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:

Giacomo will face some new rivals in the second leg of the Triple Crown (Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com) Derby winner GIACOMO (Holy Bull) galloped a mile on Sunday at Churchill and is also set to leave Louisville, Kentucky, on Wednesday for Maryland. The gray sophomore earned his first stakes victory in the 1 1/4-mile classic and gave jockey Mike Smith a first Derby win as well as trainer John Shirreffs a hero's welcome when he returned to California. "A lot of people are happy Giacomo won on two different levels," Shirreffs said. "First, everybody is so happy that a California horse won the Derby because all of the negative press about the West Coast horses. Then, all my friends and associates are real happy that we won the Derby." The veteran conditioner received congratulations from many people and recounted one from a hot walker at Hollywood Park. "She came up to me and told me that someone had stolen her money and she only had a little left, so she bet it on Giacomo," he said. "When he won the Derby, it was a blessing to her." Trainer Nick Zito could send all three of his Preakness charges -- HIGH FLY (Atticus), NOBLE CAUSEWAY (Giant's Causeway) and SUN KING (Charismatic) -- to the Churchill track on Monday, and commented that each one has already earned a chance in the Preakness.

"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.