Pletcher's Preakness candidates Behindatthebar, Harlem Rocker turn in drills

Pletcher's Preakness candidates Behindatthebar, Harlem

Rocker turn in drills

Behindatthebar skipped the Derby to rest up for the Preakness (Pat Lang Photo/Keeneland) Over the fast Belmont Park training track on Sunday, the Todd Pletcher-trained duo of BEHINDATTHEBAR (Forest Wildcat) and HARLEM ROCKER (Macho Uno) each drilled five furlongs in 1:00. Behindatthebar, who is coming off a score in the Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland, is already confirmed for Saturday's $1 million Preakness S. (G1). The status of unbeaten Withers S. (G3) hero Harlem Rocker, however, is yet to be determined. Pletcher described Harlem Rocker's workout as "dynamite," but said that a decision on his participation in the Preakness would not be made until Wednesday morning. On Belmont's main track, multiple stakes winner GIANT MOON (Giant Causeway) galloped 1 3/8 miles. The Richard Schosberg pupil was most recently fourth in the Wood Memorial (G1) at Aqueduct. "He's doing great," Schosberg said. "He had a good breeze last week (five furlongs in 1:01 on Wednesday) and a good gallop today over the main track. We'll train him according to the weather over the next few days. We'll see. It looks like we've got a nice Nor'easter to throw a curve to us." Schosberg said that heavy rain expected on Sunday night and Monday will affect when and what he does with the colt.

"He'll blow out if we're real close or we'll let him stretch his legs for a

half-mile, depending on what day it is," Schosberg added. 

At Churchill Downs on Sunday, undefeated Kentucky Derby (G1) hero BIG BROWN

(Boundary) had his presence announced on the track shortly before 7 a.m. (EDT)

with a loud clap of thunder. Unfazed, Big Brown went about his morning activity.

Big Brown will try to extend his record to five-for-five in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown (Harold Roth/Horsephotos.com) Heavy overnight rain had left the Churchill Downs racing surface muddy and trainer Rick Dutrow, as he had done two days last week, opted to jog the Kentucky Derby winner rather than gallop him. Accompanied by a pony, Big Brown jogged one mile with regular exercise rider Michelle Nevin up. With only two weeks between the Derby and the Preakness, Dutrow is determined not to put any stress on the colt, who boasts a perfect four-for-four mark. "I figure the lighter I train him, the better, because everyone can see that he's fit," Dutrow said during the NTRA conference call on Thursday. "He's got plenty of talent, so I don't want to squeeze anything out of him. If someone makes him run in the afternoon, he'll at least have it left in him. It's as slow and easy with this horse as I can." Big Brown is scheduled to ship from Louisville to Pimlico on Wednesday.

Fewer than two hours after Big Brown jogged under cloudy skies and on a muddy

track, TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park) was greeted by bright sunshine and a harrowed

track that was drying out because of high winds. The third-place finisher in the

Arkansas Derby (G2) galloped 1 1/2 miles under Andy Durnin and was outfitted in

blinkers for the first time.

Trainer Beau Greely, who owns Tres Borrachos in partnership with John Greely

IV and Phil Houchens, explained the experiment.

"In his races, horses would come up to him and he'd back up a little and then

come again," Greely said. "I want to see what Andy thinks about them, but it

looks like he was relaxed galloping today. He may have them on when he works

Tuesday and then we'll make a decision (about whether the blinkers will stay on

for the Preakness)."

STEVIL (Maria's Mon), fourth in the Blue Grass S. (G1) last time out,

galloped 1 1/2 miles under Dylan Armstrong. The Nick Zito pupil is slated to

work four furlongs Monday morning, pending the weather conditions at Churchill.

"He'll work if the weather permits,'' said Zito from Louisville, confirming a

plan to ship to Pimlico on Tuesday. "Right now it's raining and the conditions

aren't too good.''

John Velazquez will pick up the Preakness mount.

At Hollywood Park, trainer Paddy Gallagher reported that multiple stakes

victor YANKEE BRAVO (Yankee Gentleman) jogged twice around the track. The dark

bay colt, who was excluded from the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field due to a lack

of graded stakes earnings, will be making only his second start on a

conventional dirt track in the Preakness. After winning his first two starts on

turf and capturing the California Derby over Golden Gate Fields' Tapeta surface,

Yankee Bravo closed to finish third behind Pyro (Pulpit) in the Louisiana Derby

(G2) over Fair Grounds' dirt track.

"I thought he ran a nice race in Louisiana in his first time on dirt," said

Gallagher, whose colt will be ridden by Alex Solis Saturday. "Alex said that he

was climbing a little at first but that he leveled off and handled it fine."

Yankee Bravo, who is scheduled to fly from Southern California to Baltimore

on Wednesday morning, finished fourth behind Colonel John (Tiznow) in the Santa

Anita Derby (G1) in his most recent start.

Hey Byrn will try to avenge his Florida Derby defeat at the hands of Big Brown (Coglianese Photo) At Calder, Holy Bull S. (G3) conqueror HEY BYRN (Put It Back) galloped 1 1/2 miles under exercise rider Peter Shelton. The Eddie Plesa Jr. charge is scheduled to van from Miami Monday and is due to arrive at Pimlico Tuesday morning. He will be accompanied by his stablemate Gottcha Gold (Coronado's Quest), who is entered in Friday's $250,000 Pimlico Special (G1). Hey Byrn is proven at the 1 3/16-mile trip, having landed the Holy Bull at that distance at Gulfstream Park in his latest venture. Two starts back, Hey Byrn finished fourth to Big Brown in the Florida Derby (G1) after being involved in a bumping match at the break. C.C. Lopez, who scored aboard the Florida-bred colt in the Holy Bull, is slated to return to the saddle for the Preakness. In Maryland, Federico Tesio S. winner ICABAD CRANE (Jump Start) enjoyed a leisurely "hack" through the woods at Fair Hill Training Center Sunday morning.

"He had an easy day," said trainer Graham Motion, whose Preakness hopeful had

worked five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 on Friday.

Icabad Crane will continue to train at Fair Hill before vanning to Pimlico on

Saturday morning.

"We don't want to take him out of his routine," Motion said. "We've had a lot

of experience shipping horses on Preakness Day. It's just an hour trip.

"The Preakness was something we thought about right after the Tesio. He has a

good race over the track," Motion said. "He won the Tesio despite having some

trouble, and the second-place finisher (Mint Lane [Maria's Mon]) came back to

finish second in the Peter Pan (S. [G2] at Belmont on Saturday), which somewhat

endorses the race."

Jeremy Rose, who rode Afleet Alex to a memorable Preakness victory in 2005,

has the mount on Icabad Crane.

Blue Grass third KENTUCKY BEAR (Mr. Greeley), the only Preakness hopeful

lodged at Pimlico, schooled in the paddock before Sunday's 1ST race. Assistant

trainer Sherri Wickett and exercise rider/groom Cassie Garcia had the stakes

barn to themselves with the chestnut, who lacked sufficient earnings to make the

Kentucky Derby field.

"He's been here since Wednesday and he's doing really good,'' Wickett said.

"We worked yesterday (five furlongs in 1:01) with (jockey) Jamie (Theriot). He

walked this morning. He'll jog tomorrow and gallop the rest of the week.''

This will be the first Preakness mount for Theriot, who finished third in the

recent Keeneland rider standings.

In other Preakness news:

Trainer Bill Mott outlined his plans for multiple Grade 2-placed RILEY TUCKER

(Harlan's Holiday). The Hall of Famer said that the Zayat Stables colorbearer

would remain in New York until "Wednesday or Thursday'' in hopes of getting a

final work in during the next 48 hours.

"He'll work at Belmont as soon as we get a good race track,'' Mott said.

"It's calling for rain Monday, so we're hoping to get on the track Tuesday.''

Riley Tucker was last seen finishing third to Behindatthebar in the

Lexington.

Derby Trial S. hero MACHO AGAIN (Macho Uno) walked the shedrow at Churchill's

Barn 35, one day after working a half-mile in :50 4/5 for Dallas Stewart. The

gray colt is scheduled for the same Louisville to Baltimore flight as Big Brown,

but Stewart is not thrilled with the timing.

"It's kind of messed up. The plane's scheduled to land at 5:30 (p.m.), right

in the middle of rush hour," Stewart said.

Julien Leparoux has the return call for the Preakness.

Also walking the Churchill shedrow was Grade 2-placed RACECAR RHAPSODY (Tale

of the Cat), who had worked five furlongs in 1:01 on Saturday. The Ken McPeek

trainee finished fourth in the Lane's End S. (G2) and Lexington S. (G2) in his

only two sophomore starts.

"He worked well and he ate up quick last night, so we're encouraged. He's in

good shape." McPeek said. "We realize we're kind of up against it with a horse

like Big Brown, if he runs his race, but we feel like we'll be competitive

otherwise.

"With us, it was more timing and distance," McPeek said. "It really didn't

have anything to do with what everybody else is doing. The horse is doing well.

It's kind of an opportunity to see how good he is at a mile and

three-sixteenths. He's been competitive everywhere we've run him. He hasn't had

the cleanest of trips historically, but maybe he's due."

Racecar Rhapsody will be ridden by Robby Albarado, winner of the Preakness

last year aboard Curlin (Smart Strike).

The post position draw for the Preakness will be held on Wednesday at 5 p.m.

(EDT) at the ESPN Zone in downtown Baltimore. The event will be televised live

on ESPN2. The Preakness is limited to 14 starters.

The $1 million Preakness will be televised by NBC. Post time is 6:15 p.m.