BODHISATTVA DRILLS FOR PREAKNESS
Bodhisattva (Student Council) tuned up for Saturday's GI Preakness S. with a five-furlong work in 1:04 at Laurel Park Sunday (video).
“I think he did pretty good,” owner and trainer Jose Corrales said. “I did not want a fast work or anything like that. I just wanted to stretch him out and let him feel good about it. He really just galloped next to the other horse. [jockey] Trevor [McCarthy] said he could not hold him in the beginning, but he managed to do it.”
Bodhisattva is coming off a 1 1/2-length victory in the Federico Tesio S. at Pimlico Apr. 18. The Preakness will be his 12 career start and the first Triple Crown appearance for Corrales.
“This is like a dream,” Corrales, who is the fifth-leading trainer at the current Pimlico meet with six winners from 26 starters, said. “It's like a lottery ticket that we got, and we'll see what happens. It gives you motivation because you're running against the best horses. I'm already down at the bottom. The only thing I can do from here is improve. Some of the media has already called my horse a pony, but sometimes the ponies can beat the others.”
Corrales continued, “The horse has improved and he's done what I've needed to do with him. I've taken into consideration that he might not be the best horse [in the Preakness field], but his father was a good horse and he's bred for the distance. If you don't buy the lottery ticket, you never have a chance to win.”
TALE OF VERVE JOINS PREAKNESS LINE UP
Charles Fipke's Tale of Verve (Tale of Ekati) will take his place in Saturday's GI Preakness S., trainer Dallas Stewart confirmed Sunday. The decision to run came after the colt worked five furlongs at Churchill in 1:00.40.
“He is fit and fresh and we are excited to see what we have,” Stewart said after the work. “[Joel] Rosario will ride. He was on him when he broke his maiden.”
With exercise rider Pedro Velez aboard and working with Sir Barton S. candidate Lemon Drop Title (Lemon Drop Kid), Tale of Verve produced fractions of :12.60, :24.60, :36.60 and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.60.
“Twelves all the way around–beautiful,” Stewart said. “I may jog him in the morning and we might van up Tuesday. I'm still working on that.”
Tale of Verve, who was an also-eligible in the GI Kentucky Derby field, is coming off a Keeneland maiden win Apr. 23.
MR. Z TO SKIP PREAKNESS
Mr. Z (Malibu Moon), 13th in the GI Kentucky Derby, will skip Saturday's GI Preakness S., owner Ahmed Zayat confirmed Sunday. “I'm not running,” Zayat said. “I just don't see any merit for that. I know he didn't have a chance to run in the Derby. I know he was in huge traffic. But I think at this juncture I need to get him confidence.”
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