The Derby champ Orb continues to thrive, according to his connections. He visited the track for the second straight day, and trainer Shug McGaughey, observed, “I was pleased with what I saw. His energy level is right where you’d want it to be on Thursday after Saturday.” The plan remains the same: breeze on Monday morning and then ship down to Old Hilltop…
Goldencents, the only Preakness probable currently on the grounds, jogged once around Old Hilltop Thursday morning under jockey Kevin Krigger, and assistant trainer pronounced himself “very happy.” He added, “There was no sign of stiffness or tightness. His energy level was high. He’s a very happy horse.”
Illinois Derby victor Departing continued to prep at Churchill Downs, galloping two miles. He’ll get his final breeze on Sunday morning…
For Mylute, the future is less certain; trainer Tom Amoss said the connections would decide whether to come to Baltimore following Saturday. Similarly, trainer Chad Brown said he’d make a decision on Normandy Invasion‘s plans over the weekend; the Preakness, he estimated, is a 50-50 proposition. Two others on the fence are Derby also-ran Vyjack and Illinois Derby also-ran Street Spice…
The number of the weekend is 499: that’s how many horses were nominated to the 16 other Preakness weekend stakes. (Don’t bother: it works out to a shade over 31 per race). The list was topped by the 44 three year-olds nominated to the one-mile James Murphy on the lawn. Among them, if both start, we’ll learn the answer to the question: is it better to honor the vow, or the kitten? Ken and Sarah Ramsey’s Honor the Kitten and Steve and Debbie Jackson’s Honour the Vow are among the nominees…
