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High Limit breezes for Preakness Louisiana Derby (G2) hero HIGH LIMIT (Maria's Mon) put in a five-furlong move on Sunday at Churchill Downs in preparation for Saturday's Preakness S. (G1). The Bobby Frankel trainee got five-eighths in 1:00 1/5 on the fast track with jockey Ramon Dominguez in the saddle. It tied as the fastest of 27 works at that distance. "He's going to make the lead," Frankel said. "I'm going to put blinkers on him. He seems like he needs something to make him focus. He does things like jump tracks." The bay colt, who ran second in the Blue Grass S. (G1) prior to a last place finish in the Kentucky Derby (G1), exited the latter race with cuts in the quarters of both front legs. "Somebody grabbed him early in the race, but it's not a problem," his trainer said. "I though it might be, but a couple days after the race it looked good. I discounted the race and used it as a workout." High Limit is scheduled to ship to Pimlico on Wednesday. In other Preakness news:
"These are three worthy horses," he said. "All three are what I would call Grade 1 horses. They're horses that belong." Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner WILKO (Awesome Again) galloped 1 1/4 miles, also at Churchill, and trainer Craig Dollase enters the Preakness optimistic. "He's been treated for that," said Dollase, referring to the fact that Wilko bled slightly in the Derby. "I expect a big-time change in performance, hopefully. "He's a durable, honest horse with a ton of foundation. We only gave him two prep races this year because he raced 12 times as a two-year-old. His only nemesis is a wet track." Illinois Derby (G2) victor GREELEY'S GALAXY (Mr. Greeley) walked the shedrow at Churchill on Sunday, one day after his bullet breeze. "He's doing fine," trainer Warren Stute said. "I thought his work yesterday was very good, very sharp." Also doing good after working Saturday was HAL'S IMAGE (Halo's Image). Winner of the Unbridled S., the Barry Rose-trained dark bay worked a bullet five furlongs at Calder and will gallop on Monday and jog on Tuesday before getting on a van headed north. "He's going to like the cooler weather," Rose said. "It'll make him invigorated. When he headed up to New York a couple starts back, he enjoyed it up there." Rose's late father, Harold, saddled Hal's Image's half-brother Hal's Hope to an eighth-place finish in the 2000 Preakness. MALIBU MOONSHINE (Malibu Moon), winner of the Federico Tesio S., worked at Laurel Park on Saturday and was taking it easy Sunday morning. "With all the calls I'm getting, you'd think I had the favorite," conditioner King Leatherbury said. "I can't believe the attention this horse gets." CLOSING ARGUMENT (Successful Appeal), second by a half-length in the Derby, galloped 1 1/4 miles at trainer Kiaran McLaughlin's home base of Belmont Park. "We're all set," McLaughlin said. "If the Belmont main track is fast tomorrow, we'll give him an easy work. If not, he'll just gallop up to the Preakness." Ironically, Closing Argument's biggest win to date came in the Holy Bull S. (G3), which is named after Giacomo's sire. GALLOPING GROCER (A. P Jet) galloped 1 1/2 miles, also at Belmont, and will van to Pimlico Friday morning, according to trainer Dominick Schettino. Grade 1 hero AFLEET ALEX (Northern Afleet), the only Preakness hopeful currently stabled at Pimlico, jogged a mile before putting in his normal two-mile gallop on Sunday. The Tim Ritchey-trained bay is scheduled to visit the track twice on Monday. Afleet Alex could finally get some company at Pimlico, though, as Withers S. (G3) winner SCRAPPY T (Fit to Fight) is set to arrive Monday. Conditioner Robbie Bailes said his charge could visit the track on Wednesday.
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