GISW Sandman (Tapit) has picked up the services of John Velazquez for his anticipated start in Preakness 150, who will replace Jose Ortiz due to another commitment for the contest.
Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse promised he'd have a Hall of Fame rider for his grey son of Tapit, and a legend he has procured. Velazquez will be replacing Jose Ortiz, who had the mount in the Derby, as Ortiz has a prior commitment aboard Clever Again (American Pharoah) for trainer Steve Asmussen.
The Triple Crown trail has been kind to the Hall of Famer in the last several years, as he claimed the middle jewel for the first time in 2023 aboard MGISW National Treasure (Quality Road); won the Derby in 2020 with MGISW Authentic (Into Mischief) and placed second in the Preakness with that colt; and in total has had 13 prior mounts in the Maryland marquee race. Sandman will be start 14 for Velazquez.
“Johnny is a strong rider, and Sandman needs a strong rider,” Casse said. “I think he will fit hm perfectly. One thing you will find about the good riders–the Irads [Ortiz], the Joses, the Juniors [Alvarado], the [Joel] Rosarios, the Johnnys…they all know what every horse is going to be doing. That is what they do. The only thing I can do by giving instructions is mess it up.”
Sandman was given Monday morning off and is scheduled to board a van at Churchill Downs bound for Pimlico at 3:00 p.m. before his anticipated arrival on grounds between 4-5:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, Casse said. The trainer will arrive from Ocala sometime in the afternoon the same day, but New York assistant trainer Shane Tripp will also be in Baltimore and will serve as the exercise rider.
“We decided to give Sandman an easy day because it's a ship of 12 hours or so. He is doing great.”
The grey will walk Tuesday and train at a later determined time over the next three days. He will be one of three Kentucky Derby runners to return for the Preakness. The anticipated favorite Journalism (Curlin)–who was the runner-up last weekend–and American Promise (Justify), finishing 16th, are the other pair.
“Obviously, Journalism is the horse to beat,” Casse said. “He ran really well in the Derby and you know Wayne [Lukas, trainer of American Promise] is always tough. It looks like there will be a decent amount of speed in the race, and that is good for us.”
Clever Again Goes an Easy Half
Clever Again had an easy half-mile work in :50.40 at Churchill Downs Monday morning. It was the 32nd fastest of 40 on the morning, but it was what the team wanted to see.
“Just a maintenance work,” said assistant Scott Blasi, who oversees Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen's Churchill Downs division. “We really like how he's doing. We thought a lot of him the whole time. We're excited about running him.”
“The horse is happy. His ears are forward, moving fluidly.”
And so they arrive…
The Preakness arrivals are scheduled to begin in increasing frequency within the coming days as 'TDN Rising Stars' Goal Oriented (Not This Time), River Thames (Maclean's Music), and Journalism as well as automatic entry earner Pay Billy (Improbable) are all expected to ship Tuesday.
The latter most will be vanning in with stablemates MSP Moon Cache (Mosler)–who is entered in the GII George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Friday–and Chipotle (Mitole), who will contest the Listed Chick Lang Stakes on the Saturday undercard.
“[Pay Billy] galloped a mile and a half, just a regular gallop to kind of stretch his legs a little bit. Everything is good,” trainer Michael Gorham said. “It's going to be an exciting week. We're looking forward to it.”
Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A.P.) cleared quarantine Sunday and had a light training session Monday morning prior to being shipped over to Baltimore. American Promise is scheduled to arrive Monday afternoon.
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