Preakness Contenders on the Track

Three Churchill Downs-based contenders for Saturday's Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course put in their final works on Tuesday morning at the Louisville oval.

Five-time Preakness-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas sent out Ten Cents a Shine and Scrimshaw, each working four furlongs, and trainer Greg Foley worked Champali five furlongs.

Ten Cents a Shine, who finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) blazed through his half-mile work over a fast track in :46, which was the fastest move of 42 at the distance. Scrimshaw covered the same distance in :48, ranking third on the day. Exercise rider Stacy Maker was aboard for both works.

Comparing the two works, Lukas was most pleased with the effort of Ten Cents a Shine. "I wanted Ten Cents a Shine to go a little quicker," the trainer said. "I'm going to try to get him a little more focused in the early part of the race because I think it's going to be that type of race."

The move by Scrimshaw was described by Lukas as, "right on the money." The Hall of Fame conditioner said, "If he bounces back like I think he's doing, and you're never sure as a horse trainer, but if he comes back and puts it together, he's a very talented horse."

Champali, runner-up in the Derby Trial (gr. I) and winner of the Iroquois (gr. III) and John Battaglia Memorial, breezed five furlongs in 1:00.80, the fourth-best of 18 at that distance.

"He's doing good," said Foley. "Whether he can run a mile and three-sixteenths and handle those kind of horses, we're going to find out."

Other Preakness Contenders Work

Cherokee's Boy worked a half-mile in :47 1/5 at Bowie Training Center on Tuesday. His work was the second fastest of 17 works at that distance.

"He did it easy and that's the kind of work we were looking for," trainer Gary Capuano said. "Everything is a go for Saturday and everyone involved is gearing up for the big day."

New York Hero breezed five furlongs in 1:00 1/5, unofficially at Belmont on Tuesday. Trainer Jennifer Pedersen said, "I was pleased. He was real relaxed. Four people had their watches on him."