Linda Gaudet and Morris Bailey’s Concealed Identity came from off the pace to win the May 7 Federico Tesio Stakes for 3-year-olds at Pimlico Race Course (VIDEO) and could be entered in the May 21 Preakness Stakes (gr. I), second leg of the Triple Crown.
Trained by 80-year-old Eddie Gaudet, Concealed Identity won by two lengths over favored Ruler On Ice. J W Blue, who didn’t have the best start, closed for third.
The time for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track at Pimlico was 1:45.67. The winner paid $16.60.
“He ran excellent today,” jockey Sheldon Russell said. “We were very impressed how he ran last time, the first time going two turns. Last time they took the blinkers off him because he only has one eye, and we were able to relax him there and get him into good position early on.
“He finished so much better. He came home running today and didn’t seem like he was slowing down.”
In his previous start Concealed Identity, by Smarty Jones , won an allowance race at 1 1/16 miles at Pimlico April 15.
Concealed Identity trains at the Bowie Training Center, as does Norman Asbjornson, another Preakness hopeful.
“He has a lot of talent and trained like a good horse,” Gaudet said of Concealed Identity. “He is doing everything right here of late. We are certainly thinking about the Preakness but have to see how he comes out of this one and how crowded the field is going to be.
“It would be something if we had two Bowie horses in the Preakness.
The field for the Preakness will be drawn May 18 at Pimlico.
Co-owner Bailey is currently negotiating with the state of New Jersey to lease Monmouth Park, which opens May 14. Bailey is part owner of Resorts Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., and a longtime Thoroughbred owner.