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Normandy to skip Preakness; Itsmyluckyday zips between races at Monmouth Trainer Chad Brown reported Sunday afternoon that Rick Porter's Normandy Invasion will not run in Saturday's Preakness Stakes. "Mr. Porter and I decided to pass on the Preakness with Normandy Invasion and focus on the summer campaign with him," Brown said. Normandy Invasion turned in a strong performance in the Kentucky Derby, taking the lead in the stretch before finishing fourth, 3 1/2 lengths behind Orb. Brown ruled out the Preakness on the morning after the Derby but decided on Monday to consider the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown for a few days. Later Sunday afternoon, Trilogy Stable and Laurie Plesa's Itsmyluckyday worked a strong half-mile before the 4TH race at Monmouth Park in preparation for a start in the Preakness. "The racetrack was closed this morning," trainer Eddie Plesa Jr. said regarding the scheduling of the move. "Elvis Trujillo is going to work him."
Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable's Orb visited the Belmont Park paddock before galloping 1 1/2 miles over a sloppy track Sunday morning. Orb, who captured the Derby by 2 1/2 lengths a week ago, is scheduled to breeze Monday morning, as long as the main track at Belmont dries out. "I think it will be fine. The sun's out, there's no humidity and the wind's picking up. I think it'll be fine," said trainer Shug McGaughey, who is planning to ship Orb to Pimlico Monday following the scheduled breeze. "He'll break off at the half-mile pole by himself, breeze a half and hope he finishes up good and gallops out somewhat -- not strong -- he's fit enough," the Hall of Famer added. "I just sort of want to put him in the ball game." Orb has galloped the past several days with the main track listed as muddy on Friday morning and sloppy on Saturday. "It's been a little bit difficult this week with the track that way," McGaughey said. "This morning, with those dogs up, he was looking at those dogs and jumping here and there, but (exercise rider Jennifer Patterson) keeps telling me not to worry. So, I'm not going to worry. "I'm a bit more uptight than I was last time. Not because of anything, but just you've got one under your belt so you're hoping maybe something good can happen to make it a fun three weeks. What will be, will be." McGaughey also continued to stay busy with a flood of media requests that come with saddling the winner of the Kentucky Derby. "I think it's a big responsibility to accommodate what's out there and try to portray what the win means to all of us -- myself and my family, the Janneys and Phippses and their families and all the people at the barn," he said. "I'd like to get it out there to people that racing can be a fun and rewarding sport."
Krigger put Goldencents through the same routine Sunday, jogging down the stretch and around the first turn before sending him off to gallop a lap of the track. "The one thing we're starting to notice is he's getting better each day," Sisterson said. "He hasn't put a foot wrong since we got here. He seems to be really getting over the track well and striding out. We're very happy with him." O'Neill is scheduled to travel from California to Baltimore on Sunday and be at the barn at Pimlico Monday morning. In 2012, O'Neill's stable pony, the retired stakes winner Lava Man, received a lot of attention as he led the Derby winner to and from the track each morning. Lava Man isn't part of the Preakness scene this year because of his relationship -- or lack of it -- with Goldencents. "They've got the similarities where they are eager to train. Putting them both together, they wind each other up," said Sisterson, who has been ponying Goldencents aboard Sapphire. "This is more of a relaxed pony. It's not to say that Lava Man and Goldencents don't get along, but we want to have him as relaxed as possible in the morning to the point where he's getting the most out of his training, instead of being wound up going to the track." A member of O'Neill's staff said it is like putting two Type-A personalities together on a project. "They kind of butt heads at times," Sisterson said. "You get that with people. They enjoy training, they want to get on with it and they're eager to make it happen. That's both Goldencents and Lava Man." Pick Six Racing's Gotham winner Vyjack remains a Preakness candidate. Aqueduct-based trainer Rudy Rodriguez said a decision on whether to run the gelding may not be made until Wednesday when entries are taken. Jockey Garrett Gomez had trouble controlling Vyjack early in the Derby. He was up on the pace in the early stages of the race but gave way and finished 18th. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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