GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) had his first gallop at Pimlico Thursday morning as he prepares for the GI Preakness S. next Saturday.
“He continues to show us all of the positive signals that we're looking for,” trainer Todd Pletcher offered. “His energy level has been good since the race. He handled the ship well. His appetite has been good. I thought he had a real good gallop over the track this morning. It's kind of what we were looking for, a tranquil, quiet setting, He was focused and on the bridle, but he wasn't as super-aggressive as he was at Churchill. It's one of those things; you want him to be a little bit aggressive, not quite as much as he was at Churchill. That's why we came in early. I thought we'd have a quiet setting here, which appears as though we do, at least for the moment anyways. We're happy.”
Pletcher noted that he will not put Always Dreaming through an official breeze before the middle leg of the Triple Crown.
“I don't think there is enough to gain out of a breeze,” Pletcher said. “He's doing well. He's super fit; I'm not concerned about that. The obvious change is that we shipped in early. That was more just because I never felt like he relaxed on the racetrack when he was at Churchill. From my previous experience being here at Pimlico, I knew it was pretty quiet leading up to next week anyways. What we got out there this morning is exactly what I was hoping for. I think there was one or two other horses on the track while he was training and that quiet environment is going to allow him to fill back up.”
Other Preakness hopefuls to stretch their legs in Baltimore Thursday included GIII Robert B. Lewis S. winner and GI Santa Anita Derby third Royal Mo (Uncle Mo), who failed to draw into the Derby as an also-eligible; and MGSW Gunnevera (Dialed In), who was seventh in the Derby with a troubled trip.
“I think it's probably a little bit of an advantage to have a fresh horse,” Royal Mo's trainer John Shirreffs said after admitting he was disappointed to have not made it into the Derby starting gate. “He's going to work either Saturday or Sunday depending upon the track conditions here with what the weather's doing. If he works well over the track, we're going to be in pretty good shape.”
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