Saturday, May 19 2012

AGAVE KISS RUNS AWAY WITH MS. PREAKNESS PINK WARRIOR STAKES

BALTIMORE, 05-18-12 – Flying Zee Racing Stables, LLC’s Agave Kiss broke alertly and was on cruise control the rest of the way to remain undefeated in six starts with an impressive score in the $100,000 Ms. Preakness Pink Warrior Stakes.

The winner of four straight stakes, the daughter of Lion Heart carried Ramon Dominguez to a 5 ½-length victory in 1:10.40 for the six-furlong distance. Millionreasonswhy, ridden by John Velazquez, worked her way up to take second, while Ageless finished third.

Friday, May 18 2012

Jennifer Rowland Small Wins Lady Legends For The Cure III Race

BALTIMORE, 05-18-12 --- Jennifer Rowland Small won 192 races as the top pioneering female rider in Maryland during the 1970s, but the biggest win on her hometown track came Friday afternoon.

The 59-year-old Small took Class Rules gate to wire to win the $45,000 Lady Legends for the Cure III race by 2 ¼ lengths at Pimlico Race Course.

Preakness News-May 18

I’LL HAVE ANOTHER, BODEMEISTER SET FOR REMATCH IN PREAKNESS, TRAINERS GIVE DERBY WINNER, RUNNER-UP THUMBS-UP AT PIMLICO

BALTIMORE , 05-18-12 -- On a clear, crisp Maryland morning, Kentucky Derby (G1) winner I’ll Have Another made an early appearance on the main track at Pimlico, jogging a half-mile and then galloping seven furlongs under exercise rider Jonny Garcia.

As I’ll Have Another headed back to the barn area a little after 6:30, trainer Doug O’Neill gave an enthusiastic thumbs-up to horse and rider.

Kattegat’s Pride Starter Handicap

BALTIMORE, 05-18-12 – Cathal A. Lynch’s Universal Language caught breakaway leader Franstein in deep stretch to win the $25,000 Kattegat’s Pride Starter Handicap, the opening race on Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan Day program at Pimlico Race Course.

A field of seven met the starter in the 1 1/16-mile test for Maryland-bred fillies and mares who had started for a claiming price of $7,500 or less in 2011-2012. Kendrick Carmouche rode the daughter of Dance with Ravens, who is trained by her owner. Franstein held on to finish second, a 1 ½ lengths behind the winner. Congaree Princess rallied to take third.

PREAKNESS DAY FEATURES GRADE 1 RACE FOR ARABIAN HORSES

BALTIMORE, 05-17-12---A field of 10 will go the gate in the $75,000-added The President of the United Arab Emirates Cup, a Grade 1 race for purebred Arabian horses on the Preakness Stakes undercard Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.

To be run at 1 1/16-miles on the main track, the President of the UAE Cup will be contested between the third and fourth races, with an estimated post time of 12:02 p.m. First post on the 13-race Preakness card is 10:30 a.m. Separate win, place, show, exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagering will be taken on the special, non-numbered event.

Thursday, May 17 2012

GRADE 2 DIXIE STAKES TOPS PREAKNESS DAY UNDERCARD

BALTIMORE, 05-17-12---Headed by the oldest stakes race in Pimlico Race Course's storied history, the Preakness undercard offers stakes purses worth nearly $1 million.

The $300,000 Dixie Stakes (G2)--first run in 1870 as the Dinner Party Stakes and won by the horse Preakness--tops the list with 11 runners scheduled to go immediately before the Preakness Stakes.

Preakness News-May 17 Notes

DERBY-WINNING JOCKEY PAYS VISIT TO I’LL HAVE ANOTHER; BODEMEISTER TAKES TO THE PIMLICO TRACK FOR FIRST TIME; WENT THE DAY WELL SCHOOLS IN GATE BETWEEN GALLOPS

BALTIMORE, 05-17-12 – Jockey Mario Gutierrez proved again Thursday morning that he could handle himself on stage. The Kentucky Derby winning rider showed confidence and a good sense of humor during a news conference for Saturday’s Preakness outside the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course.

Gutierrez, 25, has been a top jockey at little Hastings Park in Vancouver, B.C. for a few years but had his first taste of national and international attention when he rode I’ll Have Another to victory in the Derby on May 5.

BODEMEISTER MORNING LINE PREAKNESS FAVORITE

BALTIMORE, 05-16-12 – I’ll Have Another was entered Wednesday to continue his Triple Crown quest in the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1), but Reddam Racing’s Kentucky Derby winner may not be favored to win Pimlico Race Course’s signature race for 3-year-olds on Saturday.

Maryland Jockey Club linemaker Frank Carulli installed Bodemeister, the runner-up to I’ll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby (G1), as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Preakness 137. I’ll Have Another, who captured the Run for the Roses by 1 ½ lengths over the pacesetting Bodemeister, was rated second at 5-2 in the 11-horse field that will contest the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

Wednesday, May 16 2012

Preakness News-May 16 Notes

BALTIMORE, 05 -16-12 – Trainer Doug O’Neill said Wednesday that a horse will win the elusive Triple Crown again and that Reddam Racing’s I’ll Have Another might be the right horse in the right situation to complete the sweep.

I’ll Have Another won the Kentucky Derby, finishing 1½ lengths in front of Bodemeister, and is being prepared for the 137th Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. The 11th and last horse to win the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes was Affirmed in 1978.

Preakness News-May 15 Notes

BALTIMORE– 05-15-12 – Rather than take Reddam Racing’s I’ll Have Another out to exercise on a wet track Tuesday morning, trainer Doug O’Neill opted to keep the Kentucky Derby winner under cover and out of the heavy rain falling at Pimlico Race Course, where he is set to run in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

“He’s so fit, he’s doing so well, I just decided to walk all the horses this morning. I’m glad I did,” O’Neill said. “We all enjoy a day off from time to time. They all got a day off and the weather forecast is nice starting tomorrow through the weekend, so we can get right back to normal training tomorrow.”

LADY LEGENDS BACK FOR THIRD TOUR OF OLD HILLTOP

BALTIMORE, 05-15-12---Fillies and mares, both equine and human, will be in the spotlight for the third consecutive year on Friday as The People’s Pink Party takes over Pimlico Race Course.

A joint effort between Pimlico and Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the world’s largest breast cancer organization, the annual springtime event was created in 2010 to help raise money and awareness in the fight against the disease.

Tuesday, May 15 2012

Preakness News-May 14 Notes

BALTIMORE, 05-14-12 – Trainer Bob Baffert on Monday got his first look at Bodemeister since the morning after his brilliant second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. The Hall of Fame trainer liked what he saw during his colt’s 1 ½-mile gallop around a muddy oval before confirming the son of Empire Maker for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.

“He looks good, his coat is good and he is eating well,” the five-time Preakness-winning trainer said after Bodemeister completed his activity under exercise rider George Alvarez. “I see no reason not to take him (to Pimlico).”