Mr. Big News sharp in first post-Derby breeze

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mr. Big News was sent through his first serious work since finishing third in the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby when breezing a half-mile in 48.80 seconds early Friday over a fast Churchill surface. The Giant’s Causeway colt is one of about a dozen early prospects for the Oct. 3 Preakness at Pimlico.

Trainer Bret Calhoun said Mr. Big News “was very sharp” in what was intended to be something of a maintenance work.

“We were only looking for a half in about 50, but he was full of energy and galloped out great,” said Calhoun.

At 46-1, Mr. Big News ruined plenty of mutuel tickets with a big move with a quarter-mile remaining in the Derby. The colt had only become publicly revealed as a Derby starter about an hour before entries were drawn the Tuesday before the race. Gabriel Saez has a return call for the $1 million Preakness.

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A number of other works for Preakness hopefuls were scheduled over the weekend at Churchill, led by Derby winner Authentic and his Bob Baffert stablemate Thousand Words. Art Collector was expected to breeze Saturday, as was the star filly Swiss Skydiver, whose connections have said the Preakness is a possibility.

A Baltimore-bound equine charter flight is tentatively scheduled out of Louisville for the Tuesday before the race, Sept. 29, according to the Tex Sutton Forwarding Co. website.