BALTIMORE, 04-27-12---Under Armour founder and CEO Kevin Plank attended his first Preakness as a student-athlete at the University of Maryland in early 1990’s. Now the 39-year-old could own a Preakness starter.

Sagamore Farm trainer Ignacio Correas said Tiger Walk will likely be a new shooter for the 137th running of the $1 million Preakness® Stakes (G1), the middle jewel of racing’s Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, May 19.

The Tale of the Cat colt ended 2011 with a pair of victories at Laurel Park but is winless in three starts at Aqueduct during his sophomore campaign. He finished third in the Withers Stakes (G3) and then had back-to-back fourth place performances in the Gotham Stakes (G3) and Wood Memorial (G1).

“We have made a few changes with him,” Correas said. “He seems to lose interest midway through races and then comes back with a run, so we are going to add blinkers. The last time he worked (half-mile in 48 seconds on April 21 at Pimlico), he had them on and looked pretty good.”

Correas said Tiger Walk would work next on Sunday or Monday at Pimlico, depending on the weather.

“He is improving but certainly needs to step up to compete at the highest level,” added Correas. “He is going to need to with the added 1/16^th of a mile (from the Wood to the Preakness) but that could play to his favor because he looks like he can run all day.”

Other horses not running in next Saturday’s $2 million Kentucky Derby (G1) who could be fresh starters in the Preakness include The Lumber Guy and Isn’t He Clever.

Plank should be well represented on Preakness weekend. Correas said promising 3-year-old filly Millionreasonswhy would likely start in the $100,00 Miss Preakness Stakes on May 18, while Humble and Hungry is being pointed to the $300,000 Dixie Stakes (G2) on the Preakness undercard.
 

$50,000 MINIMUM GUARANTEE PAYOUT ON PLAYERS’ JACKPOT PICK 5
STARTS KENTUCKY OAKS DAY

The new Pimlico PLAYERS’ JACKPOT PICK 5  will have a guaranteed minimum payout of $50,000 beginning next Friday, May 4 if there is a single, unique winning ticket.

Here are the highlights of the wager, which debuted earlier during the spring meeting:

• 60% of the daily pool is paid to multiple winners or “best of fives”
• 40% of the daily pool builds a jackpot carryover payable to a single, unique winning ticket
• 50¢ minimum bet and ticket value
• 18% takeout
• Late scratches are awarded post time favorites
• A late move from turf to dirt results in an “all”; a late surface change in more than one leg results in a refund
• Mandatory payout final day of the stand, which is Preakness Day (May 19)