Three derby horses set for Preakness
The Preakness took a couple of hits earlier this week when Zandon and Un Ojo, two horses who figured to be among the favorites, were withdrawn from consideration. Trainer Chad Brown said Zandon needed more time to recover from his big effort in the Derby (he finished a close-up third) and would not race again until late summer. Un Ojo was withdrawn because of the same foot issue that kept him out of the Derby.
The nine Preakness entrants include three horses who ran in the Derby: Epicenter, Simplification and Happy Jack. Epicenter, the 6-5 morning-line favorite, has finished in the exacta in his last six starts. The son of Not This Time looked to be home free in the Derby until Rich Strike shot up the rail to deny him in the late going. Simplification, far back early, rallied through the stretch to get up for fourth. Happy Jack was 14th.
The so-called new shooters in the Preakness are led by Early Voting and Secret Oath. The lightly raced Early Voting qualified for the Derby but was withdrawn the Sunday before the race by trainer Chad Brown. The Gun Runner colt, winner of the Withers and runnerup in the Wood Memorial, breezed a bullet five furlongs in his final workout for the Preakness.
As the lone filly to contest today’s race, Secret Oath automatically adds intrigue to the proceedings. Fillies have tried the
Preakness only three times this century, but two of them won — Hall of Famer Rachel Alexandra in 2009 and Swiss Skydiver, the 2020 champion three-yearold filly. The third Preakness filly, Ria Antonia, finished last of ten in 2014.
Secret Oath looms as a serious threat. The daughter of Arrogate started off the year with blowout wins in the ungraded Martha Washington Stakes and G3 Honeybee, both of which she won by over seven lengths. Falling back to last as the 7-5 post-time favorite in the Arkansas Derby, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee unleashed a powerful turn of foot on the turn to reach contention before flattening out late and finishing third.
Five weeks later in the Kentucky Oaks, Secret Oath again had to come
from far back, circling the field to take the lead in mid-stretch and going on to win by two lengths. Backers of the dynamic filly have to hope the grueling races in Arkansas and Kentucky didn’t take too much out of her.
The rest of the Preakness field consists of longshots Creative Minister, Armagnac, Skippylongstocking and Fenwick.
Peter Pan Stakes
Although the Peter Pan isn’t considered one of the primary proving grounds for three-yearolds, a check of recent results shows several horses who used the race as a springboard to accomplish greater things.
The best example over the past decade was 2014 winner Tonalist, who went on to deny California
Chrome’s Triple Crown bid four weeks later in the Belmont. The Tapit colt added back-to-back victories in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and a win in the Cigar Mile to cap a stellar career. Country Grammer, a son of Tonalist, followed his 2020 Peter Pan win with scores in the Hollywood Gold Cup and Dubai World Cup, as well as a close second in the Saudi Cup. Country Grammer is currently the top-rated older horse in the DRF’s weekly poll.
We the People has a ways to go to match the accomplishments of Tonalist and Country Grammer, but his 10½-length win in the 2022 Peter Pan last Saturday was an excellent start. The son of Constitution, out of a Tiznow mare, reportedly will run next in the Belmont on June 11.