Churchill Downs
Strong Mandate is candidate for Preakness
Tom Keyser Strong Mandate is pointing to the Arkansas Derby on April 12 at Oaklawn Park.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he would not enter Strong Mandate in the Kentucky Derby and instead will consider running him in the Preakness Stakes on May 17.
Though Strong Mandate would not have enough points to make it into the field of 20 for the Derby, he could have been one of four also-eligibles entered.
Strong Mandate, who won last year’s Grade 1 Hopeful at Saratoga, is coming off a last-place finish in the Arkansas Derby.
“I’m looking at the Preakness, but I might even wait until Saratoga,” Lukas said.
Strong Mandate worked a half-mile in 51.60 seconds April 22.