SUPER SAVER FAVORED IN PREAKNESS MORNING LINE; DERBY WINNER DRAWS NO. 8 POST IN SOLID FIELD OF 12
BALTIMORE, 05-12-10 – Kentucky Derby hero Super Saver was installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite Wednesday in a field of 12 entered for Saturday’s 135th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course.
The Todd Pletcher-trained colt, who led the way to the finish at Churchill Downs in the Derby by 2 ½ lengths, was first again at the Post Position Draw, during which his name was called first when assigned the No. 8 stall in the starting gate.
Pletcher, who will send Super Saver to the track at Pimlico for the first time at 6:30 Thursday morning, has started only four horses in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, with Impeachment’s third-place finish in 2000 being his best finish.
Lookin At Lucky, whose chances as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby were severely compromised when he drew the No. 1 post position, will attempt to rebound in the Preakness from the No. 7 post position. The 2009 juvenile champion, who will be ridden for the first time by Martin Garcia, was rated second in the morning line at 3-1.
Paddy O’Prado, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby, drew the No. 10 post and was rated third in the morning line at 9-2.
LINE UP FOR THE 135TH PREAKNESS STAKES
| PP# | HORSE | TRAINER | OWNER | JOCKEY | ML ODDS |
| 1 | Aikenite | Todd A. Pletcher | Dogwood Stable | Javier Castellano | 20-1 |
| 2 | Schoolyard Dreams | Derek S. Ryan | Eric Fein & Triple Diamond Stables | Eibar Coa | 15-1 |
| 3 | Pleasant Prince | Wesley Ward | Kenneth L. & Sarah K. Ramsey | Julian Leparoux | 20-1 |
| 4 | Northern Giant | D. Wayne Lukas | Westrock Stables LLC | Terry Thompson | 30-1 |
| 5 | Yawanna Twist | Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. | Steel Your Face Stables | Edgar Prado | 30-1 |
| 6 | Jackson Bend | Nicholas P. Zito | Robert V. LaPenta & Fred J. Brei | Mike Smith | 12-1 |
| 7 | Lookin At Lucky | Bob Baffert | Karl Watson, Mike Pegram & Paul Weitman | Martin Garcia | 3-1 |
| 8 | Super Saver | Todd A. Pletcher | WinStar Farm LLC | Calvin Borel | 5-2 |
| 9 | Caracortado | Michael Machowsky | Blahut Racing LLC & Lo Hi Racing | Paul Atkinson | 10-1 |
| 10 | Paddy O’Prado | Dale L. Romans | Donegal Racing | Kent Desormeaux | 9-2 |
| 11 | First Dude | Dale L. Romans | Donald R. Dizney | Ramon Dominguez | 20-1 |
| 12 | Dublin | D. Wayne Lukas | Robert C. Baker & William L. Mack | Garret Gomez | 10-1 |
Draw Quotes
SUPER SAVER (PP 8; 5-2)/AIKENITE (PP 1; 20-1) – Todd Pletcher, trainer: “I suppose 1 wouldn’t have been my first choice for Aikenite, but I really don’t think the post positions are hugely important in this race. Eight was very good. I’m very happy with that.”
LOOKING AT LUCKY (PP 7; 3-1) – Bob Baffert, trainer: “I’m so relieved. I was so worried. As soon as the 1 got by, I thought, ‘well that’s good. At least I’m not stuck there.’
“I like the 7. I wanted 7, 8 or 9. I like those post positions here. You still have to get away well and everything. I’m just glad that the horse finally drew a decent post position. Now he’s going to have to run hard. The way he’s been training, I don’t see why he wouldn’t.”
“I know how these jockeys think, so I can map out this race for Martin Garcia, who will be riding this for the first time. It will be exciting to see what happens there.”
“There’s not a really bad post in the Preakness. I’ve won the race. I remember that Real Quiet got the 11. He was training so great and he got the 11, and I was just sick for a couple of days. Then all of a sudden I realized that at the end of the day it’s the horse. If you have the horse, it doesn’t matter what post you come out of.”
PADDY O’PRADO (PP 10; 9-2) / FIRST DUDE (PP 11, 20-1) – Dale Romans, trainer: “That's fine. Really, in a 12-horse field, there's not a terrible position to have. I didn't want to be in the 1 or 12 if we could help it, and anything else we were going to be happy with. Paddy didn't have a problem with the 10-hole in the Derby and I'd like to have him on the inside of First Dude. It gives us a few more options maybe."
CARACORTADO (PP 9; 10-1) – Mike Machowsky, trainer: “It's perfect. I'm thinking I might put my horse on the lead or in the race early, and I think the only other horse that has any sort of speed inside of me is Jackson Bend. We drew well. It's a solid field. I was talking to somebody this morning thinking that it's one of the best Preakness fields in a while as far as anybody can win it. I think all 12 horses have a shot.’
DUBLIN (PP 12; 10-1)/ NORTHERN GIANT (PP 4; 30-1) – D. Wayne Lukas, trainer: “I hate it (12). There isn’t much I can do about it, just accept what they gave us. It probably wouldn’t be the one I’d pick. We’re out there and we’ll make the best of it.”
JACKSON BEND (PP 6; 12-1) – Nick Zito, trainer: “It was OK. He’s just got to get away (from the gate) good. If he can get away good, we’ll be all right.”
SCHOOLYARD DREAMS (PP 2; 15-1) – Derek Ryan, trainer: “We’re happy with that; what can you say? I’d rather be down there than stuck way out on the outside, so we’ve got no complaints. He likes to be pretty close to the pace.”
(On the morning-line odds): “It doesn’t matter, really. I’ve never seen a horse that could read an odds board yet.”
PLEASANT PRINCE (PP 3; 20-1) – Ken Ramsey, owner: “I’m happy, I’m happy. I guess if I’d have been choosing one, I’d have chosen 4, 5, 6, or 7. But I’m happy with 3. There’s not much you can do about it, just take what you get. It’s a lot different from the Derby. You’ve got almost half the number of horses, 12 compared to 20.”
YAWANNA TWIST (PP 5; 30-1) – Jim Riccio, owner: “I agree with everybody else; I don’t think it’s really that big of a deal. I think everybody drew OK. Obviously, it’s more important in the Derby, I would think.”
-mjc-
PHOTO CREDIT-Jim McCue, Maryland Jockey Club
Mike Gathagan
Vice President-Communications
Maryland Jockey Club
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