Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stables' Orb , winner of the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), arrived at Pimlico Race Course mid-afternoon Monday (May 13) by van from Belmont Park. The son of Malibu Moon worked a half mile in :47 1/5 earlier in the day in preparation for the May 18 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
The 3-year-old colt grazed on grass for 40 minutes before being bedded down in Stall 40, Pimlico's traditional stall annually reserved for the Derby winner.
Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey arrived at Pimlico approximately an hour after the van and was pleased with his colt's condition, as well as honored his Derby winner was occupying the same stall that housed so many Thoroughbred greats through the years.
"You can't believe how proud I am," the Hall of Fame trainer said while addressing the media. "I'm thrilled to be standing here right now. I couldn't be a happier guy. I'm excited to be here today."
Orb's win in the Derby was his fifth consecutive score and provided his trainer with his first Kentucky Derby success. McGaughey, who will be seeking his first Preakness victory with Orb, hasn't competed in the Preakness since 1989, when Derby runner-up Easy Goer lost the middle jewel of the Triple Crown to Kentucky Derby winner Sunday Silence by a nose in one of the most dramatic stretch drives in Preakness history.
"Obviously, I'm here with the Derby winner, so I'm probably a lot more at ease than when I came in that time," said McGaughey, who saddled Easy Goer for a victory over Sunday Silence in the Belmont Stakes (gr. I). "We're excited where we are. We're glad to be here."
Orb, out of the Unbridled mare Lady LIberty, is the second Preakness hopeful to arrive at Old Hilltop, joining Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) winner Goldencents , the 17th-place Derby finisher who shipped in early last week.
"When I came in '89, we came in here on Tuesday. This year, I made up my mind I wanted to work him a day out from there and get him down here to try to get him used to his surroundings," McGaughey said. "I want to school him in the paddock and not do too much at one time, so I figured we'd get him in here today.
"Not that I'm not going to be watching the other horses-watching their workouts, how they do, and how they ship in here-but my main concern is Orb and trying to get him from Monday afternoon to Saturday afternoon the best way that I possibly can," McGaughey said.