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Ky. Derby Entrant Gayego to Run
Jockey Mike Smith works out Gayego, the only other Kentucky Derby entrant to take on Big Brown in the Preakness.
(By Ed Reinke -- Associated Press)
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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
So much for Big Brown scaring off the competition.
Trainer Paulo Lobo told the Pimlico racing office yesterday that Arkansas Derby winner Gayego would be aboard a flight to Baltimore this afternoon and to count him in for the 133rd Preakness Stakes.
The announcement swelled the probable Preakness field to 13 runners, one short of the maximum, and added a legitimate threat to the favorite one day after Todd Pletcher said his highly regarded Harlem Rocker would not run.
Gayego finished 17th as the sixth betting choice in the Kentucky Derby after a sluggish start and troubled run to the first turn. He was, however, one of the best 3-year-olds in California last winter before Lobo took him off the Polytrack at Santa Anita for a successful dirt experiment in the Arkansas Derby. The Derby marked the only time in six starts Gayego has finished worse than second.
The colt, however, has logged a lot of air miles, having flown from California to Arkansas and to Kentucky for the Derby before returning to his home base at Hollywood Park. Asked how another cross-country jaunt might affect Gayego, Lobo said, "He's an extremely good shipper."
Gayego will be the only runner from the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field to try Big Brown again.
Tres Borrachos, another California-based horse who ran in the Arkansas Derby worked four furlongs in 50.40 seconds at Churchill Downs yesterday in his final preparation for the Preakness.
The colt, trained by Beau Greely, ran on the lead in the Arkansas Derby before finishing third. He was taken to Kentucky but failed to make the Derby field, and the trainer kept him stabled there.
Jockey Tyler Baze, who will ride in his first Preakness, came away confident after the workout.
"It was so beautiful it was ridiculous," Baze said. "He did it the right way and finished well. I'm hoping Saturday is my day. I know this is a good horse now that I've ridden him in Arkansas and I know him. I'm really looking forward to it."
Bsharpsonata at 9-5
Bsharpsonata has been in steady training since her debut as a 2-year-old, but to trainer Tim Salzman she shows no signs of tiring.
One of the top 3-year-old fillies in the country, the Laurel Park-based runner finished fifth after making the lead in the Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago at Churchill Downs and Friday is the 9-5 morning-line favorite to win the Grade II $200,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
"That's not even an issue," Salzman said of the short rest between the Oaks and Black-Eyed Susan. "In the Oaks, she broke from the 10 [post position], so you have to get up and get over. She did it easy and without much speed; we just inherited the lead. [Winner] Proud Spell was just a better horse."
Bsharpsonata has won six times in 11 starts, including four straight stakes victories. She will face eight others in the Black-Eyed Susan.
"She bounces back quick," jockey Eric Camacho said. "Eats the bottom out of the bucket and tears off on all fours. She's loving it and itching to go."
