Sherack at the Preakness: Wednesday’s Backstretch Report
It was a relatively relaxed morning on a much cooler and damp Pimlico backstretch Wednesday.
With temperatures struggling to exit the high 50s, General A Rod (Roman Ruler) and Kid Cruz (Lemon Drop Kid) were the first two GI Preakness S. contenders to head out to the fog-covered racetrack. The former continues to give off good vibes following another strong gallop and certainly appears ready to erase the memory of his troubled 11th-place finish in the Run for the Roses. Kid Cruz’s exercise rider Reul Munoz had to yell for a security guard to lift the barn door upon returning from a 1 1/2-mile gallop, but the Private Terms S. and Federico Tesio S. winner was just fine with the brief inconvenience after circling a few times.
With those two done for the day by 6:35 a.m., it was California Chrome (Lucky Pulpit)’s time to enjoy the spotlight once again. Trainer Art Sherman, a Tuesday afternoon arrival, quickly made his presence felt while enjoying some laughs in the stakes barn as the GI Kentucky Derby winner began to walk the shedrow at 6:40 a.m. With assistant trainer Alan Sherman on the shank, the striking chestnut made his way along the path with Art Sherman in close pursuit. Much to the delight of the media and photographers on hand, California Chrome made a couple of brief stops along the way to take everything in–first when nearing the gap, then another once stepping foot onto the track. After an easy jog Tuesday, California Chrome was allowed to do much more as he picked up the pace during the late stages of his 1 1/2-mile gallop yesterday.
“Welcome home,” a fan shouted to exercise rider Willie Delgado as California Chrome walked the outer rail. “Thank you,” Delgado replied while giving him the thumbs up. Delgado was training a small string and also getting on horses for another stable in Maryland last summer before relocating to Southern California.
The elder Sherman, who had been overseeing his Southern California string since May 5, gave the big horse a good once-over before giving him a well-deserved pat on the nose during his bath. The affable 77-year-old clearly likes what he has seen so far since making his Baltimore arrival. “He’s holding his weight, which is a big factor. He seems to be thriving in this type of training, so I’m sure not changing anything,” Sherman said during his morning briefing with the press. Does he have the horse to beat Saturday? “Well, I wouldn’t want to be in anyone else’s shoes right now, I’ll tell you that,” he replied.
A slight drizzle continued to come down as Ride On Curlin (Curlin) made his way from the stakes barn during the 8:30 a.m. renovation break. Trainer Billy Gowan, noticeably absent from the end of the shank, was off to the Pimlico press box porch to watch the GI Arkansas Derby runner-up during his easy half-mile breeze (while under a nice hold) in :49 3/5.
Social Inclusion (Pioneerof the Nile), meanwhile, continued to show no signs of slowing down following Monday’s bullet and Tuesday’s subsequent jogging session. The Rontos Racing Stable colorbearer, clearly over his foot issue, bounced onto the track with very good energy just as Ride On Curlin came rolling down the stretch. After jogging from the gap at the top of the stretch to the three-quarter pole, Social Inclusion followed with a powerful one-mile gallop.
Team Ride On Curlin–including owner Daniel Dougherty–were all smiles back at the barn while the Derby seventh-place finisher got cleaned up. Gowan, of course, was back on the shank sporting a black Ride On Curlin hat after playing the role of hotwalker. “Looking good Dan, looking good,” exercise rider Bryan Beccia beamed to Ride On Curlin’s owner as the morning began to wind down.
With the late Wednesday afternoon arrival of Bayern (Offlee Wild), Dynamic Impact (Tiznow), Ria Antonia (Rockport Harbor) and Pablo Del Monte (Giant’s Causeway), things promise to be in full swing at Old Hilltop Thursday morning as the big day inches closer. Click here for Wednesday’s photo page.