar Correa:
"He did exactly what we wanted. We're right on schedule. Caesar said he did exactly what we wanted."