Preakness 2022: Epicenter works easy half-mile prior to shipping
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Epicenter had his final pre-race workout before heading to Baltimore as the solid Preakness favorite when going an easy half-mile in 50.40 seconds as dawn was breaking Monday morning at Churchill Downs.
Epicenter, second by three-quarters of a length behind Rich Strike as a lukewarm 4-1 favorite in the Kentucky Derby on May 7, went solo with Wilson Fabian aboard under the Churchill lights. Following overnight rain, the track clearly held a considerable amount of moisture but was fast enough to be harrowed.
The Monday work was designed as little more than a between-races maintenance move by trainer Steve Asmussen. Epicenter, owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, went in splits of 13.40 seconds and 25.40, with a five-furlong gallop-out time of 1:04.20, according to Churchill clocker John Nichols.
“We’re lucky to have him,” Asmussen said. “He’s been a very straightforward, solid horse. I’m very pleased with how he came out of the Derby.”
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Asmussen added his decision to run Epicenter back in the Preakness was determined by the bay colt’s soundness “and keeping his appetite, traveling the way he always has.”
“He hasn’t been any different than he’s always been,” Asmussen said.
“The coverage going into the Derby – about him – showed a great deal of consistency from him, so anything that didn’t look like that would be somewhat alarming,” he said. “Obviously, this is a very unique opportunity and he has a very nice résumé, but we would definitely like to add to it. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of his racing career.”
Epicenter did everything right in the Derby except win, further punctuating the sharp form that carried him to preceding victories in the Risen Star and Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds. The son of Not This Time made the lead turning for home and turned back his main rival Zandon in deep stretch, only to have Rich Strike whizz past him with his dramatic rail run. Epicenter earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
Epicenter was one of seven Asmussen horses scheduled to leave well before dawn Tuesday for an 11-hour van ride to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Asmussen said he will have one starter Friday, followed by six starters (in five races) Saturday.
Epicenter, with Joel Rosario back to ride, is foremost among just three Derby starters wheeling back in two weeks in the 147th Preakness, which will be run Saturday at Pimlico with no pandemic restrictions in place for the first time since 2019. The other Derby runners are Simplification (fourth) and Happy Jack (14th).
Rich Strike, 80-1 winner of the Derby, is bypassing the Preakness to await the Belmont Stakes on June 11. He’s the first Derby winner to be voluntarily withheld from the second jewel of the Triple Crown without extenuating circumstances since Spend a Buck in 1985.
Epicenter was one of several Preakness runners shipping from Kentucky to Maryland early in the week. The Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath was scheduled to arrive Monday for D. Wayne Lukas, while Epicenter, Creative Minister, Happy Jack, and Fenwick all were to arrive a day or so later. Simplification, trained by Antonio Sano, shipped last week and was the first Preakness starter to be on the Pimlico grounds.
Entries for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness were to be drawn at 4:30 p.m. Eastern on Monday. These were the nine confirmed prospects as of early Monday: Armagnac, Creative Minister, Early Voting, Epicenter, Fenwick, Happy Jack, Secret Oath, Simplification, and Skippylongstocking.
A Pimlico official reported early Monday that Un Ojo had been withdrawn from Preakness consideration due to the foot bruise that also kept him out of the Kentucky Derby.
Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle said the favorites on his morning line will look something like this, assuming no major changes: Epicenter, 6-5; Early Voting, 7-2; Secret Oath, 9-2; Simplification, 8-1; and Creative Minister, 12-1.
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147th Preakness, Grade 1, $1.5 million, 1 3/16 miles, May 21 |
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| Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Last Race |
| Armagnac | Tim Yakteen | Irad Ortiz, Jr. | SA alw, 1st |
| Creative Minister | Kenny McPeek | Brian Hernandez, Jr. | CD alw, 1st |
| Early Voting | Chad Brown | Jose Ortiz | Wood Memorial, 2nd |
| Epicenter | Steve Asmussen | Joel Rosario | Ky Derby, 2nd |
| Fenwick | Kevin McKathan | Floreny Geroux | Blue Grass, 11th |
| Happy Jack | Doug O'Neill | Tyler Gaffalione | Ky Derby, 14th |
| Secret Oath | D. Wayne Lukas | Luis Saez | Ky Oaks, 1st |
| Simplification | Antonio Sano | John Velazquez | Ky Derby, 4th |
| Skippylongstocking | Saffie Joseph, Jr. | Junior Alvarado | Wood Memorial, 3rd |