Brown pointing Tuscan Gold to Preakness

INDIANTOWN, Fla. – Trainer Chad Brown said Tuscan Gold, third in the March 24 Louisiana Derby, will be pointed to the Preakness on May 18, trainer Chad Brown.

Tuscan Gold, who won his first two starts, did not have the smoothest of trips when third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths by Catching Freedom in the Louisiana Derby. He earned only 25 qualifying points to the May 4 Kentucky Derby, unlikely to be enough to get into the Derby field.

“I thought he was the best horse in the race. He didn’t get a good trip at all. I wasn’t happy about it,” Brown said Friday. “He should have tucked him on the first turn. He was the only horse near the front who finished. He ran great. I expected him to run big.”

Brown said “probably not” when discussing the prospect of running before the Preakness.

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Meanwhile, I’m Very Busy, winner of the Grade 2 Mervin Muniz, and Delahaye, winner of the Tom Benson Memorial, will both be pointed to stakes at Churchill Downs on Kentucky Derby day. I’m Very Busy will aim to the Grade 1, $1 million Turf Classic while Delahaye starts next in the Grade 3, $750,000 Distaff Turf Mile.

I’m Very Busy, despite breaking from post 13, won the Muniz by 3 3/4 lengths earning a career-best 103 Beyer Speed Figure after running second to the terrific mare Warm Heart in the Pegasus World Cup Turf, where he earned 100.

“It’s clear now, he’s just developing as a 4-year-old,” Brown said. “He’s gotten faster; the Pegasus wasn’t a fluke race. He’s a real horse.”

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