'Shiny' Authentic Impresses in Work for Saturday's Preakness
'Shiny' Authentic Impresses in Work for Saturday's Preakness
Kentucky Derby Winner Breezes Half-Mile at Churchill Downs
Asmussen Trio Breezes for Preakness 145 at Pimlico
Jesus’ Team Gets Acquainted with Pimlico Oval Monday
BALTIMORE – With his Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert watching Monday morning at Churchill Downs, Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Authentic turned in his final timed workout for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, covering four furlongs in 47.60 seconds.
Jockey Martin Garcia handled the work for Baffert and put the Into Mischief colt through splits of 12.20 and 24 seconds. Striding out nicely in the stretch, Authentic finished five furlongs in 1:00 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40.
“He went well,” Baffert said. “He was in hand the whole way, so we’re happy with him. He looks healthy. He looks great. He’s put some weight on. He’s shiny.”
Since his longtime assistant, Jimmy Barnes was injured on Derby Day when Thousand Words reared and fell over while being saddled in the paddock, Baffert left his Preakness prospects Authentic and Thousand Words in the care of his pal, Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas. While commenting on Authentic’s work, Baffert joked with Lukas, 85, who has recovered from a bout with Covid-19 this summer.
“When you stay at the Wayne Lukas barn, it’s like the Ritz-Carlton,” Baffert said. “They both look good.”
Authentic and Thousand Words will ship to Baltimore from Kentucky on Tuesday. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will ride Authentic, while Florent Geroux has the assignment on Thousand Words, who will be equipped with blinkers for the first time in three races.
Asmussen Trio Breezes Monday for Preakness 145 at Pimlico
Steve Asmussen’s trio of Preakness contenders each had the easy half-mile workout Monday that is typical for the Hall of Fame trainer’s horses five days before a race.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pneumatic, winner of Monmouth Park’s Pegasus Stakes in his last start after finishing fourth in the Belmont Stakes (G1), worked a half-mile in 50.20 seconds over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga. Max Player and Excession each were timed in 49.80 seconds at Churchill Downs.
“It’s what we asked for, and they handled it really well,” Asmussen said of the three colts. “Pneumatic is doing extremely well since his win in the Pegasus. We’re excited about getting him the opportunity at this level.”
Pneumatic drew Preakness Post No. 10 Monday.
“He had an outside draw in the Pegasus, a little bit shorter field, but an outside draw nonetheless,” Asmussen said. “Joe (Bravo) worked out a really good trip and hopefully he can do the same.”
Max Player, owned George Hall and SportBLX Thoroughbreds, will make his second start for Asmussen, having finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby. Max Player was third in both the Belmont Stakes and Travers when trained by Linda Rice.
Asmussen termed the work “a little leg-stretch,” adding, “I like his energy.”
Max Player drew Post No. 8 for his Preakness start.
“I think that’s an excellent draw. I think he’ll be able to stay a little closer from there,” Asmussen said. “Very anxious to see how he runs.”
Calumet Farms Excession will be making his first start since he was a fast-closing second at 82-1 odds behind the well-regarded Nadal in Oaklawn Park’s Grade 2 Rebel Stakes on March 14. Excession will break on the rail, which Asmussen called “perfect.”
“He can follow the fence and make his late run,” he said.
Asmussen is shooting for his third victory in the Preakness, following Horses of the Year Curlin in 2007 and the filly Rachel Alexandra in 2009.
Jesus’ Team Gets Acquainted with Pimlico Oval Monday
Grupo Seven C Racing’s Jesus’ Team got acquainted with the Pimlico racing surface Monday morning during a once-around jog.
The 3-year-old son of Tapiture was the first Preakness contender to arrive at Pimlico Sunday afternoon following a van ride from Monmouth Park.
“He worked on Saturday. I give all my horses one day of rest after a work and the next day a once-around slow jogging,” trainer Jose D’Angelo said. “For him, he got to know the track and get to know the place. Tomorrow, he’ll gallop.”
Video Jose D’Angelo: Click here to view
Video Jesus’ Team: Click here to view
Jesus’ Team most recently finished third in the Sept. 5 Jim Dandy (G2) at Saratoga, where he took the lead in upper stretch before weakening late to finish 1 ½ lengths behind victorious Mystic Guide. The Kentucky-bred colt previously finished second behind Preakness contender Pneumatic in the Pegasus at Monmouth and fourth behind Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness morning-line favorite Authentic in the Haskell (G1) at Monmouth.
