After Hierro breezed at Churchill Downs the morning of May 14, Stonestreet Stables announced the son of Hard Spun would not be sent to Pimlico for the May 19 Preakness Stakes (gr. I).
Winner of The Cliff’s Edge Derby Trial (gr. III) April 28 under the Twin Spires, Hierro worked five furlongs in 1:01 1/5 over a track labeled muddy at the time.
Following the work, a representative of Stonestreet said owner Barbara Banke had decided against a Preakness and “other options” would be considered for the colt.
With regular exercise rider Carlos Rosas up, Hierro worked on his own and posted fractions of :12 4/5, :25 2/5, :37 2/5, and :49, while galloping out six furlongs in 1:14 4/5. The move was the third fastest of 10 at the distance.
“Obviously he likes the wet track as we saw the other day,” trainer Steve Asmussen said referring to Hierro’s victory on a sloppy track in the Derby Trial. “He went really nice this morning.”
Asmussen also said that J. Kirk and Judy Robison’s Isn't He Clever would not be running in the Preakness.
“We are going to wait for something after the Preakness,” Kirk Robison said from El Paso, Texas. “The horse could not be doing any better and Steve said he worked well this morning (a half-mile in :51 3/5 over a track rated as sloppy).
“We are going to wait for the right spot with him and I’ll let Steve tell me what that spot is.”
Hierro
Reed Palmer/Churchill Downs