A nine-decade old tradition was renewed Thursday morning with an assembly of trainers at Old Hilltop in the Pimlico grandstand. Originating sometime in the late 1930’s and coined by then-publicity director David Woods, the Alibi Breakfast offers an opportunity for trainers to land jabs on their colleagues and, for the time before the Preakness, neighbors as their horses take lodging in the stakes barn.

Microphones were passed among the Preakness trainers, yet one didn’t leave the hands of their patriarch, D. Wayne Lukas, known for meticulous preparation, which was clearly visible as he lured laughs from attendees.

“Do you know what a weatherman is?” Lukas asked Michelle Yu, one of the hosts of the event. “A weatherman is somebody who can look into a women’s eye and tell whether….”

Sitting across from Lukas was two-time Triple Crown-winning trainer Bob Baffert.

“I was looking at the Special Award of Merit,” observed the eight-time Preakness winner, who trains Goal Oriented in Saturday’s feature. “I see Wayne Lukas (as a previous winner). I don’t see Bob Baffert on this Special Award of Merit. How many do you have to win to get on this thing?”

Lukas and Baffert have fifteen Preakness trophies between them, just over a tenth of the total wins in the 149 previous runnings of the middle Triple Crown gem. Baffert has eight victories to Lukas’ seven. Lukas won the Preakness last year with Seize the Grey. After trading a few jabs among themselves the duo began to focus on other trainers.

“Where is Brendan Walsh? Is he here?” asked Lukas. 

“I don’t know,” replied Yu. “Where’s the bar?”

Seeking Irish Brendan Walsh, who trains Gosger in Saturday’s Preakness, Lukas shared a story. 

“I asked (Walsh) why is it that the Irish got all the potatoes and the Arabs got all the oil,” Lukas recounted, while Walsh, who was not present, was therefore vulnerable in the event. “The Irish had first choice.”

Trainer Michael Gorham will send out Maryland-based Pay Billy to the Preakness starting gate. Pay Billy is the first horse acquired by RKTN Racing and was a $60,000 purchase of the new ownership entity. Gorham shared that when he proposed bypassing a Kentucky Derby points race to point to the Middle Jewel, his novice owners replied, “What’s the Preakness?”

Lukas, impressed with Gorham’s thrifty Preakness acquisition, inquired, “What are you doing in September? We’ll go to the sale together.”

Lukas warned trainer Michael McCarthy, who trains morning line favorite Journalism, about a potential jinx of using stall #40, traditionally reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner. This year’s Derby winner, Sovereignty, passed on the Preakness.

“He put his horse in the Derby winning stall, that’s the kiss of death,” noted Lukas and then gave up Baffert in a pun. 

“Bob said leave him in there.”

Mark Casse who trains Sandman in the Preakness was recognized as a multiple Sovereign Award winner awarded as leading trainer in Canada. Unflappably unimpressed by the feat, Baffert snarked, “What happens in Canada stays in Canada.”

There isn’t much of a learning curve for trainers new to the Alibi Breakfast. When English trainer Jamie Osborne, the trainer of English-bred Heart of Honor, who has been racing in Dubai was brought to Lukas’ table to an introduction, Osborne took the opportunity to remind Baffert what was said after a previous race in America. Osborne’s Toast of New York finished second to Baffert’s Bayern in the 2014 Breeders Cup Classic.

“What was that horse that finished second trained by that Brit that looks like Auston Powers?” Osborne recalled Baffert saying.

Ask what advice Lukas had for Osborne, the Coach replied, “Stay at home.”

Lukas had similar advice for Casse.

“I think that Sandman’s over the top,” Lukas suggested to Casse. “I think he probably should get a rest.”

In a false lament, Casse shared with the audience what it’s like to be in the training fraternity during Preakness week.

“I just want you to understand that what we are putting up with right now, we put up with the entire week,” shared Casse. “That’s the great thing about the Preakness. We all are in the same barn, so I have to listen to this every day.

As an example Casse added a previous jab he received from Baffert earlier in the week.

“What would you know about a good restaurant,” Casse says he was told. “You live in Ocala.”

Casse began to voice his son’s admiration for the rival trainer of River Thames, Todd Pletcher, in an envious manner sharing a few observations he received years earlier.

“Dad, do you think that Todd Pletcher knows about his place?” Casse was asked when they were competing at Del Mar.

“Well, I think so, sure,” quizzically replied Casse. 

“Do you know why he’s not here? Two words, Bob Baffert,” was the reply he received.

Casse was also asked by his son about the potential of winning another Sovereign Award,

“Do you think that you have a shot?” inquired the younger Casse. 

“Yes, I think I have a really good shot,” the elder Casse answered.

“Todd Pletcher doesn’t run much there,” Casse’s son replied.

In a weak moment, Casse broke Alibi Breakfast tradition to offer a compliment, likely sincere.

“To think when I started 47 years ago that I would be sitting here today to be with two of the greatest of all time and they’re talking about me. It’s great,” observed Casse.

The roasting round of the Alibi Breakfast that offers fried chicken at 9 AM in the morning was preceded by the presentation of annual awards.

Track announcer Dave Rodman was recognized with The Special Award of Merit. Tom Law received the Old Hilltop Award. Ron Flatter accepted the David F. Woods Memorial Award and Michael Behrens was named Honorary Postmaster. Also, Tim Sudduth was presented with the Jerry Frutkoff Preakness Photography Award.