Super Saver, Aikenite jog at Pimlico

Both of trainer Todd Pletcher's Preakness S. (G1) horses visited the track at

Pimlico Thursday morning for some light exercise, a one-mile jog. Kentucky Derby

(G1) winner SUPER SAVER (Maria's Mon) left the Preakness Stakes Barn for the

track at 6:30 a.m. (EDT), shortly after Derby Trial S. (G3) runner-up AIKENITE

(Yes It's True) returned.

The colts shipped to Pimlico from Churchill Downs on Wednesday and Pletcher

said they have settled into their new surroundings. Super Saver drew the 8 post

for the 135th Preakness and is the 5-2 morning-line favorite, while Aikenite

will break from the rail at 20-1 on the morning line.

Super Saver breezed three furlongs Monday at Churchill Downs, walked Tuesday

and jogged Wednesday. Pletcher scheduled another easy day for the colt, who he

said is doing great.

"We took him out and gave him an easy jog once around the track," Pletcher

said. "The track was sloppy and we weren't looking to do much, but I thought he

handled everything really well. He had a good night; rested well and cleaned up

his grain. His energy level is very good. It seems like he's shipped in as well

as we could have hoped."

With his Derby victory, the WinStar Farm colorbearer is the center of

attention. Pletcher said the bay colt has not been affected by all the activity

around the barn.

"We're pretty high on him," Pletcher said, his smile widening. "After the

Derby, we're real high on him. I think he showed last year that he was one of

the best two-year-old colts in country. He solidified it this year by winning

the most important race. If he can keep doing it and keep improving, I think he

will quiet some of the critics."

Pletcher said that the matchmaking that put jockey Calvin Borel on Super

Saver last year turned out to be the right call.

"I think he's a really, really good fit for this colt," Pletcher said. "He's

got a light touch and it seems the colt relaxes well for him. I think there is a

lot of good chemistry between the two of them."

The Derby field contained several fast horses that hooked up early and

produced a quick early tempo. With the defections of the speedy Hurricane Ike

and A Little Warm, the Preakness may set up differently.

"I don't anticipate quite as brisk a pace, but I think there will be an

honest pace," Pletcher said. "Basically, we'll just let Calvin and Super Saver

decide where they are comfortable in the early part. If that's at or on the

lead, we're not going to have a problem with that. If it's laying fourth or

fifth, we're not going to have a problem with that. It's just going to be up to

Calvin to judge the pace and see where the comfort zone for the horse is."

Pletcher said the colt's versatility is his greatest attribute and allows

Borel the opportunity to find that optimal location in the race.

"A lot was made out of some of the trips that the horses got in the Derby.

Obviously, there were some difficult trips," Pletcher said. "The thing that

(Super Saver) was able to do was put himself in all the right positions. He's

tactical enough that he's got enough speed to put himself in the right spot.

He's become kind enough that he can settle off of a hot pace. He's one of those

horses that creates his own trip. He's not at the mercy of the rest of the

field. It's always great to be in that position where you don't have to worry if

there is a slow pace or there is a really fast pace because he can put himself

in the right spot."

While it's certainly not unprecedented in a Triple Crown race, Pletcher is

saddling the Derby winner and a stablemate who could upset Super Saver. Aikenite

is owned by Dogwood Stable, which is managed by Cot Campbell, who has been

sending horses to Pletcher since he opened his own business in 1996. The bay

colt has been considered a classics-caliber horse since he debuted at Saratoga

last summer, but finished eighth in the Blue Grass S. (G1) and was not entered

in the Kentucky Derby.

"We were very optimistic going into the Blue Grass," Pletcher said. "The

third in the Fountain of Youth (G2) was a good race. Obviously, some other

horses, like Ice Box (Pulpit), came out of it and ran very well. We were

disappointed by the Blue Grass and kind of stumped by his poor performance. When

he came out of it well and we couldn't find a physical reason, Mr. Campbell

wanted to try the Derby Trial and we felt like we got him back on track there.

It was a good race. He finished up well. The mile is probably a touch shorter

than his best distance. A couple of days after he came out of the Derby Trial we

talked about that we'd like to try the Preakness.

"Some people made an issue out of running a horse against the Derby winner,

but that was decided before the Kentucky Derby was even run."