Bodemeister set to take revenge on I’ll Have Another in the Preakness Stakes
Trained by Bob Baffert for trainer Ahmed Zayat, 3-year-old Kentucky Derby runner-up, Bodemeister, is ready to take revenge on, I’ll Have Another, who wore down Bodemeister and nabbed the Derby within the 100 yards of the finishing line.
It was owner Ahmed Zayat’s third runner-up finish in the last four Kentucky Derbies, last year it was Nehro to Animal Kingdom.
It was decided that Bodemeister will be sent to Baltimore to run in the Grade 1, $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, at Churchill Downs when Ahmed Zayat was on hand to watch the 3-year-old son of Empire Maker.
He looked ready according to Ahmed Zayat:
"He looks fantastic,'' Zayat said. "He couldn't look any better. In fact, he gained weight since Derby, which is amazing. (In) my heart, he deserves a chance to come and redeem himself in an American classic, but you have to weigh that against the best interest of the horse. I wanted to come with my son Justin to see for myself that he is the same Bodemeister.
"He's actually doing better. He's happier.''
Bred in Virginia by Audley Farm Inc. Bodemeister was an unknown commodity until 10 March, 2012, and the racing world only knew that he is a part of Baffert’s huge 3-year-old string, and that he is a fast developing colt.
However, the lightly raced colt was on the Derby trail, and he made his first impression when he ran second to Creative Cause in the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park over a distance of 1 1/16 miles on 10 March.
Out of Storm Cat mare Untouched Talent, Bodemeister catapulted to stardom after his magnificent win in the Grade 1, $1 million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park, where he defeated his stable mare, Secret Circle by 9 odd lengths.
That was when he was given the favoured odds going into the Derby, and some would say that Bodemeister should have gone the distance, but he will have another shot at his Derby tormentor, over a comparatively smaller distance than the Kentucky Derby.
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