Midnight Bourbon Turns in Final Work for Preakness

Winchell Thoroughbreds' Midnight Bourbon  had the easy workout typical of a Steve Asmussen-trained horse five days before a race, covering the half-mile distance in :50 1/5 at Churchill Downs May 10.

The Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) sixth-place finisher is scheduled to van to Pimlico Race Course early May 11 for a scheduled start in the May 15 Preakness Stakes (G1).

"He's doing great, wonderful physically. I'm excited to run him in the Preakness," said Asmussen, who was scheduled to take an early evening flight Monday to Baltimore. "This morning, I watched Midnight Bourbon work. He's just such a beautiful specimen, and he goes over the racetrack so pretty. Driving back to the barn from the grandstand, I was thinking how crazy we are as horsemen. It's only less than two weeks from the disappointment of the Derby, and here I am, thinking I'm going to win a classic again and I get all giddy."

Midnight Bourbon was bumped leaving the starting gate in the Kentucky Derby and was far back early before closing steadily while racing four wide.

"It was such a great feeling in this year's Derby being able to run (Arkansas Derby, G1, winner) Super Stock  for my parents and Erv Woolsey and Midnight Bourbon for Ron Winchell. Midnight Bourbon is a big feeler, so I led him over for the Derby and that was as great a feeling as I've had, to be able to physically lead one over for the Derby, and how exciting that was," Asmussen said. "We had disappointing results in the race. He didn't get away from the gate the way we wanted. You walk back and you're disappointed and stuff. And here we are less than two weeks later and we're all jazzed up, ready to go to Baltimore, and we love our chances. Very fortunate to have these chances and horses of this caliber. I'm very optimistic going to Baltimore."

Asmussen, who saddled Curlin   and the filly Rachel Alexandra  for Preakness victories in 2007 and 2009, respectively, said he will again be on the shank leading Midnight Bourbon from the stakes barn to be saddled for the Preakness.

"I'm going to lead 'Bourbon' over," he said. "He's just a lot of horse, and I'm probably the biggest guy in the barn."

Irad Ortiz Jr. is scheduled to ride Midnight Bourbon for the first time Saturday.

Yuji Inaida's France Go de Ina had the Pimlico main track all to himself Monday morning. After arriving on Saturday night, the Japanese invader got his first look at the racetrack at 10:15 a.m. ET.

The expected Preakness longshot and exercise rider Masaki Takano came on the track after regular training hours in accordance with quarantine regulations. They walked a lap around the track the opposite way and then jogged around the right way another time. Then it was back to the quarantine barn, which is a few barns away from the stakes barn.

"He just stretched his legs," said Kate Hunter the Preakness field representative for the Japan Racing Association. "It was pretty easy because there were no other horses around. He was able to relax, check everything out, and see everything really well because it was nice and sunny. He seemed very relaxed."

According to Hunter, trainer Hideyuki Mori flew into Dulles International Airport Monday morning and was due to be at the barn to check on his horse Monday afternoon.

Joel Rosario, who rode France Go de Ina to a sixth-place finish in the March 27 UAE Derby Sponsored by Emirates NBD (G2), will be on board in the Preakness.

Bob Baffert trainees Medina Spirit  and Concert Tour  left Churchill Downs on a Pimlico-bound van around 4:45 a.m. Monday and arrived shortly after 2 p.m.

Baffert confirmed Sunday that May 1 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) winner Medina Spirit had tested positive for betamethasone in a post-race blood sample. The colt faces possible disqualification from the first American classic.

D. Wayne Lukas-trained Ram  left Churchill Downs for Pimlico at 5 a.m, arriving in the early afternoon. Keepmeinmind  is scheduled to van from Churchill to Pimlico early Tuesday.

Chad Brown stablemates Risk Taking  and Crowded Trade  are scheduled to ship from New York to Baltimore on Tuesday, as is is Todd Pletcher-trained Unbridled Honor .

Also Tuesday, Rombauer is slated to fly from trainer Michael McCarthy's Santa Anita Park base to Pimlico.