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Dialed In gallops ahead of Preakness jackpot
Dialed In would earn the $600,000 winner's share of the $1 million Preakness purse, owner LaPenta would collect $5 million, and Zito would receive $500,000 as the winning trainer. Dialed In's $6.1 million windfall would eclipse the $5,884,000 Smarty Jones earned for winning the Kentucky Derby in 2004. Smarty Jones captured the $5 million Oaklawn Centennial Bonus, for winning the Rebel, the Arkansas Derby (G2) and the Kentucky Derby during Oaklawn's 100th anniversary season. Several other Preakness candidates were out and about beneath the Twin Spires Thursday. The Steve Asmussen-trained ASTROLOGY (A.P. Indy) galloped a mile early Thursday morning at Churchill Downs, and stablemate NEHRO (Mineshaft), runner-up to Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]) in Kentucky Derby 137, visited the Churchill starting gate under exercise rider Carlos Rosas. While Astrology is confirmed for the Preakness, Nehro is more likely to await the June 11 Belmont S. (G1). Mike Smith, who rode Astrology for the first time in his runner-up effort in the April 23 Jerome (G2), has the Preakness mount.
Trained by Jeff Bonde, Sway Away is scheduled to work Saturday or Sunday. After the renovation break, Derby fourth SHACKLEFORD (Forestry) and MIDNIGHT INTERLUDE (War Chant), the 16th-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, each galloped 1 1/2 miles. Midnight Interlude is trained by Bob Baffert, whose well-regarded The Factor (War Front) jogged a mile on his first day back to the track after working five furlongs in 1:00 on Tuesday. "He was pulling my guts out," assistant trainer and exercise rider Peter Hutton said. "He came out of that work great. He will work again Monday and Bob will be here Sunday night." According to Baffert, The Factor is not expected to contest the Preakness. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas is in a holding pattern regarding SARATOGA RED (Eddington), fourth in the Rebel S. (G2) earlier this season. "I'd consider it if we could get in," Lukas said of Saratoga Red, who has $17,000 in graded stakes earnings and $41,330 overall. "I called over there yesterday and there are like 17 horses on the list and I don't think he'll get in." Down the road at Keeneland is FLASHPOINT (Pomeroy). Fourth in his two-turn debut in the Florida Derby, he will be flown from Kentucky to Baltimore on Wednesday. "He had a beautiful gallop today here at Keeneland and we're looking forward to a nice breeze on Saturday," trainer Wesley Ward said. CASPER'S TOUCH (Touch Gold), third in the Lexington (G3) in his most recent start, will not be heading to Baltimore for the Preakness. "I'm not sure what his next race will be," said Philip Bauer, assistant to trainer Ken McPeek. "Usually in the Preakness, you are picking on horses that are beat up from the Derby, but this year there are a lot of fresh faces."
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