Papa Clem, Friesan Fire work at Pimlico

BALTIMORE - Two of the three probable Preakness starters stabled at Pimlico as of Tuesday morning put in timed workouts, with Kentucky Derby fourth-place finisher Papa Clem going a slow five furlongs, and Kentucky Derby 18th-place finisher Friesan Fire a fast five-eighths.

Papa Clem, working alone just after 7 a.m. under Mundo Cedeno, was given an official time of 1:05 by the Pimlico clocker, and was timed in 1:05.23 by Daily Racing Form. According to the Pimlico clocker, Papa Clem posted fractions of 13 seconds for his opening furlong, 25 seconds for his first quarter-mile, 37.60 for three furlongs, 51.80 for a half-mile, and was caught galloping out six furlongs in 1:22. Those times all are slow and slower, but the Pimlico track surface apparently was very deep and laboring before the renovation break Monday. Two other horses worked five furlongs before the break, posting works of 1:06.80 and a crazily slow 1:08.60.

"It's a little slower than I thought he'd go, but I trust Mundo, and he's already fit," said trainer Gary Stute.

Friesan Fire's work came just past 8 a.m., and was done over a track that had been harrowed and watered during the break. Still, the contrast between breezes was sharp, with Friesan Fire, jockey Gabriel Saez up, given an official time of 58.40 for five furlongs. Friesan Fire posted fractions of 12 seconds for his first furlong, 23.60 for his first quarter, and 35 for three-eighths. The track clocker had his half-mile in 47.40, but Daily Racing Form caught the half in 46.94, with a six-furlong gallop out of about 1:11.90.

"He had a much stronger gallop-out than before the Derby," trainer Larry Jones said while coming off the track on the pony that accompanied Friesan Fire for his training session.

At Monmouth Park, Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Musket Man worked four furlongs in 46.60 seconds under jockey Daniel Centeno. Musket Man worked in company with Bull Toccet, who went with Musket Man until about the eighth pole, according to trainer Derek Ryan.

"Usually when he works in company, he works like that," Ryan said.

Ryan said there was a loose horse on the outside fence at the time Musket Man was getting ready to breeze.

"He worked good, came out of it good," Ryan said. "He's come out of the Derby great. Usually off a race like that you worry about them backing off their feed; he hasn't missed an oat."

Ryan said Musket Man would van down the morning of the Preakness.

- additional reporting by David Grening