The connections of Preakness Stakes (gr. I) hopeful Dialed In aren’t the only ones eligible for bonuses via the Maryland Jockey Club pending results of races May 20-21 at Pimlico Race Course.
Dialed In, who finished eighth as the favorite in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), is eligible for the “Preakness 5.5”—a $5.5 million bonus that would go to the winner of the grade III Holy Bull Stakes and grade I Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park and the May 21 Preakness. Owner Robert LaPenta would get $5 million and trainer Nick Zito $500,000.
The bonus scheme was offered by MI Developments (Frank Stronach), which owns Gulfstream and Pimlico.
Owners Michal Lauffer and W.D. Cubbedge would receive a $500,000 consolation prize should Shackleford , who finished second in the Florida Derby and participated in the grade II Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream, win the Preakness. Trainer Dale Romans would get $50,000 should Shackleford win.
In addition, jockeys Julien Leparoux (Dialed In) and Victor Espinosa (Mr. Commons) could bank $100,000 from the AmTote International jockey bonus for winning races during the qualifying stage of the Preakness 5.5 and the Preakness itself. AmTote is owned by MID.
The company also offered the “Black-Eyed Susan 2.2”--$2.2 million for a filly that won a series of races and the May 21 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (gr. II) at Pimlico. No 3-year-old filly is eligible, but two jockeys that won qualifying races are: John Velazquez, who will ride Buster's Ready, and Joel Rosario, who is named on Love Theway Youare.
“This has turned out to be an excellent promotion,” MJC president Tom Chuckas said in a statement. “Ask Nick Zito what he thinks about it. Dialed In runs off the board in the Derby, but his horse has a shot to win $6.1 million (which includes the winner’s share of the Preakness purse).”