Daily Racing Form National Digital Edition
Jesus’ Team latest to join Preakness field
Jesus’ Team has been confirmed as a supplemental entry for the Oct. 3 Preakness at Pimlico following his latest workout.
Trainer Jose D’Angelo said the half-mile breeze in 47.80 seconds Saturday at Monmouth Park was enough to convince him to commit to the final leg of the 2020 Triple Crown.
“He’s very, very good right now, and the Preakness is a great race for us,” said D’Angelo, a Venezuela native.
Jesus’ Team, by Tapiture, figures as a longshot in the 1 3/16-mile race after finishing fourth in the Haskell, second in the Pegasus, and third in the Jim Dandy in his last three starts. He is the second colt, after Live your beast life, whose connections have said they intend to pay the $25,000 supplementary fee for the $1 million Preakness after failing to nominate to the Triple Crown.
About a dozen 3-year-olds, led by Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, are under consideration for the 145th Preakness. Entries will be drawn Monday.
As of Monday, Pimlico officials were still awaiting word on the status of Tiz the Law, second in the Derby as the oddson favorite. Trainer Barclay Tagg appears inclined to skip the race in favor of the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic, but no firm decision has yet been reached. The connections of Swiss Skydiver have said the Tiz the Law decision could impact their own decision whether to run the star filly versus the boys. The Preakness is a Win and You’re In toward the BC Classic at Keeneland.
Meanwhile, trainer Todd Pletcher remains noncommittal on the status of Happy Saver and Dr Post for the Preakness.
Happy Saver, who earned a fees-paid berth to the Preakness by winning the Sept. 7 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park, breezed a half-mile in 49.09 seconds on Friday at Saratoga. Dr Post, who finished fourth as the favorite in the Sept. 5 Jim Dandy, worked a half-mile in 50.06 on Saturday at Saratoga.
While Pletcher said the Preakness is “on the radar” for Happy Saver, he said he wanted to get a firmer line on the Preakness field while also seeing the horse breeze again next weekend before making a decision whether to run. He mentioned the same strategy for Dr Post, who breezed with blinkers Saturday.
“I figured we’d get through this week and get a firmer line on what everybody’s doing and how they’re doing,” Pletcher said.
One race that could be an option for either of the Pletcher 3-year-olds is the Oct. 10 Jockey Club Gold Cup at Belmont.
Besides Authentic and the two supplemental entries, others confirmed for the Preakness are Art Collector, Mr. Big News, Mongolian Wind, and Pneumatic. At least a couple more are considered possible, aside from Tiz the Law, Swiss Skydiver, and the Pletcher pair.
16 stakes on tap
Pimlico in Baltimore starts its six-day Preakness meet next
Thursday with a three-day week, then ends with a second three-day week (Oct. 1-3) culminating with the Preakness.
The Preakness Week stakes are being arranged differently than in prior years and include several fall fixtures. Three stakes, all sprints, will be run Oct. 1; only one stakes, the Grade 3 Pimlico Special, will be run Oct. 2, with a slew of preps toward the Dec. 5 Claiming Crown at Gulfstream Park filling out the card; and a sensational 12-race Preakness program will be made up entirely of stakes, including such notable events as the Black-Eyed Susan, DeFrancis Dash, Gallorette, and Laurel Futurity. A Grade 1 race for Arabians will lead off the Preakness card.
A total of $100,000 in trainer bonuses return for the weekend stakes to encourage participation. The trainer who accumulates the most points on a graded system will receive $50,000, with $25,000 for second and so on.
No spectators will be permitted throughout the meet, including Preakness Day, because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.