As many as 20 3-year-olds remain in consideration for the 136th running of the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) May 21 at Pimlico according to Maryland Jockey Club officials. Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Animal Kingdom figures to have plenty of competition for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Six other Derby runners: runner-up Nehro (possible but not probable); third-place finisher Mucho Macho Man ; fourth-place finisher Shackleford ; Santiva ; Derby favorite Dialed In ; and Midnight Interlude are listed as candidates for the Preakness.
The Preakness field is limited to 14 starters.
Dialed In, who finished eighth in the Derby, will be running for the biggest payday in North American racing history. Robert LaPenta’s son of Mineshaft trained by Nick Zito, won the Holy Bull (gr. III) and the Florida Derby (gr. I) at Gulfstream Park, making him eligible for MI Developments’ new Preakness 5.5 bonus program.
A victory by Dialed In would be worth $6,100,000. The winner’s share of the Preakness purse of $1 million is $600,000. The Preakness 5.5 bonus is $5 million to the winning owner and $500,000 to the winning trainer. If Dialed In win the Preakness and earns the bonus, the $6.1 million would eclipse the $5,884,000 Smarty Jones earned for winning the Kentucky Derby in 2004. Smarty Jones captured the $5 million Oaklawn Centennial Bonus, for winning the Rebel Stakes (gr. III), the Arkansas Derby (gr. II), and the Kentucky Derby during Oaklawn’s 100th anniversary season.
Thirteen Triple Crown newcomers are being considered for the Preakness:
Astrology , runner-up in the April 23 Jerome Stakes (gr .II); worked six furlongs in company in 1:12 2/5 the morning of May 9 over a fast track at Churchill Downs (splits of :13, :25, :37, :48 3/5; 1:00 2/5; galloped out in 1:25 4/5 and 1:39 3/5)
Concealed Indentity, winner of the May 7 Federico Tesio Stakes; son of Smarty Jones trained by Marylander Eddie Gaudet
Dance City, third-place finisher in the Arkansas Derby; worked five furlongs May 8 in company with Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) starter Praetereo in 1:01 at Churchill Downs for trainer Todd Pletcher (splits of :13 1/5, :25 1/5, :36 4/5, :48 4/5; out in 1:14 1/5 and 1:28 4/5); son of City Zip
Flashpoint, winner of the Hutcheson Stakes (gr. II); son of Pomeroy “definite” according to owner John Fort (owns Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) winner Plum Pretty
King Congie, the Tropical Park Derby winner, third in Blue Grass, son of Badge of Silver breezed five furlongs May 9 in 1:01.14 at Belmont Park for trainer Tom Albertrani
Mr. Commons, third in the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I), son of Artie Shiller based at Hollywood Park with trainer John Shirreffs
Norman Asbjornson, Gotham Stakes (gr. III) runner-up and fourth in the Resorts World New York Casino Wood Memorial Stakes (gr. I), worked a mile at Pimlico May 6 in 1:40, trained by Chris Grove
Prime Cut, second to Derby Kitten in Keeneland’s Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. III) April 23, remains “under consideration” according to trainer Neil Howard
Ruler on Ice, second in the Tesio, “under consideration” according to trainer Kelly Breen
Sway Away, fourth in the Arkansas Derby, walked the shedrow at Churchill Downs May 9 after working six furlongs in 1:11 3/5 on Derby day
The Factor , the Bob Baffert-trained winner of the Rebel Stakes
Harlan's Hello, trained by Doodnauth Shivmangal, finished sixth in the seven-furlong Bay Shore Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct
Isn't He Perfect, trained by Doodnauth Shivmangal, sixth in the Gotham, and fifth in the Wood Memorial and Jerome
Animal Kingdom in the 2011 Kentucky Derby.
Order This Photo
