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Preakness News Minute, Wed, 5/12/2010

Steve Haskin reports on the day's activities, including the withdrawal of Hurricane Ike, the arrival of most of the field, and the draw.

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Draw-Day Omens for Preakness Hopefuls?

Post seven may be a good sign for unlucky Lookin At Lucky, while the chance of a wet track is just fine for the connections of Super Saver.

Super Saver Arrives in Good Order at Pimlico

Super Saver, who captured the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) May 1, arrived at Pimlico Wednesday afternoon.

Jackson Bend Has Bullet Breeze May 10

Robert LaPenta and Fred Brei's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) hopeful Jackson Bend was aboard a flight from Churchill Downs along with many of the other hopefuls for the May 16 race that was scheduled to arrive in Baltimore May 12.

Mission Impazible to Skip Preakness

Twin Creeks Racing Stable's Mission Impazible, winner of Louisiana Derby (gr. II) and ninth in Kentucky Derby, to skip Preakness

Super Saver: The Connections

Reprinted from the pages of The Blood-Horse magazine, the free report Super Saver: The Connections offers an in-depth look at the people who helped Super Saver capture the the roses.

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Aikenite Works 5 Furlongs in Preakness Prep

Kentucky Derby Presented By Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Super Saver is scheduled to work May 10 at Churchill Downs.

Pletcher 'Wouldn't Trade Places With Anyone'

Trainer says Super Saver has "a big chance" to win the Preakness (gr.I).

Horse Profile: Eskendereya

Zayat Stables' Eskendereya was the runaway winner of the Wood Memorial (gr. I) and Fountain of Youth Stakes (gr. II) and overwhelming early favorite for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

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Eskendereya Retired From Racing

Zayat Stables has sold an ownership interest in the Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I) winner to Jess Jackson.

Steve Haskin's Derby Recap: Super Stars

Super Saver teamed up with three powerhouses to win the 136th Kentucky Derby.

Plan Gels for Super Saver; Many on Fence

WinStar Farm's Super Saver is scheduled to ship to Pimlico Race Course May 12 in advance of a Preakness Stakes (gr. I) that could attract a full field of 14.

Pletcher & Borel Different, But So Much Alike

The trainer and jockey are now forever linked in Kentucky Derby history by Super Saver.

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Pletcher: Derby is 'One You Want to Win Most'

On a wet morning of May 2 at Churchill Downs, trainer Todd Pletcher was absorbing the previous day's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) victory by Super Saver as the trainers of others made future plans.

2010 Kentucky Derby Wrap

Lenny Shulman recaps the 2010 Kentucky Derby as Super Saver, Calvin Borel, and Todd Pletcher get the roses.

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Super Saver Wins the Derby!

Super Saver, with Calvin Borel up, wins the 136th running of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). WinStar Farm's homebred son of Maria's Mon gives trainer Todd Pletcher his first Derby win.

Phola Last to First in CD Distaff Turf Mile

Phola rallied from well off the pace to win the Churchill Distaff Turf Mile (gr. IIT) on Derby day. The 4-year-old filly by Johannesburg covered the mile over a yielding course in 1:38.35.

Doubles Partner Dazzles in American Turf Win

WinStar Farm's Doubles Partner rebounded from an eighth-place finish in the March 27 Lane's End Stakes (gr. II), posting an authoritative win in the American Turf (gr. II) on the Kentucky Oaks day undercard.

Pletcher Undeterred by Off Track Possibility

With a 70% chance of rain for May 1, trainer Todd Pletcher said he is not concerned about an off-track for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Twin Creeks: Riding on Hopes for Oaks, Derby

Randy Gullatt and Steve Davison of Twin Creeks are basking in the fact they have both a Derby and an Oaks contender this year in Mission Impazible and Age of Humor.

Good Time Had By All at Trainers Dinner

D. Wayne Lukas took the opportunity to take a couple of good-natured jabs at his friend Bob Baffert, who was an unexpected no-show at the annual dinner April 27 in Louisville

Silver Timber Looks to Axe Turf Sprint

The April 30 Churchill Downs Turf Sprint Stakes (gr. IIIT) has drawn a competitive field of 11 older turf sprinters, headlined by three-time grade III winner Silver Timber.

Suddenly, Pletcher's Hand Isn't All Aces

Todd Pletcher still might have as many as five Kentucky Derby (gr. I) starters, but he no longer has the horse to beat now that Eskendereya is out of the May 1 race.

Interactif Decision Won't Come Until Draw Day

One day after saying it was unlikely that Interactif would enter the Kentucky Derby (gr. I), trainer Todd Pletcher indicated the colt is still being considered and that a final decision won't be made until Wednesday, April 28

Haskin's Derby Report: Pletcher Marches On

With Eskendereya gone, Todd Pletcher regroups; new favorite Lookin at Lucky lookin' good.

Interactif in Bullet Work; Derby Unlikely

Despite breezing a half-mile in :47 3/5, the fastest time of the day over a muddy track at Churchill Downs on April 26, Interactif likely will not be entered in the May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Rule Out of Kentucky Derby Picture

WinStar Farm's Bill Casner confirms he has not been pleased with Rule's progress at Churchill Downs and the colt will not be entered in Saturday's Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Devil May Care: Kentucky Derby Only

Johnny Greathouse and trainer Todd Pletcher confirm that their star filly, Devil May Care, will be entered only in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) and not cross-entered in the Oaks (gr. I).

Haskin's Derby Report: Sad Morning at CD

The withdrawal of Derby favorite Eskendereya due to a filling put a damper on the morning

KY Derby News Minute: Sunday, 4/25/2010

Todd Pletcher explains why Kentucky Derby favorite Eskendereya has been scratched. Presented by Taylor Made Stallions.

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Eskendereya Out of Derby

Eskendereya, favored for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), will not run in the May 1 classic due to a slight filling in his left front leg, according to Todd Pletcher.

Dublin Works Five Furlongs at Muddy Churchill

Under a slight breeze that was helping dry out the Churchill Downs track, trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent grade I winner Dublin out early April 25 for his final breeze leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

Haskin's Derby Report: Derby Devil?

Five Todd Pletchers and Sidney's Candy topped Saturday's Kentucky Derby works.

Devil May Care: Could Go Either Way

Johnny Greathouse and trainer Todd Pletcher are still unsure whether Devil May Care will run in the Oaks or Derby after her 1:00 1/5 drill Saturday morning in the slop at Churchill Downs

Eskendereya to Work Sunday Morning

A sloppy surfaces causes Todd Pletcher to delay the final Derby work of likely favorite Eskendereya until Sunday; Interactif to drill April 25 as well

Discreetly Mine, 'Impazible' Looking Good

Discreetly Mine, Mission Impazible both work in 1:00 1/5 for five furlongs in the slop at Churchill Downs one week before the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).

Super Saver Goes a Half in :48 4/5

Arkansas Derby (gr. I) runner-up works a half-mile under Calvin Borel in the slop at Churchill Downs; one of five workers for trainer Todd Pletcher

Rule Works 5f in 1:00 Under Melancon

WinStar Farm's homebred Rule drills five furlongs in the slop at Churchill Downs Saturday morning in 1:00.

Derby a Possibility For Filly Devil May Care

Glencrest Farm's Devil May Care, one of the top filly contenders for the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I), is now being considered for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), trainer Todd Pletcher confirmed April 20.

TC Talk: Pletcher Has Been Masterful

The trainer's domination of the KY Derby preps is unprecedented.

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Life At Ten Wins 4th Straight in Sixty Sails

Life At Ten, making her graded stakes debut for trainer Todd Pletcher, outfought pacesetter Jessica Is Back in the stretch drive to win the $200,000 Sixty Sails Handicap (gr. III) at Hawthorne Racecourse April 17.

Devil May Care: A Filly Worth Holding On To

Devil May Care is currently ranked fifth on the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) graded stakes earnings list.

Master Command Euthanized

Graded stakes winner Master Command, who was standing his third year at stud at the Taylor family's Taylor Made Farm near Nicholasville, Ky., was euthanized April 13 following an injury.

Trio of Pletcher's Derby Hopefuls Work in Fla

Trainer Todd Pletcher had three of his Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands contenders work a half-mile the morning of April 11 at Palm Meadows in Florida: Discreetly Mine, Misson Impazible, and Rule.

Noble's Promise's Stamina Key in Ark. Derby

He's among a trio of leading 3-year-old prospects, including Super Saver and Dublin, headlining the $1 million Arkansas Derby after entries were taken for the April 10 renewal at Oaklawn Park.

Eskendereya Romps in Wood Memorial

Zayat Stables' Eskendereya likely solidified himself as the horse to beat in next month's Kentucky Derby (gr. I) by romping past five overmatched rivals in the $750,000 Wood Memorial (gr. I) April 3 at Aqueduct.

Triple Crown Talk: Eight in the Gate?

As absurd as it sounds, Todd Pletcher could have as many as eight Kentucky Derby starters.

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Blues Street's Big Move Takes Mervyn Muniz

Favored Blues Street circled the field on the final turn and proved best in the lane to win the $300,000 Mervyn H. Muniz Jr. Memorial Handicap (gr. IIT) on the Fair Grounds turf March 27.

Battle Plan Shows Way in New Orleans 'Cap

The impeccably bred Battle Plan lived up to his billing in the $300,000 New Orleans Handicap (gr. II), taking the field all the way in his stakes debut to defeat General Quarters by 1 1/2 lengths March 27 at Fair Grounds.

Full But Unproven Field Contest La. Derby

The field for this weekend's Louisiana Derby (gr. II) is similar to the recently concluded Florida Derby (gr. I) in one important way: Both major Kentucky Derby preps drew full fields of promising but unproven 3-year-olds.