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I'll Have Another arrives at Pimlico
"There were a couple of reasons," Sisterson said. "We discussed a few plans and we just thought the more time here to get used to the surface, the better for him. He was enjoying the track at Churchill, and we took him a week before there. It's not going to hurt him being here for the two weeks." Sisterson said that I'll Have Another will walk the shedrow Tuesday. O'Neill will arrive from Southern California Wednesday, when I'll Have Another is expected to return to the track. The conditioner will be throwing out the first pitch when the Baltimore Orioles host the New York Yankees May 15. "Every trainer has a different training style," Sisterson said. "I suppose it's better to get the horse used to the surface and things like that. So, he's here now, and we're excited to have him here for the two weeks."
I'll Have Another, who became the first horse in Derby history to win after breaking from the number 19 post, received a dream trip under jockey Mario Gutierrez before running down pacesetter Bodemeister nearing the finish line on his way to victory by 1 1/2 lengths. For Sisterson it was a victorious homecoming, of sorts. He attended the University of Louisville on a soccer scholarship and graduated with a bachelor's degree in equine administration. He worked for trainers Todd Pletcher and Eddie Kenneally in Kentucky before venturing to Southern California three years ago. Sisterson and five other members of O'Neill's crew that accompanied I'll Have Another to Pimlico were still feeling the jubilation of their Kentucky Derby experience Monday, but the assistant trainer said that the work atmosphere in the stable is always upbeat on a daily basis. "It's fantastic working for somebody who (creates) such a teamwork effort," Sisterson said. "It's a complete open-door policy. I suppose if you work for a boss like that, you feel more comfortable going to work. If you come out to California and come to the barn, the spirits are high and we're all family. If the spirits are high with the employees, I think it rubs off on the horses. I think that was brought out on Saturday." The Derby winner's owner, J. Paul Reddam, has rented a house for the crew's two-week stay in Maryland. Also on the flight with I'll Have Another was Went the Day Well. The Graham Motion trainee was then vanned to the Fair Hill Training Center where he will prepare for the Preakness. The son of Proud Citizen finished fourth in Saturday's Derby and is a confirmed Preakness starter. Others under consideration for Maryland's signature race from the Kentucky Derby are Bodemeister (second), Dullahan (third), Creative Cause (fifth), Liaison (sixth), Hansen (ninth) and Optimizer (11th). Union Rags (seventh) has been removed from the list of potential starters. Potential new shooters include Brimstone Island (second, Canonero II); Cozzetti (fourth, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby); Hierro (winner, Grade 3 Derby Trial); Isn't He Clever (eighth, Arkansas Derby); Paynter (second, Derby Trial); Pretension (winner, Canonero II); Teeth of the Dog (third, Grade 1 Wood Memorial); Tiger Walk (fourth, Wood Memorial) and Zetterholm (winner, Patsyprospect). The Preakness is limited to 14 starters, with two also-eligibles runners. The first seven starters are determined by most graded earnings, the next four starters from earnings from open stakes races. The final three starters are based off total earnings. Under the three-tiered system, the horses currently on the outside looking in are Zetterholm, Cozzetti and Brimstone Island.
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