Kentucky Derby runners: Some make a Preakness bid some play it safe
The 138th Grade 1, $2 million Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs closed out with an unexpected winner, the 15 to 1 shot, I’ll Have Another, who wore down Bob Baffert’s front running sensation, Bodemeister, to nick the Derby on 5 May, 2012.
Though, the Derby has come to a close, there are still 2 more legs to go to the 2012 Triple Crown, and the morning after the Kentucky Derby, the colts that participated in the race were assessed on their fitness – which would generally have a say regarding their future in the Triple Crown.
Starting with the winner, Doug O’Neill trained, I’ll Have Another has come out of the race absolutely fine, and is a go for the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes and along with him the fourth place finisher, Went The Day Well will fly to Baltimore on 7 May, 2012.
“He seems fine, he has one pretty good cut on his right front ankle but it looks more superficial,” Motion said of the March 23 Spiral Stakes (gr. III) winner. “I think that if he seems alright this week, there’s a pretty strong possibility he’ll be in the Preakness. The beautiful thing about running in the Spiral is he’s had six weeks heading into the race; it’s not like we’ve crammed in a couple. It’ll be a little bit more laid-back this year than it was last year, that’s for sure.”
Patrick Byrne trained, Take Charge Indy, who emerged out of the race with a pronounced injury, was to have a chip in his front ankle that would keep him out of action for the next 60 days.
Byrne is aiming at a prep race for his 19th place Derby finisher, going toward the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic later in the season.
The seventh placed Union Rags will be going to Fair Hill, where Matz will have a discussion with owner Phyllis Wyeth for a possible start in the Preakness.
The 16th place finisher Gemologist in an unlikely prospect for the Preakness, while there isn’t much sureness regarding El Padrino’s Preakness stint as well.
Optimizer would make a Preakness bid, but Asmussen refused to share anything regarding Daddy Nose Best and Sabercat’s fitness.
Hansen is a listed possibility for the Preakness, but can’t be said for sure because the connections could not be reached for an interview, same goes for the pace setter, Trinniberg.
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