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Orb showing good energy; Govenor Charlie likely for Preakness

Shug McGaughey walked Kentucky Derby winner Orb Tuesday morning at Pimlico (Lauren Pomeroy/Horsephotos.com) Much has been said and written about the grueling demands the Kentucky Derby places on a horse so early in his three-year-old season. Trainer Shug McGaughey understands how stern the rigors of a 1 1/4-mile race can be on a young horse, but he has no doubt Orb was physically up to the challenge during his Kentucky Derby victory on May 4. "I always thought that if the horse wants to run that far, it's not going to be demanding on him. If you're trying to make a horse do something that maybe he doesn't want to do, then it might take more out of him than it would naturally," McGaughey said Tuesday morning at Pimlico. "I think Orb is the kind of horse that naturally wants to go a distance of ground. In the Derby, with the pace, he got to run his race and we didn't take him out of any game plan." Orb, who is likely to be heavily favored to win Saturday's Preakness, gave his Hall of Fame trainer all he could handle in the shedrow of the Pimlico Stakes Barn Tuesday morning.

"He had a lot of energy. I walked him a few turns and had to give him up," McGaughey said with a smile. "So far, so good. I worried a little bit yesterday coming down here: 'Am I going too early?' But I'm glad we got in here while it's still good and quiet and got settled in. He had a good night and a nice morning. Everything is good."

Orb breezed a half-mile at Belmont Park Monday morning in :47 under his motionless exercise rider, Jenn Patterson, before shipping to Pimlico in a van that arrived shortly after 3 p.m. (EDT).

"She was so worried (Monday) that she had gone too fast. I had to assure her that the way he did it he didn't (go too fast)," McGaughey said. "I asked her this morning, 'Still think he went too fast?' She just laughed."

Orb relaxes with exercise rider Jenn Patterson (Maryland Jockey Club/Jerry Dzierwinski) McGaughey continued to marvel at the progress Orb has shown after each race this year. "It shows the development he's going through. He's showing us in his daily routine since the Derby that he's still moving forward," he said. "What he's going to show in the afternoon, who knows? But right now, I'm really, really pleased with what I see." McGaughey walked the racetrack Tuesday morning with Patterson, who also rode a pony over the track to familiarize herself with the racing surface. The 62-year-old trainer hasn't been a participant in the Preakness since Easy Goer's defeat by a nose to Sunday Silence in 1989.

"As soon as I got here, it all came back to me -- where I needed to be, where I was going," he said. "I feel like I'm back on familiar ground, and I'm tickled to death to be here."

In other Preakness news:

Govenor Charlie remains on course for a start in the Preakness, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said Tuesday.

"He came out of his work really, really well," said Baffert, who has won the 1 3/16-mile classic five times. "We are prepared to go."

Govenor Charlie worked six furlongs in 1:10 4/5 Monday morning at Churchill Downs. Baffert is at home in California this week and has been receiving reports from Kentucky on the colt from his longtime assistant, Jimmy Barnes.

The Sunland Derby winner did not compete in the Kentucky Derby because a minor foot bruise caused him to miss some training time in April. Govenor Charlie has had three solid works and has demonstrated that he has recovered from the foot issue.

Although Baffert noted that he has until Wednesday morning to change his mind about shipping the Midnight Lute colt to Maryland, he said, "Unless he shows me something, it's pretty likely he'll be on that plane."

Jockey Martin Garcia, who has ridden Govenor Charlie in his three career races, will be aboard in the Preakness.

Baffert is scheduled to travel to Baltimore on Thursday.

Govenor Charlie will be Baffert's 14th Preakness starter. He has won with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Point Given (2001), War Emblem (2002) and Lookin at Lucky (2010). The Hall of Fame trainer saddled Bodemeister for a second-place finish behind I'll Have Another last year.

Departing returned to the track early Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs for the first time since working a half-mile in :50 2/5 on Sunday morning.

With trainer Al Stall Jr. leading the Illinois Derby winner to the track with regular morning partner Trina Pasckvale aboard, Departing stood near the six-furlong gap for 10 minutes before galloping a mile.

"We may come out a little later in the morning," Stall said. "He may stand in the little gate (in the mile chute) and then gallop a mile and a half."

Itsmyluckyday is scheduled to arrive at Pimlico Tuesday afternoon. The Gulfstream Park Derby and Holy Bull winner jogged at Monmouth Park Tuesday morning before being loaded onto a van.

"Everything is good," said trainer Eddie Plesa Jr., who will arrive in Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon.

Fifth-place Kentucky Derby runner Mylute walked the shedrow at Barn 29 at Churchill Downs a day after working a half-mile in :49 3/5.

"He came out of the work good and will jog in the morning," trainer Tom Amoss said.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas' Pimlico contingent that included three candidates for Saturday's Preakness left the Churchill Downs barn area early Tuesday morning by van for Baltimore. The van was expected to arrive at Pimlico before 5 p.m.

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Baffert: American Pharoah is 'my best hope for the Triple Crown'

Pletcher reminisces on past Belmont victories

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