As the racing world's attention shifts from Churchill Downs to Pimlico Race Course ahead of the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico, so will the horses who wish to participate.
Six of the nine expected entries for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown woke up in Louisville, Ky. May 12, but are starting to filter out. Virginia Derby winner American Promise got a head start on his competition, leaving by trailer around 5:15 a.m. to meet trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who arrived in Baltimore May 11.
That was about the same time that UAE Derby (G2) runner-up Heart of Honor emerged from the quarantine barns—which he cleared Sunday after arriving from England a few days prior—to get a bit of exercise in. Beneath trainer Jamie Osborne's assistant Jimmy McCarthy, the son of Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Honor A. P. jogged a mile and galloped a mile to stretch his legs before vanning to Pimlico later that morning.
Arkansas Derby (G1) winner Sandman was also prepared to leave for Pimlico Monday afternoon, walking trainer Mark Casse's barn in the morning.
As for the horses who planned to wake up at Churchill Downs again May 13, the main event of Monday morning came from Steve Asmussen-trained Clever Again, who recorded his final breeze ahead of Saturday's race under a light rainfall. The American Pharoah colt breezed an easy half-mile maintenance work in :50 2/5 beneath exercise rider Carlos Rosas.
"The horse is happy, the ears were forward, moving smoothly," said assistant trainer Scott Blasi. " We really like how he's doing. We thought a lot of him the whole time. We're excited about running him."
Owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith, Clever Again enters off a wire-to-wire four-length victory over grade 1 winner Gaming in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park March 30. That victory was his second off a 10-month layoff that followed a runner-up effort on debut at Keeneland in April 2024.
With the final move out of the way, Blasi said the colt will leave Churchill Downs early Tuesday morning and target a mid-afternoon arrival at Pimlico. Also making a Tuesday departure is Bob Baffert-trained Goal Oriented, who walked the shedrow Monday following his Sunday morning breeze.
READ: Baffert Pleased with Goal Oriented's Sunday Workout
Also leaving from Churchill Downs Tuesday will be the Preakness' expected favorite Journalism, who was confirmed to enter Sunday by co-owner Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners. Journalism took his final spin around the Churchill Downs oval Monday under the watchful eye of trainer Michael McCarthy.
"He's had a couple of good mornings since I've been here," McCarthy said. "I'm very pleased with what I've seen so far. He's a horse that's doing well, he's thriving in his environment."
McCarthy arrived Sunday to check in on the colt after returning to California for the week following a runner-up effort in the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1). After seeing him, he checked in and made the decision with Eclipse and co-owners Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.
"I hadn't seen the horse in a couple days," the trainer said on why they waited until the day before entries to decide. "I wanted to come and make sure everything was as I would have expected it to be."
McCarthy said he has not re-watched the Derby, stating he saw enough in real time to understand what occurred. He stated that if he could change anything, it would be the start in which he was bumped on two separate occasions by Burnham Square to his outside.
"If could have anything over again, I'd like to have the first 100 yards over," McCarthy said. "I thought the start was a bit unfortunate. I wanted to be five lengths off the lead. I think (track announcer) Travis Stone called him about 12 lengths off the lead going into the first turn. If I'm five lengths behind where I'd like to be—you know?"
Asked whether Journalism would be under consideration to participate in the final leg of the Triple Crown should he run well in the Preakness, McCarthy said, "Yes. Possibly. Maybe."
