The $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) perked up when Sandman entered the picture Saturday, a week before the second leg of the Triple Crown.
After finishing a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Derby (G1), trainer Mark Casse determined his gray colt came out of the race in fine order and is ready for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.
“We wanted to see how he came back. He’s an extremely happy horse right now,’’ said Casse, who won the 2019 Preakness with War of Will. “It looks like the race might set up nice for him. It looks like there’s a fair amount of speed.”
Derby winner Sovereignty is skipping the 150th Preakness and working toward the Belmont Stakes (G1), leaving no chance for a Triple Crown.
Derby runner-up Journalism is still possible for the Preakness. A decision will come by Monday, the day entries are taken for the May 17 race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Sandman, the deep-closer who won the Arkansas Derby (G1) by 2 1/2 lengths, did not enjoy a smooth trip at Churchill Downs.
With Jose Ortiz aboard, Sandman dropped far back after bumping with a rival shortly after the start before rallying nine-wide to end up seventh in the field of 19.
“I knew when he went by us the first time that we were in big trouble. He obviously wasn’t handling the (sloppy) track very well, and you just don’t know how that affects them late in the race,” said Casse. “He made a middle run but did flatten out a little bit.”
Sandman is expected to ship to Pimlico on Monday.
River Thames, trained by Todd Pletcher, worked 4 furlongs in 48.25 seconds at the Belmont Park training track, the ninth fastest time of 38 at the distance.
G1-placed Preakness contender RIVER THAMES finishing up half-mile breeze to the outside of TRUST FUND over Belmont Park dirt training track … 48 1/5 seconds per NYRA clockers. pic.twitter.com/NpQExBFVdG
— Christian (@c__abdo) May 10, 2025
River Thames ran second by a neck behind Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream on March 1; then finished third in the Blue Grass on April 8. He did not run in the Derby as he was being pointed to the Preakness.
Trainer Brendan Walsh called Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Gosger a ‘go’ after the 3-year-old colt worked 5 furlongs in 1:00.60 at Keeneland.
“He worked good; so, we're a go. I think he's ready to take a step forward again off the last race,’’ said Walsh.
Preakness nugget: In the 55 runnings of the Preakness since 1970, there have been 13 winners – 23.6% – that finished fifth or worse in the Derby. The biggest turnaround during that stretch was turned in by Louis Quatorze, who was 16th, beaten 23¼ lengths in Louisville in 1996. American Promise, who finished 16thin the Derby last week by 38 ½ lengths, will run in the Preakness for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
