The day after the first jewel of the Triple Crown came to a thrilling end in the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs, attention started to turn toward the second jewel. With the Derby completed, the field for the 149th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course May 18 is beginning to take shape but will likely be missing much Derby influence.
Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek had not yet completed his morning-after Derby interview with the media May 5 before receiving a call from Pimlico officially inviting Mystik Dan to the Preakness. However, whether or not the Kentucky Derby winner participates is still yet to be determined.
"I'm undecided on Baltimore, we'll see," said McPeek.
McPeek said the Goldencents colt was tired following his gutsy performance in which he held off Blue Grass Stakes (G1) winner Sierra Leone by a nose. McPeek plans to send the Derby winner back to the track May 8, and will determine from there his status on the Preakness.
KING: Connections Savor Kentucky Derby Win From Mystik Dan
"If I don't think he's right and ready, then we'll just wait for the Belmont," McPeek said.
The June 8 Belmont Stakes (G1) appears to be the most likely landing spot for many Derby contenders. With the race temporarily moving from Belmont Park to Saratoga Race Course due to Belmont Park's reconstruction, the typical 1 1/2-mile distance will be reduced to the same 1 1/4 miles of the Derby. Saratoga's main-track track configuration necessitates the change.
"I think that distance at Saratoga is a great race," McPeek said. "I actually like it better at a mile and a quarter than a mile and a half."
McPeek himself will head to Saratoga this week to begin prepping his barn for the summer.
"Better-than-average chance we're going to send him and some others straight to Saratoga," he added.
One of the weighing factors for McPeek could be that when Mystik Dan broke his maiden at Churchill Downs Nov. 12, he ran a flat fifth in allowance company just 13 days later. The two-week turn-around could be too quick for Mystik Dan, but McPeek also noted that things could be different this time as a 3-year-old.
"Horses sometimes pop back quickly, sometimes they don't," McPeek said. "We'll just have to take that as it comes; it's too early to tell."
McPeek trains Mystik Dan for owners Lance Gasaway, 4 G Racing, Daniel Hamby III, and Valley View Farm.
Should Mystik Dan compete in the Preakness, he will likely not see any of the horses who surrounded him at the end of the Derby.
Chad Brown, fresh off a heartbreaking defeat as Sierra Leone came up inches short of Derby glory, made it clear Sunday morning that the Belmont will be the son of Gun Runner 's next start.
"He's not going to the Preakness," Brown said. "I'm going to take him to Saratoga tomorrow and he's going to train up there for the Belmont."
Sierra Leone will not be the only Derby horse whose connections are opting to skip the Preakness in favor of the Belmont. Connections for both Honor Marie and West Saratoga confirmed that the Belmont is currently their next target.
Third-place finisher Forever Young and fifth-place finisher T O Password will both bypass the remainder of the Triple Crown. They are scheduled to fly back to Japan early this week.
Brad Cox confirmed fourth-place finisher Catching Freedom is not under consideration for the Preakness. Bill Mott said sixth-place finisher Resilience, who made a threatening move on the far turn before flattening out in the stretch, will not go forward with the Triple Crown, alluding to shorter races being in the colt's future.
Last year, Kentucky Derby winner Mage was the lone Derby starter to participate in the Preakness. It appears that 2024 could follow a similar story.
New Shooters
With many Derby contenders likely to skip the Preakness, this opens the door for new shooters looking to earn a victory in one of America's classics.
Zedan Racing Stable's two-time grade 1 winner Muth is one of the few horses with a confirmed bullseye drawn on the Preakness gate. Trained by Bob Baffert, the Arkansas Derby (G1) winner was not eligible to start in the Kentucky Derby due to Baffert's suspension from Churchill Downs following a failed drug test that disqualified Medina Spirit's victory in the 2021 Kentucky Derby.
In the Arkansas Derby, Muth defeated Mystik Dan by 6 1/4 lengths. Even if Mystik Dan returns for the Preakness, it is likely that Muth will be the favorite for the Triple Crown's middle jewel.
Baffert is also preparing San Felipe Stakes (G2) winner and Santa Anita Derby (G1) runner-up Imagination for the Preakness. That colt races for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Bob Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, and Tom Ryan.
Work of the Day from @santaanitapark—Imagination (Outside) and Muth worked 6 Furlongs in 1:11.40 on May 4th, 2024, for trainer Bob Baffert. @PreaknessStakes pic.twitter.com/xME1hgKn50
— XBTV (@WatchXBTV) May 4, 2024
The Baffert duo worked together at Santa Anita Park May 4, breezing a bullet six furlongs in 1:11 2/5.
Brown-trained Tuscan Gold, third in the Louisiana Derby (G2), is under consideration for the Preakness. However, Brown plans to enter the son of Medaglia d'Oro in the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack.
"See how (the Peter Pan) comes up," Brown said about his decision between the two races. "Where he draws—it's likely to be a big field from what I'm hearing—weather, keep an eye on (who's going to the) Preakness. Go from there."
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will "strongly, strongly" consider running Pat Day Mile (G2) winner Seize the Grey in the Preakness.
"I think the 680 people will want to vote for that," Lukas said in reference to owner MyRacehorse, which provides an opportunity for people to buy fractional ownership in Thoroughbred racehorses. "My vote will be the one that counts, but I'll vote with them. We have nothing to lose. He earned his way to run in the Preakness. He's qualified for it. He's nominated for it. So why wouldn't we give those people that opportunity? That's what we're getting paid for, to make that many people happy."
Withers Stakes (G3) winner Uncle Heavy is also under consideration for the Preakness following a fifth in the April 6 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
Win and In Qualifiers
Several horses have earned automatic-berth victories in prep races for the Preakness and could be possibilities for the race in Baltimore, Md.
Informed Patriot earned an automatic Preakness berth after a victory in the April 20 Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park. The Hard Spun colt worked a half-mile in :52 for trainer Steve Asmussen Sunday at Oaklawn Park. Asmussen said Informed Patriot is under consideration.
Four-time stakes winner Copper Tax earned an automatic entry with his win in the April 20 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park. Since his victory, the son of Copper Bullet has yet to record a published workout for trainer Gary Capuano, having been delayed by rainy weather.
"I did let him stretch his legs and gallop on pretty strong (Saturday) and he loved it out there," Capuano said.
After seeing the results of the Derby, Capuano feels more confident to take a shot at the Preakness with the colt owned by Rose Petal Stable.
"(The Derby) might thin the (Preakness) field out a little bit," Capuano said. "We'll see how it is in the next few days and see how things shake out. The door's not closed yet. It actually opened up a little bit."
Patriot Spirit earned a $20,000 credit toward Preakness entry fees after winning the April 21 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne Race Course but he is not Triple Crown nominated. Supplementing a horse to the 1 3/16-mile, $2 million Preakness costs $150,000.
