Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert notified Pimlico Race Course officials Thursday of his intention to enter undefeated Goal Oriented, as well as Wood Memorial (G2) winner Rodriguez, in the Preakness.

Goal Oriented debuted April 6 at Santa Anita with an off-the-pace 3 ¼-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight event. The son of Not This Time returned May 3 at Churchill Downs, where he registered a front-running three-quarters-of-a-length triumph in a 1 1/16-mile optional claiming allowance.

Goal Oriented is out of Bizzy Carolina, an Afleet Alex mare who was a multiple graded stakes winner in her own right.

Goal Oriented, a $425,000 purchase at the 2023 Keeneland September sale, is owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC’s, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC, and Catherine Donovan, who also campaign Rodriguez.

For his part, Rodriguez galloped at Churchill Downs Thursday morning.

Baffert, seeking to break his own record of eight Preakness victories, has said Rodriguez will work this weekend and then ship to Pimlico Monday. Baffert said decisions on other horses he might bring for Preakness Week stakes will be made after those horses work.

Tom Ryan, head of SF Racing, a major partner in Rodriguez, was out to watch Rodriguez train. He was asked who the son of Authentic’s namesake was.

“Rodriguez is named for lots of things. His groom is Mr. Rodriguez,” he said. “He’s named for (singer-songwriter) Sixto Rodriguez because of the movie ‘Searching for Sugarman.’ Watch the movie, and you’ll see where the name comes from. It’s a good movie.”

So, the horse is not the namesake of A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez? “It can be if you want it to be,” Ryan said. “All the Rodríguezes should feel part of the family.”