Steve Asmussen said he is in “a perfect position” in regard to having Hierro, winner of the Derby Trial, as a consideration for the May 19 Preakness.
“We get to watch the Derby and see what happens,” said Asmussen, who will run Sabercat and Daddy Nose Best in the Derby. “Hierro came out of the race in great shape. He’ll work the Monday after Derby and we’ll see where we are with him then.”
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Last year it was Dominus, owned in part by Stonestreet Stable and trained by Steve Asmussen, getting beat with Julien Leparoux aboard in the desperate final yards of the Derby Trial.
This time, no such tough luck. Hierro, with Leparoux riding for Stonestreet and Asmussen, outran favored Paynter in the final furlong Saturday night to win the 88th running of the Grade 3, $200,000 Derby Trial on an eventful evening when a fierce hailstorm interrupted the opening card of the 39-day spring meet for about 50 minutes.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Two years ago, trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. sent the New York-bred Yawanna Twist to the Preakness, where he ran a respectable fourth, beaten less than two lengths by Lookin At Lucky.
In three weeks, Dutrow is seriously considering sending another New York-bred, Zetterholm, to the Preakness, if he can get into the second leg of the Triple Crown.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Owner Barry Schwartz is leaving the door open for Jerome winner The Lumber Guy to make his next start in the $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 19.
“It’s definitely a possibility,” Schwartz said Monday by phone from Southern California.
The other possibility is the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan, a one-turn 1 1/8-mile race at Belmont Park on May 12.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. - The Lumber Guy regained the luster he had lost in the Wood Memorial with an eye-catching 2 3/4-length victory over Brigand in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.
The Lumber Guy and Brigand - both New York-breds - dueled from the outset, with The Lumber Guy, under Mike Luzzi, edging away in the final furlong. Brigand was reported to have lost a right hind shoe in the race.
OZONE PARK, N.Y. – The nationwide tour of Bob Baffert’s 3-year-olds hits New York Saturday when the Hall of Fame trainer sends out both Stirred Up and Brigand in the Grade 2, $200,000 Jerome Stakes at Aqueduct.
A field of seven was entered for the Jerome, a one-turn mile at Aqueduct that is now run on the calendar where the Withers used to be run. None of the horses in the field has the necessary graded earnings to make it into the Kentucky Derby field, but Baffert said Wednesday that should Stirred Up run well he could be considered for the Preakness on May 19.
Pimlico plans to run a Grade 1 race for Arabian horses on its Preakness Day card on May 19.
As part of its 14-race program that is highlighted by the $1 million Preakness, Pimlico would like to add the $75,000 President of the United Arab Emirates Cup, a 1 1/16 mile race on the main track.
FLORENCE, Ky. - Flashy Dresser entered Saturday's $75,000 Rushaway Stakes as a promising maiden winner. More significantly, he exited it as a stakes winner, and perhaps a potential player on the Triple Crown trail.
Despite being the least experienced starter in the field, it never showed in Flashy Dresser's performance. He comfortably stalked the pace in third in his first start around turn turns, and outdueled stakes Gung Ho in a long stretch battle to win by a half-length.
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Castaway prompted the pace set by Majestic Stride, then overtook that one en route to a 3 3/4-length win in the first division of the Grade 3, $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park on Monday. Jake Mo rallied for second, while Reckless Jerry was third.
Castaway ($15.40) tracked Majestic Stride through fractions of 23.56 for the opening quarter, 48.08 for the half-mile and 1:12.60 for six furlongs. The winner covered the one-mile distance on a fast track in 1:38.
