MeB Racing, Brooklyn Boyz, Teresa Viola, St. Elias, Siena Farm and West Point Thoroughbreds' Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) emerged from his smashing GI Kentucky Derby win in fine condition and was full of energy, trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. As the colt gave every indication of a happy, healthy horse at Barn 40, his trainer said he was still riding the emotional high of winning his second Run for the Roses.
“It was quite a day and quite a race,” Pletcher said Sunday morning in his barn office. “Always Dreaming came out of it in wonderful fashion–just excellent. He ate very well last night and he's really got some spring in his step this morning.”
Pletcher, who admitted he had a difficult time sleeping Saturday night, said the plan is to ship Always Dreaming to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore Tuesday to begin preparations for the May 20 GI Preakness S. The 49-year-old conditioner added that his two other Derby starters–sixth-place finisher Tapwrit (Tapit) and 14th-finishing fan favorite and 'TDN Rising Star' Patch (Union Rags)–both came out of their efforts none the worse for the wear. Both 3-year-olds will join the remainder of Pletcher's Kentucky contingent in shipping to New York in the coming days. Scratched Kentucky Derby also eligible Master Plan (Twirling Candy) worked a bullet four furlongs in :48.20 Sunday morning and is scheduled to start in Saturday's GIII Peter Pan S. at Belmont Park–traditionally a prep race for the June 10 GI Belmont S.
When asked if Pletcher received any particularly memorable congratulations after his big win Saturday, the Texas native said he appreciated hearing from Hall of Fame basketball coach Lute Olson and Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett.
“Hearing from two fellows like that was special,” the trainer said.
• Trainer Steve Asmussen had three Derby horses of his own, including runner-up Looking At Lee (Lookin At Lucky). Hence (Street Boss) finished 11th, while Untrapped (Trappe Shot) checked in 12th.
“Everybody's good,” Asmussen said following a normal morning of training with his sizable Louisville string. “I haven't had a chance to talk to anybody to make any decisions on what's next for any of them. The Preakness is definitely a possibility for 'Lee.' But, we'll give this race the respect it deserves and wait and see how he does when he gets back to the track.”
Lookin At Lee, breaking from the sometimes troublesome rail post, snuck through an opening on the inside and closed well to complete the exacta.
“He always tries,” Asmussen said of Lookin At Lee. “[Jockey] Corey [Lanerie] gave him a great ride. He fits this horse really well. They have qualities you like, they don't give up and always try. He got his dream run. He got his chance. He ran well to the wire. We're very fortunate to have him.”
• Third-place finisher and 'TDN Rising Star' Battle of Midway (Smart Strike) also emerged from his hard-trying effort in fine condition, according to Jerry Hollendorfer's East Coast assistant, Christina Jelm.
“He appears to have come back good,” Jelm said. “He ran beautifully. I think he really took to the track well. I wish I could say we won but it was nice to be in the money and hit the board.”
Hollendorfer indicated that the Preakness was highly unlikely for the lightly raced colt's next start.
• All was well at the Mark Casse barn Saturday too, despite their star colt Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile)'s hard-luck fourth-place finish still weighing fresh on the team's minds. Slammed at the start and left well out of his usual pace-pressing style, the champion juvenile colt of 2016 closed resolutely to finish fourth and emerged from the race with some swelling around his right eye visible during his morning shedrow walk. The trouble leaving the gate was just the latest in a series of obstacles Classic Empire has had to overcome–including some physical ailments that caused him to miss training earlier this year.
“We're so proud of Classic Empire,” assistant trainer Norm Casse said. “We don't want to give any excuses for the trip but he ran very well with everything that happened this winter.”
With regard to future plans, Mark Casse added, “A lot of it is just going to be how quickly his eye can come around. He also got cut up quite a bit yesterday. He looks a bit like Muhammad Ali after a rough night. We're just going to have to wait and see.”
Casse added that State of Honor (To Honor and Serve) appeared fine after setting the pace and fading to finish 19th.
• Trainer Chad Brown said his dual Grade I-winning colt Practical Joke (Into Mischief), fifth in the Derby, will be pointed to shorter, middle-distance races in the future.
“He really got a great trip from that post, Joel did an awesome job,” Brown said. “I thought he handled the conditions well. He just wasn't good enough, particularly at that distance. We've finally seen what his limitations are. He's a very fine racehorse– he just can't go that far. I was proud of him. He was fighting and trying. It just wasn't the right race for him.”
• Whitham Thoroughbreds' 'TDN Rising Star' McCraken (Ghostzapper), eighth in the Derby as the fourth choice, emerged from the race with a small cut on his left hind leg, according to trainer Ian Wilkes.
“He just walked this morning,” said Wilkes, who normally jogs his horses a day after a race or work. “I didn't want to risk the chance of infection.”
Wilkes said the dark bay is unlikely to appear in either of the remaining legs of the Triple Crown.
• 'TDN Rising Star' Irish War Cry (Curlin), a similarly disappointing 10th as the second choice, was “just fine” Sunday morning, trainer Graham Motion said. Like McCraken, a bid at the Preakness or Belmont could be unlikely.
“I don't see a lot of reason to go on to the Preakness at this point,” Motion said of the New Jersey-bred. “He's had a pretty good campaign this spring, so it's likely we'll skip that and make a plan to point for the [GI] Haskell [Invitational at Monmouth Park July 30].”
• California-based conditioner John Shirreffs confirmed that ninth-place finisher Gormley (Malibu Moon) was in good order Sunday morning and would head back to the West Coast. Stablemate Royal Mo (Uncle Mo), meanwhile, worked an easy five furlongs in 1:05 flat after scratching from the Derby's also eligible list. Shirreffs said the GII Robert B. Lewis S. winner would ship to Baltimore Tuesday for a bid at the Preakness.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
