Blue Heaven Farm’s Pyrenees will return to the races for his 5-year-old debut in the $250,000 Grade 3 Pimlico Special on Friday, May 16, aiming to defend his title in the historic 1 3/16-mile event. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Pyrenees capped a breakout run last year when he won this race as part of a dominant Preakness weekend for DeVaux, who also took the Hilltop and du Pont stakes and earned a $50,000 trainer bonus.

He is the 8-5 morning line favorite for the historic fixture, which has drawn a field of 10, including local hopeful Cataleya Strike (20-1).

“It wasn’t something we were targeting, necessarily, it just kind of worked out that way,” DeVaux said of her big 2024 Preakness weekend. “It was a big day, and it was exciting… the beginning of what ended up being a really awesome year.”

Named for the mountain range on the France–Spain border, Pyrenees enters off a six-month layoff following a seventh-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). His 2024 campaign began with a win after nearly a year away, sparking a four-race win streak that culminated with his Pimlico Special score. He went on to place in both the Stephen Foster (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1).

“He’s doing well,” said DeVaux. “He’s run really well off the layoff before… He’s training well and he looks great. We’re kind of just hoping that he runs a good race and we can move forward.”

DeVaux added, “[The Pimlico Special] was a target spot for him to come back, just because we know he likes the track and for the familiarity.”

Jose Ortiz has the return call.

Owned and trained by Laurel Park-based Rudy Sanchez-Salomon, Cataleya Strike takes career-best form into the Pimlico Special. The 4-year-old gelding tackles his first graded attempt off back-to-back wins over his home course, the latest a rallying 2 ¾-length decision in the 1 1/8-mile Native Dancer April 12.

“It was a very impressive race, very exciting. We were waiting for that kind of race,” Sanchez-Salomon said. “He’s been doing so well, I’ve just been taking my time with him. It’s a big step. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the horse, but you never know. I have a really good feeling about him this time, especially going a mile and three-sixteenths.”

PIMLICO SPECIAL FIELD