Social Inclusion preps for Preakness in Sir Bear

Owner Ron Sanchez and trainer Manny Azpurua had hoped to be at Churchill Downs on Saturday to run their star 3-year-old, Social Inclusion, in the Kentucky Derby. Instead, they will watch the Derby on television from Gulfstream Park, where a short while earlier, Social Inclusion will prep for a potential start in the Preakness by taking on seven rivals, including the undefeated Little Daddy, in the one-mile Sir Bear Stakes.

Social Inclusion fell a nose short of becoming a member of the Derby field. That was the margin between finishing second and third in the Grade 1 Wood. A second-place finish would have earned him enough qualifying points to compete in the Derby. Despite suffering his first setback in three career starts, Social Inclusion ran a big race in defeat in the Wood.

He contested the pace before shaking loose in early stretch, only to falter near the wire and finish behind Wicked Strong and Samraat, both of whom are considered major contenders in the Derby.

Social Inclusion has already proven his affinity for the Gulfstream surface, opening his career with two straight victories over his home course, including a 10-length triumph over Honor Code going 1 1/16 miles under entry-level allowance conditions March 12, He received a 111 Beyer Speed Figure.

“Were we disappointed to lose a Derby spot by a nose? Sure, but you can’t worry about these things,” Sanchez said. “It didn’t work out to go to Kentucky, but patience pays off in horse racing. You can’t rush a horse, and this horse could be the horse of a lifetime. So, we’re okay with running Saturday [at Gulfstream] and then going to the Preakness. He’s doing fantastic and training great.”

Elvis Trujillo will replace regular rider Luis Contreras aboard Social Inclusion in the Sir Bear.

Little Daddy is perfect in two starts, having rallied from off the pace over the speed-favoring Gulfstream strip to win his maiden by 3 1/4 lengths March 15 before returning just 15 days later to run down the favored All in Blue going seven furlongs under allowance conditions. Owner-trainer Carlo Vaccarezza said if Little Daddy were to run well in the Sir Bear, he would consider pointing him to the Belmont Stakes.

Casiguapo’s bid to join the Derby field fell short when he finished a well-beaten ninth in the Grade 1 Blue Grass. Casiguapo, the runner-up in the Grade 1 Hopeful last summer at Saratoga, will put blinkers back on for the Sir Bear.

East Hall has taken on some of the top 3-year-olds on the East Coast with little success in his last three starts, finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth, eighth in the Tampa Bay Derby, and a non-threatening fifth in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

Big Guy Ian, C. Zee, and Shiva Curlin complete the field.