Some trainers will tell you have they have an asterisk next to a major win because it came via disqualification.
Kenny McPeek's 2020 Preakness Stakes (G1) victory with the filly Swiss Skydiver does not have any kind of symbol attached to it, but it was the most unique running of the middle jewel in the Triple Crown.
It was a race unlike any other in the Preakness' storied 149-year-old history.
Thankfully.
In 2020, because of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Preakness was moved to Oct. 3 as the final leg of the Triple Crown with no fans in attendance, face masks everywhere, and none of the hustle and bustle attached to a race of its magnitude.
"We had fun (in 2020)," said McPeek, who trains Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and likely Preakness favorite Mystik Dan, the morning of May 16 at Pimlico Race Course. "The only difference is that there was no problem with parking then. No problem getting any tickets. No problem getting any hotels. So it was pretty much a straight line."
Needless to say, the May 18 edition of the Preakness will be your typical jammed, boisterous day at Pimlico with a chance for McPeek's 3-year-old to move one step closer to becoming the sport's 14th Triple Crown winner.
"This is what you want. You want this atmosphere," said McPeek. "You want people here. You wanted them connected to it all and seeing all of it. I'm glad we're back to normal."
He's not alone in that belief.
LATEST ON THORPEDO ANNA
While most of the attention in Baltimore is on Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, and rightfully so, McPeek had another star Derby weekend. Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna ran away from the competition May 3 in such impressive fashion that many speculated she might run against the boys.
McPeek shot that down but said May 16 that the daughter of Fast Anna, who returned to the work tab Thursday at Churchill Downs, has her next targets in sight. She breezed a half-mile in :48.
"A nice happy half this morning. (Assistant Greg Greier) said she felt super. You know, any other year I might have contemplated bringing her (to the Preakness). She's killing it down there," McPeek said. "She's been eating great. They can't hold her down in the shedrow. But she's going to stay in the filly division and we're going to point her towards the Acorn. I believe it's the Coaching Club and the Alabama, hopefully the Cotillion. I don't know if she can run the table on that. But we'll see."
That ambitious plan would begin at Saratoga Race Course with the June 7 Acorn Stakes (G1), followed by the July 20 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), Aug. 17 Alabama Stakes (G1), and Sept. 21 Cotillion Stakes (G1).
BY GEORGE!
Meanwhile, McPeek said he related somewhat to Mystik Dan co-owner Sharilyn Gasaway throwing out the first pitch May 13 at an Arizona Diamondbacks game. He, too, had the opportunity to throw a first pitch.
After winning the 2002 Belmont Stakes (G1) with Sarava, late New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner extended the invitation.
"Steinbrenner invites me and we were kind of tired. ... And I told Steinbrenner's people, 'I'm a Reds fan. I could never throw out the pitch for the Yankees. Sorry.' I should have done it though," he said.
Smooth day of training for Imagination
A day after morning-line favorite Muth was scratched from Saturday's Preakness, it was a quiet Thursday morning at Pimlico as race day approaches.
Jimmy Barnes, Baffert's on-site assistant, reported that Muth's stablemate Imagination galloped smoothly and showed no sign of the illness that knocked Muth out of the race.
"He went very nicely this morning," Barnes said about the son of Into Mischief . "He galloped a mile and three-eighths and went over the track great and seemed to travel well. One more day, and it will be Preakness Day."
Barnes said he was glad Muth's illness was detected quickly.
"We caught it very early. You don't even want to train them when they are like that. You don't know when it will pop up and how it happens. That's the way it goes," Barnes said. "Bob will come up with another plan, whether it's the Belmont Stakes or something else down the road like the Haskell. The horse will tell us."
Mystik Dan Favored in Revised Preakness Morning Line
Pimlico has issued a revised morning line following the scratch of Muth. As expected, Mystik Dan is favored, pegged at 8-5 odds. Imagination is next at 3-1, followed closely by Catching Freedom at 7-2 and Tuscan Gold at 9-2.
Maryland Jockey Club handicapper Brian Nadeau's full morning line is below:
1: Mugatu 20-1
2: Uncle Heavy 20-1
3: Catching Freedom 7-2
4: Muth SCR
5: Mystik Dan 8-5
6: Seize the Grey 12-1
7: Just Steel 12-1
8: Tuscan Gold 9-2
9: Imagination 3-1
