Sanchez-Salomon said he wants to see how the Preakness field develops before making a decision. He is also considering the $100,000 James W. Murphy for 3-year-olds going a mile on the grass on the Preakness undercard for Shake Em Loose.

“I haven’t decided yet. I don’t know who’s coming or who’s not. I’m thinking about going to the Preakness, but I’m still on the fence,” he said. “I don’t want to break his heart. He breezed unbelievable today and everybody was happy about it, but I’m still going to give him one more breeze Sunday on the grass and I’ll make my mind up then.”

In 11 lifetime starts, Shake Em Loose has raced once on the grass last fall for his previous connections, finishing 11^th following a troubled start. Sanchez-Salomon worked him five furlongs over Laurel’s turf course May 1.

“He really impressed me when he worked on the grass the other day,” he said. “I just want to keep him sound and happy.”

Sanchez-Salomon claimed Shake Em Loose for $16,000 last November and the gelded son of Grade 1 winner Shakin It Up has since won three of five races, all at Laurel, including the 2021 Heft at odds of 59-1 and the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms March 19. Following the race, he was nominated to the Triple Crown by the late deadline for $6,000.

In his most recent start, Shake Em Loose ran third in the 1 1/8-mile Federico Tesio April 16, five lengths behind Joe and Mr Jefferson, who were separated by a nose. Joe would have had to be supplemented to the Triple Crown for $150,000 to compete in the Preakness; he was taken out of Preakness consideration this week and will instead be pointed to the Murphy.

“He was good going into the last race and he just had some bad luck, but that’s horse racing,” Sanchez-Salomon said. “We’re happy with him.”