Hemingway's Key works Sunday; Diabolical possible for Preakness

Barbaro will probably not work before the Preakness (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

"He's a horse that we always thought had the potential," trainer Nick Zito

said. "He won his first two starts, then had kind of a mixed-up winter. I didn't

have the right conditions for him. I didn't have the right spots. He showed some

life, believe it or not, in the Fountain of Youth (G2). He was only beaten 7 1/2

lengths. He had some trouble in the Lane's End (G2), then we thought he'd run

great in the Lexington (G2), and it was kind of a weird race."

Hemingway's Key, who didn't run in the Kentucky Derby (G1), already faced the

winner of that race when finishing 11th to BARBARO (Dynaformer) in the Holy Bull

S. (G3) in early February.

"I know he's a true distance horse," Zito said. "I think if he has a good

Preakness, then he could go on to the Belmont (G1). He's much better than he's been

showing. Barbaro obviously looks sensational off his last race, so we're just

gonna try."

Hemingway's Key will van to Pimlico from Saratoga on Wednesday, along with

Zito's other Preakness weekend runners.

Trainer Steve Klesaris threw his hat into the Preakness ring on Sunday by

saying that DIABOLICAL (Artax) could contest the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. The

chestnut sophomore most recently captured an allowance at Delaware Park by 8 1/4

lengths and recorded his best stakes finish to date when second by a half-length

in the Spectacular Bid S. two back.

"It's a shorter field and the (1 3/16 mile) distance is a little shorter

(than the Kentucky Derby)," Klesaris explained. "We still haven't made a

decision to run, but it is under high consideration."

Sweetnorthernsaint ran seventh as the favorite in the Derby (Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

SWEETNORTHERNSAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint), who ran seventh in the Derby, will

jog and gallop up to the Preakness, according to trainer Mike Trombetta. The

dark bay gelding, who captured the Illinois Derby (G2) by 9 1/4 lengths before

his Churchill run, is already at Pimlico.

Gotham S. (G3) hero LIKE NOW (Jules) could ship to Baltimore on either

Thursday or Friday, according to conditioner Kiaran McLaughlin, but no plans

have been finalized. The bay colt galloped 1 3/8 miles on Sunday morning under

exercise rider Barry Downs.

BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy), who captured the Withers S. (G3) last out in just his

third career start, also galloped Sunday, getting 1 1/2 miles at Belmont.

"It's going to be another step up for him, but we have a lot of confidence in

him," trainer Tom Albertrani said. "He's lightly raced and we know it's a big

step up, but the manner in which he won the Withers has given us a lot of

confidence for this race."

Albertrani added that Bernardini would breeze five furlongs either Tuesday or

Wednesday and ship to Pimlico Friday afternoon.

AH DAY (Malibu Moon) walked the shedrow a day after a bullet work at Laurel

Park. Trainer King Leatherbury said he would wait a few days before making a decision

on whether to send the Federico Tesio S. winner to the Preakness or the Sir

Barton S. on the same day.

"That's the thing that makes the decision on the Preakness so hard,"

Leatherbury explained. "I'd have to forfeit a stake where I would be one of the

favorites."