GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism (Curlin) continues to give his connections positive indicators coming out of his run at Churchill Downs nearly two weeks ago. The GI Santa Anita Derby winner, who drew post 2 for the GI Preakness Stakes, vanned from Louisville to Pimlico Tuesday.
“From top to bottom, it's a very competitive field that we have a lot of respect for,” said co-owner Aron Wellman. “Really our primary focus is on Journalism. We've been very, very intent on making sure that he's giving us all the right signs out of the Kentucky Derby, and he seems to have done that every which way, in terms of his appetite, his energy, his weight and his mindset. We wanted him to tell us that he was ready to go to Baltimore. We've got a master horseman in Michael McCarthy that's reading all those signs and hopefully reading them appropriately. We have total conviction that this is the right move for the horse, and we expect for him to be extremely live in the Preakness on Saturday.”
Seventh-place Derby finisher Sandman (Tapit) also arrived in Baltimore early Tuesday morning about 3 a.m.
“He had a bath, walked and seems to be happy,” said Shane Tripp, the New York assistant to Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse. “He is relaxing, had some peppermints.”
Sandman drew Post 7 for the Preakness and is the 4-1 second choice on the morning line behind 8-5 favorite Journalism.
“We are encouraged with how he came back from the Kentucky Derby,” Tripp added. “He has held his weight good.”
Enter (and bathe) Sandman.
Welcome to @PimlicoRC! pic.twitter.com/Yy1eEVtnCF
— Preakness Stakes (@PreaknessStakes) May 13, 2025
'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music), who scratched from the Derby to target the Preakness, will ship to Pimlico Wednesday for trainer Todd Pletcher from his base at Belmont Park.
“He's had a good week,” Pletcher said. “He had a good breeze at Belmont on Saturday and came out of it in good order. His energy level is good. He's coming up to it well.”
Steve Asmussen runner Clever Again (American Pharoah) drew Post 8 Monday night for what will be his graded stakes debut Saturday.
“I think it's a very good draw,” Asmussen said. “I like the two horses around him from a pace scenario. We expect him to break clean, with the other pace obviously to his inside.”
Eight-time Preakness winner Bob Baffert will seek a record ninth win with 'TDN Rising Star' Goal Oriented (Not This Time) who won an allowance race on the Derby undercard at Churchill.
“He is a big, strong horse, but he's still learning,” said Baffert. “His first out, he was behind horses and didn't like the kickback too much. We took him to Louisville, and he came back, and it was not really taxing on him. He is moving forward.”
Goal Oriented also shipped in to Pimlico Tuesday.
G2 UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor (Honor A.P.) trained Monday morning at Churchill after clearing quarantine and then shipped in Tuesday, taking to the local track Tuesday morning for trainer Jamie Osborne.
“He had a canter,” said assistant trainer Jimmy McCarthy, who was aboard the colt. “Well, I jogged a mile, galloped a mile, as you say. We 'canter;' you 'gallop.' He stretched his legs.”
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who won last year's Preakness with Seize the Grey (Arrogate), was also one who braved the early-morning rain in Baltimore Tuesday to oversee training for Virginia Derby winner American Promise (Justify).
“I think he's better this week than he was the week before the Derby,” Lukas said. “If that helps us or not I don't know.”
Waiting to train Wednesday will be Federico Tesio Stakes winner Pay Billy (Improbable) and GIII Lexington Stakes winner Gosger (Nyquist).
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