Average Joe Racing Stables Ltd. and Dan Wells' Mugatu (Blofeld), an also-eligible entrant in the GI Kentucky Derby and most recently fifth in the Apr. 6 GI Toyota Blue Grass S., will make his next start in the May 18 GI Preakness S., trainer Jeff Engler confirmed Tuesday.
“He's getting better. He really moved up on the dirt. His numbers proved it. Seize the Grey (Arrogate), who won the [GII] Pat Day Mile, we finished in front of him in the Blue Grass. I heard Seize the Grey is going in the Preakness, so it's a logical spot,” Engler said. “We were a little frustrated we didn't get into the Derby. We feel the more distance the better for this horse. I do like the 1 3/16 miles, so we're going to head up.”
A maiden winner over the Tapeta at Gulfstream last November, Mugatu opened 2024 with a pair of third-place efforts going one mile over the synthetic at Turfway over the winter. He was fourth in the Mar. 2 John Battaglia Memorial S. and eighth in the Mar. 23 Rushaway S. before making his third start over the dirt in the Blue Grass.
Mugatu is scheduled to breeze five furlongs Saturday before shipping to Pimlico.
While Mystik Dan (Goldencents)'s participation in the Preakness is still undecided, the Derby winner is expected to return to the track Wednesday at Churchill Downs.
“That's a typical routine for us,” trainer Kenny McPeek said. “We'll walk them three days [after a race]. He could have gone back to the track [Monday] if we'd wanted, but he didn't need to.”
Asked if he has seen anything that would rule Mystik Dan out of a Preakness engagement, McPeek said, “Not at all. Same thing. We've just got to get through the weekend and take it from there.”
Entries for the Preakness will be taken Monday.
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