Preakness: Bodemeister in; Isn’t He Clever, Hansen out

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Count Bodemeister in Saturday’s Preakness, and Isn’t He Clever and Hansen out.

The latter two horses were with removed from Preakness consideration Monday morning, their trainers said, while others continued their training for the race with breezes and gallops over a rain-soaked Churchill Downs strip Monday morning.

As widely expected, Derby runner-up Bodemeister was confirmed as a likely starter for the Preakness. Trainer Bob Baffert made the announcement following a promising morning gallop and after evaluating the colt’s weight and coat following his hard-fought effort in the Derby.

In other news at Churchill, Cozzetti, a probable Preakness starter, had a workout at approximately the time that Bodemeister galloped. Cozzetti went five furlongs over a muddy track in a bullet 58.80 seconds.

Isn’t He Clever also worked Monday, doing so about 6:30 a.m., when the track was sloppy, covering a half-mile in 51.60, but he was withdrawn from consideration for the Preakness because of the 1 3/16-mile distance. Trainer Steve Asmussen said he feels the race distance is beyond Isn’t He Clever’s best.

As for Hansen, majority owner Kendall Hansen said “it is not in the best interest of Hansen to run back on two weeks’ rest or run over nine furlongs at this point in time.”

Hansen is being pointed to the seven-furlong Woody Steven Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard June 9, his owner said.