Busy Saturday for Preakness contenders
Derby gate scratch Great White among those doing well
Press Release
May 9, 2026
It was a busy Saturday of Preakness activity today, one week out from the main event.
In Kentucky Great White was giving his trainer good signs.
He didn’t get a time while aboard for Great White’s easy half-mile work Saturday morning at The Thoroughbred Center in Lexington, Ky., but from what he saw and felt, trainer John Ennis believes the horse got exactly what he needed ahead of a possible start in the 151st Preakness Stakes (G1) May 16 at Laurel Park.
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“I didn’t ask them a time,” Ennis said of the work, which was officially clocked in 52.20 seconds. “It was just nice and easy, nice and slow. I rode him myself. Everything felt perfect. I was pleased. If he feels fresh and energy-wise he’s full of himself, he’ll go [to the Preakness]. We’ll just see how his energy level is the next two days, and we’ll probably wait to make the decision Monday morning before entries close.”
Ennis said he’ll probably jog Great White a mile Sunday morning.
“I’ll probably ride him myself,” he said. “He’ll train every day. He’d train Tuesday and then maybe ship Tuesday night if it’s a go. Probably have a walk day Wednesday at Laurel.”
The trainer said he’d probably fly to Maryland Wednesday. Ennis owns the gelding with Three Chimneys Farm.
Great White drew into the May 2 Kentucky Derby (G1) off the also-eligible list but became a late scratch when he reared up and flipped behind the starting gate as the horses were being loaded.
Another Kentucky-based runner also had his final move.
Trainer Danny Gargan said he’s never had a horse physically going into a Triple Crown race as well as Talkin, who worked a half-mile in a sparkling 47.80 seconds Saturday morning at Keeneland, the fastest of 77 breezes recorded at the distance. Exercise rider Priscilla Schaefer was aboard.
“He’s doing the best he’s ever done,” Gargan said by phone from Lexington, Ky. “He worked really well, went in 47-and-4, galloped out nice. He’s acting good, eating good, looks good. We have him as good as we can get him right now. We just have to get lucky and hope he’s good enough to win the race now.”
Gargan said Talkin, third in the April 4 Blue Grass (G1) in his last start, is coming into next Saturday’s 151st Preakness Stakes (G1) at Laurel Park better than any horse he’s led over for a Triple Crown race, including 2024 Belmont (G1) and Haskell (G1) winner Dornoch.
“I’m not saying he’s as good as Dornoch, by no means,” he said. “But Dornoch always had issues, with the foot, with this, with that. Talkin has no hiccups…. I do love how my horse is doing.”
Back at Laurel Park, meanwhile, The Hell We Did’s planned five-furlong work hit a snag.
Trainer Todd Fincher may give Peacock Family Racing Stable’s The Hell We Did another chance to work Sunday at Laurel Park after the Grade 3-winning homebred had his final planned breeze interrupted Saturday morning.
The Hell We Did went to the main track at 7:45 a.m. after the first renovation break with exercise rider Christian Olmo, who had begun the work when he had to pull up on the backstretch due to a riderless horse on the track. They turned back and were able to start again, striding through the lane and was credited with a five-furlong time of 1:01.40, the second fastest of nine five-furlong breezes of the morning recorded by Laurel clockers.
“I don’t think the horse was loose, I just think the rider was off and holding on,” said Fincher, who arrived in Maryland Friday evening. “Sometimes it’s not meant to be. Things happen for a reason. It’s not anything he did wrong. It’s just circumstance.”
Others on the worktab today included Napoleon Solo (four furlongs in 48 seconds), Bull by the Horns (four in 47 4/5), and Pretty Boy Miah (four in 49 flat).
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