Yep. As it stands, he also should have been in the Withers.

I completely agree and in fact, I think that provided he's healthy he has a chance to become the best 3YO sprinter around.

NT

It's kind of a shame with the NYRA streamline of stakes races.

A Little Warm could have tried the 7f Woody Stephens followed by the 8.5f Dwyer in July which would have gone a long way in determining what race he should run in on Travers Day.

The two races that are not on the calendar that will be missed are the Dwyer (at its old date) and the Tom Fool. Now there's not a graded race in NY for sprinters between the True North and Vanderbilt.

NT

Wow. Didn't know about the Tom Fool. They haven't had the Brooklyn now for several years, so I guess after the Met Mile it's the 10f Grade 2 Suburban or nothing for both sprinters and handicap horses in general.

The Suburban was actually shortened to 9 furlongs this year and is part of a very watered down July 4th weekend.

You'd have to think that Pletcher is going to point Quality Road to the Whitney, so I wonder if he'll use the Suburban in the interim. The Whitney actually has the potential to be a terrific race if Battle Plan improves in the Foster, Blame comes back in good order and QR gets back in form.

NT

I can't imagine that Pletcher would run Battle Plan against Quality Road.

I mentioned earlier that A Little Warm didn't work today but Tony Dutrow did say the other day that he'd breeze Sunday or Monday. John Velazquez has the mount.

NT

Ya there shouldnt be any other defections

Seems there are 13 confirmed/should be going

1. Aikenite (Todd Pletcher)
2. A Little Warm (Tony Dutrow)
3. Caracortado (Mike Machowsky/Paul Atkinson)
4. Dublin (D. Wayne Lukas)
5. Hurricane Ike (John Sadler)
6. Jackson Bend (Nick Zito)
7. Paddy O Prado (Dale Romans/Kent Desormeaux)
8. Pleasant Prince (Wesley Ward)
9. Schoolyard Dreams (Derek Ryan)
10. Super Saver (Todd Pletcher/Calvin Borel)
11. First Dude (Dale Romans)
12. Lookin At Lucky (Bob Baffert/Garrett Gomez)
13. Northern Giant (D. Wayne Lukas)

With 1 of these 2 going
14. Mission Impazible (Todd Pletcher) Possible
15. Yawanna Twist (Rick Dutrow) Possible

First Dude on the bubble.

A Little Warm is out. Bled in a workout.

Probably good for him, assuming he's OK, and definitely good news for First Dude....who unlike A Little Warm can actually win the race.

PREAKNESS FIELD (Click for PP's)

1. Aikenite (Todd Pletcher)
2. Caracortado (Mike Machowsky/Paul Atkinson)
3. Dublin (D. Wayne Lukas/Garrett Gomez)
4. First Dude (Dale Romans)
5. Jackson Bend (Nick Zito)
6. Lookin At Lucky (Bob Baffert/Martin Garcia)
7. Northern Giant (D. Wayne Lukas)
8. Paddy O Prado (Dale Romans/Kent Desormeaux)
9. Pleasant Prince (Wesley Ward)
10. Schoolyard Dreams (Derek Ryan)
11. Super Saver (Todd Pletcher/Calvin Borel)
12. Yawanna Twist (Rick Dutrow)

That field makes for an interesting race from a betting perspective. I do heart Preakness day.

Should make a really nice betting race especially for people who dont like Super Saver at 5/2

Mission Impaziable posted on Facebook that he isn't going.

How do you know it was the colt himself posting and not an imposter ?

Will Super Saver have the lead early? I don't see any real speedballs in here.

He's going to be forwardly placed, that's for sure. Hurricane Ike is a likely pacesetter on the stretchout but Albarado is one of the least aggressive jockeys in the country.

NT

MI out. ALW out....Looks like 13 go.

It sounds as if you like First Dude somewhat. The Preakness usually runs more chalky than the derby. Two of the top 3 derby finishers in the money, just a matter of picking that 3rd horse for the tri box.

We will be there!

Just look for the sentimental local horse to suck up third at a nice price.

Albarado was reported to have worked him tight to the rail, depending on the draw I think we can expect to see him there. I don't think he needs the lead but he should be on it or close to it.

I think the sentimental local horse sucks up for third far less often than one thinks.

Anyone have a lead on who might ride Aikenite?

Was hoping he would get JV or Alan Garcia for this race...

Yeah, yeah he's hopeless, but I'll be playing him in the exotics.

I don't know if he wants to go even 9 f, but there appears to be a lot less speed in here and I think this colt will give it a go.

Derby starters in the Preakness
 

On Monday's show you said that 19 of the last 30 ITM finishers at the Preakness had run in the Derby. Actually it think it was 20.

Fu Peg and Impreachment in 2000; AP Valentine, Point Given and Congree in 2001: War Emblem and Proud Citizen in 2002; Funny Cide and Scrimshaw in 2003; Smarty Jones in 2004; Afleet Alex and Giacomo in 2005; Sweetnorthernsaint in 2006; Curlin, Street Sense and Hard Spun in 2007; Big Brown and Macho Again in 2008 and Mine That Bird and Musket Man in 2009.

I don't think Macho Again ran in the Derby.

:tro:

He didn't.

Back to 19...

:$:

Alydeed and Macho Again both ran in the derby trial, other notables that missed the derby but ran well were Touch Gold in the Lexington, Red Bullet in the Woodward, and Bernadini ran in the Withers. Rachel obcourse won it last year off of the Oaks.

Hurricane Ike demures from Preakness
 

PREAKNESS FIELD (Click for PP's)

1. Aikenite (Todd Pletcher)
2. Caracortado (Mike Machowsky/Paul Atkinson)
3. Dublin (D. Wayne Lukas/Garrett Gomez)
4. First Dude (Dale Romans)
5. Jackson Bend (Nick Zito)
6. Lookin At Lucky (Bob Baffert/Martin Garcia)
7. Northern Giant (D. Wayne Lukas)
8. Paddy O Prado (Dale Romans/Kent Desormeaux)
9. Pleasant Prince (Wesley Ward)
10. Schoolyard Dreams (Derek Ryan)
11. Super Saver (Todd Pletcher/Calvin Borel)
12. Yawanna Twist (Rick Dutrow)

lot of holes where the jocks names should be for a 5pm draw... interesting

-bt-

I'm sure Horatio Karamanos or Julian Pimentel are available.

Looks like Super Saver and Jax Bend will be on the lead

Gosh, I thought you were blind.

This is a bummer. Nice horse, would have been a very interesting horse Saturday.