Decisions, decisions.
A few days after Sovereignty outkicked Journalism in the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1), the waiting game continues as the trainers of both carefully monitor their horses to determine their status for the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 17.
Sovereignty appears to have come out of the race in good form, other than a scrape on his pastern that is being treated.
“We fully respect what the Triple Crown means for the industry, for racing in America,” said Michael Banahan, the director of bloodstock for Sovereignty’s owner, Godolphin Racing. “Most importantly, the decision will be made to do what’s best for the horse.’’
He said trainer Bill Mott needs a few days to make sure Sovereignty is in top condition and would be ready to race again just two weeks after the Derby.
“[He’ll] see how he responds, how the team thinks the horse is doing, and we’ll huddle up in probably in the next couple of days,’’ said Banahan on Monday. “We won’t wait too long, because if he’s pulled in that direction, we need to get him placed to do that.”
As for runner-up Journalism, trained by Michael McCarthy, the colt remains at Churchill Downs and could resume training on Wednesday. No decision has been made on the Preakness.
There’s at least one confirmed Derby runner headed to the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore: American Promise, trained by 89-year-old D. Wayne Lukas.
American Promise ran 16th of 19 in the Derby, with his chances compromised at the start from post 4, when Bob Baffert-trained Citizen Bull bore out from the rail and bothered several horses.
Lukas won his seventh Preakness Stakes last year with Seize the Grey, who didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby but won the Pat Day Mile (G2) on the Derby undercard.
“We didn't get the chance to do what we wanted to do,” said Lukas. “He got wiped out at the gate by the one-hole coming over. Actually, three of us took a beating on that. Then he made up good ground, and when he was ready to make a move, they shut him down again.”
Bob Baffert will go for a record-extending ninth Preakness Stakes win with Rodriguez, the Wood Memorial (G2) winner who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise.
“We’re planning on going with Rodriguez,” said Baffert. “Citizen Bull (15th in the Derby), I doubt if I’m taking him. ... The foot is fine now. It was one of those things. We can’t run a horse [Rodriguez] over a track like that when [the bruise] is fresh.”
Other possibles for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, include Clever Again (Hot Springs Stakes winner); Gosger (Lexington Stakes winner; River Thames (second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes, third in the Blue Grass Stakes); Heart of Honor (UAE Derby runner-up); aPay Billy (Federico Tesio Stakes winner);
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