Friday, May 17 2013

Fiftyshadesofhay Gets Up To Win Black-Eyed Susan Stakes

BALTIMORE, 05-17-13 – Karl Watson, Michael E. Pegram & Paul Weitman’s Fiftyshadesofhay closed with a rush to claim a narrow victory in the 89th running of the $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) at Pimlico Race Course.

Thursday, May 16 2013

WALKWITHAPURPOSE OUT OF THE BLACK-EYED SUSAN STAKES

Statement from General Manager Tom Mullikin

Baltimore, Md. -- After Walkwithapurpose’s final gallop this morning in preparation of the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, she took a bad step and bruised her foot making her unable to compete in the race tomorrow. X-rays have been taken and showed up negative, but we want to take the necessary precautions. We will find another race for her down the road after her foot has time to heal, and we are confident she has a great racing career ahead of her.

ORB STRONG MORNING-LINE FAVORITE FOR SATURDAY’S PREAKNESS

Derby Winner Tops Field of 9 for Middle Jewel of Triple Crown at Pimlico

BALTIMORE, 05-15-13 – Kentucky Derby champion Orb was installed as the even-money morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 138th running of the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1) after post positions were drawn Wednesday at Pimlico Race Course.

FAIR GROUNDS ALUMS LINING UP TO TACKLE ORB IN SATURDAY’S PREAKNESS

NEW ORLEANS (Thursday, May 16, 2013) – If Kentucky Derby winner Orb does not win Saturday’s Preakness Stakes (GI) at Pimlico Race Course and is therefore denied a shot at sweeping the Triple Crown, there is a good chance it will be a horse that raced in New Orleans playing the role of spoiler. Four of the nine horses entered for Saturday’s $1 million middle jewel were prominent in the 3-year-old division at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots this season: $1 million Louisiana Derby (GII) runner-up and Kentucky Derby fifth Mylute, Louisiana Derby third and Illinois Derby (GIII) winner Departing, Lecomte Stakes (GIII) winner and Kentucky Derby sixth Oxbow, and Louisiana Derby also-ran Titletown Five.

Wednesday, May 15 2013

Preakness News-May 15 Notes

DERBY WINNER ORB GETS WELL ACQUAINTED WITH PIMLICO

DEPARTING, MYLUTE, GOVENOR CHARLIE SET FOR ARRIVAL

(Nine 3-year-olds have been entered for the 138th Preakness Stakes: Orb, Departing, Goldencents, Govenor Charlie, Itsmyluckyday, Mylute, Oxbow, Titletown Five and Will Take Charge. The Preakness post position draw will be held at the International Pavilion in the Pimlico Infield at 6 p.m. Wednesday and will be broadcast live on HRTV.)

Tuesday, May 14 2013

LUKAS AND TRIO OF PREAKNESS HOPEFULS ARRIVE AT PIMLICO

ITSMYLUCKYDAY SHIPS IN FROM MONMOUTH PARK

BALTIMORE, 05-14-13 – Five-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas arrived at Pimlico Race Course with his three-horse contingent of Oxbow, Titletown Five and Will Take Charge at 4:55 p.m. Tuesday following a grueling 12 ½-hour van ride from Churchill Downs.

“They’re better than I am probably. It’s a long little trip.” said the 77-year-old Hall of Fame trainer, who rode in one of the two vans that transported his three hopefuls for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes and six other horses from Kentucky.

DERBY WINNER ORB BRED TO GO THE DISTANCE FOR PREAKNESS

KRIGGER TO CHASE HISTORY ON GOLDENCENTS; GOVENOR CHARLIE READY TO GO

BALTIMORE, 5-14-13 – Much has been said and written about the grueling demands the Kentucky Derby places on a horse so early in his 3-year-old season. Trainer Shug McGaughey understands how stern the rigors of a 1 ¼-mile race can be on a young horse, but he has no doubt Orb was physically up to the challenge during his Kentucky Derby victory on May 4.

Monday, May 13 2013

DERBY WINNER ORB ARRIVES AT PIMLICO FOR PREAKNESS

BALTIMORE, 05-13-13 – Kentucky Derby winner Orb arrived at Pimlico Race Course Monday, stepping off the van that transported him from Belmont Park shortly after 3 p.m. to continue his preparation for Saturday’s 138th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1).

Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable’s homebred 3-year-old colt hungrily grazed on grass for 40 minutes before being bedded down in Stall 40, the stall annually reserved for the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner.

PIMLICO RIDER BATTLE RETURNS WITH A TWIST

Xpressbet Jockey Challenge to feature ‘Battle of the Sexes’

BALTIMORE, 05-13-13---Both pride and purses will be on the line for eight male and female riders in the inaugural $34,000 Xpressbet Jockey Challenge on Friday at Pimlico Race Course.

Past winners Javier Castellano, Rosie Napravnik and Emma-Jayne Wilson join locally based riders Kristina McManigell and Forest Boyce and are among the participants in Pimlico’s first riding competition to combine some of the country’s top male and female jockeys in head-to-head competition.

DEPARTING ON THE MARK IN WORKOUT FOR PREAKNESS STAKES

NORMANDY INVASION TO PASS; ORB SCHOOLS, GALLOPS

BALTIMORE, 05-12-13 –With trainer Al Stall Jr. and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. watching from the grandstand, Illinois Derby (G3) winner Departing worked a half-mile in 50 2/5 seconds over a fast track at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning in preparation for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes (G1).

ITSMYLUCKYDAY ‘AWESOME’ IN PREAKNESS WORK

BALTIMORE, 05-12-13---Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa’s Itsmyluckyday prepped for Saturday’s $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1) with a sharp half-mile workout at Monmouth Park Sunday afternoon.

Due to the closure of the Monmouth racetrack during training hours Sunday morning, trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. received permission to work Itsmyluckyday between the third and fourth races. The son of Lawyer Ron breezed a half-mile over a fast track in a swift 47 1/5 seconds before galloping out five furlongs in 59 3/5 seconds.

Belmont Park Notes

• Derby winner Orb set for Monday breeze at Belmont
• Up-and-comer Glorious View among probables for next Saturday’s G2 Vagrancy Handicap