By Christie DeBernardis
There are not many major races that Todd Pletcher has not won, but the GI Preakness S. is one test that has managed to elude the conditioner. The seven-time Eclipse winner looks to change that Saturday when he saddles favored GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) in the second leg of the Triple Crown. Perfect in four starts this year since transferring to Pletcher, the dark bay's impressive GI Florida Derby romp gave the bettors confidence to send him off as the favorite in a sloppy renewal of the Derby and he proved them right, stalking a hot early pace and charging home a decisive 2 3/4-length victor. If his morning preparations at Pimlico since are any indication, Always Dreaming is sitting on another big effort and the only question is whether two weeks is too quick of a turnaround for a horse that has never gone less than four weeks between races.
“I think we got exactly what we hoped we would get when we got here, a good, quiet setting,” Pletcher told the Pimlico notes team. “The horse was able to settle in very well. He's giving us a great feel and shown us everything we're hoping for, leading back in two weeks. The tank seems full. He seems eager to go.”
The Preakness is being billed as a bit of match race between Always Dreaming and reigning champion juvenile Classic Empire (Pioneerof the Nile), who had a well documented troubled trip when fourth in the Derby. Rebounding from a series of setbacks to capture the GI Arkansas Derby Apr. 15, the Mark Casse pupil managed to be fourth on the First Saturday in May after being slammed at the start, regrouping and rallying wide turning for home only to be bumped and carried out in mid-stretch.
“If anything I have a greater respect for Always Dreaming [since the Derby],” Casse remarked. “I love [Always Dreaming and Classic Empire] being side by side [in posts four and five, respectively], and I like it a lot better that we're outside and he's inside. The start's going to be important. It allows us to have more options. Always Dreaming, he has one of the best riders in the world, so I'm sure Johnny [Velazquez] will figure it out.”
Also exiting the Derby are longshot runner-up Lookin at Lee (Lookin at Lucky); stablemate and 11th-place finisher Hence (Street Boss), who received a lot of pre-Derby hype in the mornings at Churchill; and seventh-place finisher Gunnevera (Dialed In). All three of those runners' best efforts came closing from off the pace and they seem likely to get the set up they need Saturday.
The remaining half of the 10-horse field are all new shooters, including Conquest Mo Money (Uncle Mo), an $8,500 KEENOV purchase that was supplemented to the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown for $150,000. Opening his account with a trio of wins at Sunland, including two stakes, he was second to Hence in the GIII Sunland Derby Mar. 26 and completed the exacta again after setting the pace in the Arkansas Derby. That effort earned him enough points to go to Louisville, but connections opted for this spot instead, where the bay is expected to dictate terms early.
“It's like a dream for us to come this far, this fast, to be a trainer,” said trainer Miguel Hernandez, who trains the colt for Judge Lanier Racing. “I've never thought about having a stakes horse like this and being here. I didn't want to be in New Mexico forever and never come out. To come here is totally different.”
Other new faces include GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. victor Senior Investment (Discreetly Mine), GIII Illinois Derby winner Multiplier (The Factor), GII Wood Memorial S. third Cloud Computing (Maclean's Music) and GII San Felipe S. third Term of Art (Tiznow), last seen finishing seventh in the GI Santa Anita Derby Apr. 8.
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