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.