2006 Preakness Stakes Wagering

2006 Preakness Stakes Update

PREAKNESS FIELD SWELLS TO AS MANY AS TEN STARTERS; DIABOLICAL IS A GO; 'COUPLE' OTHERS ARE POSSIBLE

BARBARO - During a break in the morning rains, trainer Michael Matz sent his Kentucky Derby winner to the track at Fair Hill Training Center for a 1-1/2-mile gallop under assistant trainer Peter Brette.

Barbaro's tour-de-force performance at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday in May drew raves from rival trainers, including Bob Baffert, who opined that any horse that can excel at thoroughbred racing's highest level on both dirt and turf is a "freak."

Undefeated in six career starts, including three on turf to start his flawless racing record, Barbaro has even mystified his trainer with his uncommon versatility and excellence. Matz wouldn't venture a guess Monday morning when asked the reason for the son of Dynaformer's rare affinity for both turf and dirt.

"Nobody knows," Matz said. "He has a big heart. He has a terrific stride. He's very willing. But nobody knows. If I knew that, I'd buy those horses for myself and become a millionaire."

Yet, Matz is well aware that horses like Barbaro don't come around too often.

"I'm lucky to have the one," he said.

Trainer Michael Matz will meet with the media Tuesday and Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at Fair Hill Training Center

BROTHER DEREK - Cecil Peacock's Santa Anita Derby winner was given his first gallop since the Kentucky Derby on May 6 when he covered a mile Monday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

"My assistant, Francisco Alvarado, got on him this morning and said he felt really good and fresh without being stupid," trainer Dan Hendricks said by phone from California. "We're really happy with that and everything seems to be set and ready to go."

Starting from post No. 18 in the Derby, Brother Derek completed a challenging trip by finishing in a dead-heat for fourth with Jazil. Hendricks stayed with the same light post-race schedule he has used with success with the colt since September. Brother Derek did not return to the track until Sunday when he jogged with a pony.

Alvarado, who flew in from California Sunday night, said he did not fear that the colt would be tough to handle.

"He felt real strong, real good," Alvarado said. "I expected him to be like he was, a little fresh, jumping a bit, nothing crazy."

Brother Derek will ship from Churchill Downs to Pimlico on a Tex Sutton flight Wednesday, when Hendricks will fly from California to Baltimore to attend the post position draw at 5 p.m. later in the day at the ESPN Zone.

When Hendricks returned to California following the Derby, Brother Derek was moved to a stall in trainer Wally Dollase's barn at Churchill Downs. Dollase watched Monday morning as Alvarado jogged the Benchmark colt in the chute before moving out for the gallop.

"Today, I was impressed because of his demeanor," Dollase said. "He did exactly what the rider wanted him to. He's been tack walking quite a bit, but he was a gentleman. He did everything absolutely perfect. He'll stand there all day on the racetrack if you want him to. Most horses are nervous about it. He wasn't nervous at all."

During their daily phone conversations, Hendricks gives Dollase instructions on what he would like done with the colt.

"I'm not going to send him (Hendricks) a bill," Dollase said. "I'm privileged to take care of the horse. I'm just happy to be the lucky guy he chose to take care of his horse."

SWEETNORTHERNSAINT - Trainer Michael Trombetta drove to Pimlico on Monday from his base at nearby Laurel, where his Illinois Derby winner and Kentucky Derby also-ran will likely remain until Saturday morning before being vanned on Preakness Day.

"He's comfortable there; we're comfortable there," Trombetta said. "I've got all the confidence in the world in my horse. Any horse can be beat, but it's going to be hard work to beat that horse (Barbaro)."

After a failed debut on grass last summer, Sweetnorthernsaint won his first three starts on dirt beginning with a 16-length romp at Laurel on Dec. 21. He won a minor stake at Laurel by 10 lengths, then was narrowly defeated by Preakness entrant Like Now in the 1-1/16-mile Gotham before rolling to a big win in the Illinois Derby in his final Derby prep.

"We were all expecting a speed duel that just never materialized," Trombetta said in describing Sweetnorthernsaint's seventh-place finish in Louisville. "Everybody thought Sinister Minister would be out there. My horse and Brother Derek got shuffled back. His only passing lane was on a dead rail."

Trombetta, a Baltimore native, has spent much of his career on the Mid-Atlantic circuit, but this will be the first Preakness runner for the 39-year-old conditioner.

"To be able to do well here Saturday would be super special," said Trombetta, who has elected to jog and gallop after the Derby rather than try to get in another work. "This is not something we get to do every day. We're looking forward to being here. The Derby was as much as you can ask any horse his age to go through. He's doing better each day."

BERNARDINI - Although Bernardini will only bring three-race experience into Saturday's Preakness Stakes, trainer Tom Albertrani has no qualms about the 3-year-old son of A.P. Indy taking on more experienced colts at Pimlico Race Course.

"He has just a terrific disposition. His attitude is very, very good," said Albertrani, whose Preakness candidate galloped 1-1/2 miles Monday morning at Belmont Park. "He has no bad habits."

Bernardini may not have looked like a Preakness horse when he finished fourth after a slow start in his six-furlong career debut at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 7, but the Darley Stable's homebred colt certainly made an impression two months later at the South Florida track while winning by nearly eight lengths at a mile.

"After his first start, he got sidetracked with a lung infection, so we took our time with him," Albertrani said. "We gave him all the time he needed until he was ready."

After his smashing maiden-breaker, Bernardini proved ready again for his next challenge - a quantum leap to Grade 3 stakes competition in the Withers at Belmont on April 29. Bernardini scored by nearly four lengths as jockey Javier Castellano lost his whip in the stretch run.

"It's going to be a difficult task running against Barbaro, but we felt the manner in which he won the Withers earned him the chance to run," Albertrani said. "There's only one Preakness."

Albertrani, who will name Castellano to ride his colt when entries are taken Wednesday for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, reported that Bernardini is slated to breeze five furlongs at Belmont on Tuesday, weather permitting. The Withers winner is scheduled to be vanned to Pimlico on Friday.

LIKE NOW - The Gotham winner remained on course toward the Preakness with a routine tour of the main track at Belmont Park Monday morning.

"He galloped a mile and three-eighths and went very well. He's all set," trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said from New York. "I don't know whether we'll be able to gallop (Tuesday) because we're getting hit pretty hard with rain. He might have to trot. But he's doing very well."

McLaughlin plans to attend the post position draw for the Preakness on Wednesday. He said that Pimlico Special starter Invasor and Tropical Snow, who will run in the Very One Stakes on Friday, will be shipped by van from New York to Baltimore on Thursday. Like Now may be shipped on Friday, but McLaughlin said it was possible the colt could accompany his stablemates on Thursday.

DIABOLICAL - Trainer Steve Klesaris reported Monday morning that Diabolical will be entered for Saturday's Preakness Stakes. The son of Artax walked the shedrow under tack Monday morning after breezing a half mile in 48.64 seconds at Fair Hill Training Center on Sunday.

"He came out of the work in good shape," said Klesaris, who owns the 3-year-old colt in partnership with the Puglisi Stables. "We're going ahead and enter him. Diabolical's a talented colt. I don't believe anyone has seen the best of Diabolical yet. Obviously, Barbaro's a tremendous horse, but I think some of the other colts might be vulnerable."

Although Diabolical is a new shooter on the Triple Crown trail, he's held his own against this year's top 3-year-olds, including Barbaro and Bluegrass Cat. After finishing third behind the latter in the Grade III Nashua at Belmont Park last fall, Diabolical finished a distant second behind Barbaro on turf in the Laurel Futurity.

"He had the worst of it being posted outside (No. 13 post) in his first start around two turns," Klesaris said. "Barbaro's a superior horse, but we still see this race as a good opportunity for Diabolical."

Ramon Dominguez will ride Diabolical in the Preakness.

HEMINGWAY'S KEY - When trainer Nick Zito tightens the girth on Hemingway's Key on Saturday, it will mark the 14th time in the past 17 editions of the Preakness that the Hall of Famer has been represented.

Zito, who won the race in 1996 with front-running Louis Quatorze, has had 16 starters since 1991, failing to run in only 1998, 2000 and 2003. Zito was second in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown with Go for Gin (1994) and A P Valentine (2001). He had three runners here last year, the best finish being Sun King's fourth-place effort.

Jeremy Rose, the star of last year's Triple Crown campaign with Afleet Alex, will be aboard Hemingway's Key for the first time in the colt's seventh career start. Zito also indicated he would take the blinkers off after his eighth-place finisher in the Grade II Lexington at Keeneland.

"He just walked the shedrow and walked with tack," Zito said Monday morning from Saratoga's Oklahoma Training Track. "He had a good work yesterday, and he's really got a lot of energy. He's a fiery type of horse. I just wish he would put it together. I'm gonna take the blinkers off again and hope he just stays steady and shows what he can do."

Hemingway's Key was 2-for-2 as a juvenile, but has yet to hit the board in four starts this season - all stakes races. He will arrive at Pimlico on Wednesday.

GREELEY'S LEGACY - Trainer George Weaver told the Daily Racing Form Monday that Saturday's Preakness Stakes is under consideration for Greeley's Legacy's next start, although he is leaning toward running the son of Mr. Greeley in the Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard.

The son of Mr. Greeley, a winner of two of 11 lifetime races, finished fourth behind Showing Up in the Grade II Lexington Stakes in his most recent start. Greeley's Legacy had previously finished a distant seventh in the Grade I Wood Memorial and a close fourth behind Like Now in the Grade III Gotham.

PLATINUM COUPLE: Glen Lostritto of Team Tristar Stable on Monday informed Pimlico stakes coordinator Wendy Pensivy that Platinum Couple is being "considered" for the Preakness following a four-furlong workout in 51.24 seconds Monday morning at Belmont Park.

Platinum Couple, a New York-bred son of Tale of the Cat, finished fifth by 10 1/2 lengths in his most recent start in the Grade I Wood Memorial behind Bob and John. He was fourth in the Whirlaway and third in the Count Fleet behind Achilles of Troy and second in an optional claimer before the Wood. He won the restricted Damon Runyon on Dec. 11 at Aqueduct.

AH DAY - The Maryland-bred son of Malibu Moon remains a possible starter for the Preakness. Trainer King Leatherbury has until entries are taken Wednesday to decide whether to pay a supplemental entry of $100,000 for the Preakness or send Ah Day into the ungraded Sir Barton on the Preakness Day program.

"We're just hanging around and seeing what happens," Leatherbury said.

Leatherbury decided that one day of walking the shedrow following a breeze was enough for his Federico Tesio winner and sent the gelding back to the track at Laurel Park Monday morning.

"He just galloped lightly, Leatherbury said. "He's come out of his work good."

Leatherbury said the son of Malibu Moon covered a mile and a half Monday.

On Saturday, Ah Day turned in a bullet five-furlong work of 59 seconds.

PIMLICO NOTES: The 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, Funny Cide, worked five furlongs in 1:00.10 over Belmont Park's "floated" main track Monday in preparation for either Friday's Grade I Pimlico Special or Saturday's Grade III William Donald Schaefer... She's An Eleven, the likely favorite for Friday's Grade II Woodford Reserve Black-Eyed Susan Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, will be among a group of weekend stakes performers that is scheduled to arrive from California at BWI Airport at 2 p.m. Tuesday... Trainer Richard Violette reported Monday that he deemed the Preakness Stakes to be "too ambitious" for High Finance.

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