Wedensday’s been a relatively quiet day in Preakness preparation land…
Derby hero Orb returned to the track on Wednesday, jogging not quite a mile in the bad weather up at Belmont. Trainer Shug McGaughey observed that exercise rider “Jenn [Patterson] said he was feeling good and moving good. All signs are good.” Which is a whole lotta good; the horse is expected to breeze Monday and ship to Old Hilltop the following day…
John Velazquez gets the call aboard Derby also-ran Itsmyluckyday, replacing Elvis Trujillo, in a move that trainer Eddie Plesa characterized as “no slight to Elvis Trujillo.” No word on whether Elvis agrees…
Goldencents and rider Kevin Krigger map out their Preakness strategy. Photo, Maryland Jockey Club.
D. Wayne Lukas, who is marshaling his forces for an all-out frontal assault on Baltimore — which is to say, bringing three runners to the Preakness — announced his jockeys, and the several of you eagerly anticipating who would get the mount aboard Titletown Five can now rest easy: the answer is Julien Leparoux. As for his two Derby runners coming to Baltimore, Gary Stevens retains the mount on Oxbow and Mike Smith subs in for Jon Court aboard Will Take Charge…
Meanwhile, back at Pimlico, Goldencents walked the shedrow this morning and is slated to hit the racetrack for the first time since the Derby tomorrow morning…
No new shooters have announced today, and no runners have been withdrawn from consideration…
Nominations are up for the other stakes Preakness weekend, and the racing office has been busy. Check ’em out here…
