Trainer Michael McCarthy recent flew from his California base to Churchill Downs to see Preakness entrant Journalism and said he is “very pleased.”
Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, a Preakness lover through and through, is back at age 89 with Virginia Derby winner American Promise.
Rodriguez, the Bob Baffert trainee who won the Wood Memorial but was forced to skip the Kentucky Derby, now is also out of the Preakness.
The connections of Journalism, beaten favorite in the Kentucky Derby, said Thursday they are keeping the Preakness “in play” for his next start.
Former jockey Andrea Seefeldt Knight, the second woman to ride in the Preakness, has become a competitive clay shooter and instructor.
Longtime Pimlico and Laurel track announcer Dave Rodman will receive the Special Award of Merit at this year’s Preakness Alibi Breakfast.
Goal Oriented, two-for-two in his career, will join Rodriguez as a Bob Baffert-trained Preakness starter, the trainer said.
Trainer Todd Pletcher bypassed the Kentucky Derby with the lightly raced River Thames and is happy with his charge heading into the Preakness.
For a ninth straight year, $100,000 in bonus money is on the table for trainers that run at least five horses in stakes races Preakness weekend.
Trainer Greg Compton won 14 races at Delaware Park last meet, good for sixth in wins, and will arrive for this year’s meet with stronger stock.