Goal Oriented (Not This Time) tuned up for his expected stakes debut in the GI Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course next Saturday with a four-furlong drill in :47.60 (4/35) at Churchill Downs Sunday. Churchill clockers caught the colt going the first quarter of a mile in :23 3/5 and galloping out five-eighths of a mile in 1:01 1/5 with exercise rider Eric Garcia in the saddle.
“He went a half really easily,” said trainer Bob Baffert, who will be looking to extend his record of eight Preakness victories. “He did it on his own, just cruising around there. That's all he needed. He was nice and relaxed. Looks like the race didn't take too much out of him. I just wanted a little maintenance work. I just wanted to see how he handled it. He's only had two outs, and you want to see how it affects them mentally. Some horses get a little bit uptight or tense and nervous. He handled it like a pro. He's got a great mind.”
Tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following his six-furlong debut win Apr. 6 at Santa Anita, the $425,000 Keeneland September purchase followed up with a 1 1/16-mile allowance win at Churchill on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 3.
Goal Oriented will be making just his third lifetime start and starting at his third different track in Saturday's Preakness.
“It's asking a lot,” Baffert said. “But I've always been really high on this horse. He's a big, strong horse. He's handled everything thrown at him. He's shipped, he won. Justify won the GI Santa Anita Derby third out. I'm not comparing him to Justify, but he's a big, strong horse like Justify. I think he can handle it.”
While connections of GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism (Curlin) were still mulling the decision to send the colt to the Preakness, Baffert said, “Journalism is the key horse,” before adding jokingly, “He should wait for the Belmont. Have a showdown with Sovereignty and get his revenge, right?”
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