Armagnac Joins Preakness Lineup

One week out from the May 21 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course, the prospective lineup for the second jewel of the Triple Crown continues to take shape.

Recent allowance optional claiming winner Armagnac  has joined the cast of likely starters for the 1 3/16-mile classc, while Rattle N Roll  was removed from consideration for the Preakness, according to a tweet from Horse Racing Nation. Zandon  is also formally out after his trainer Chad Brown said earlier in the week that the colt was highly unlikely.

Armagnac, a Quality Road   3-year-old, races for the partnership of SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Golconda Stable, and Siena Farm.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will ride Armagnac. Ortiz finished second in the 2021 Preakness aboard Midnight Bourbon .

"We're excited," said SF Racing's Tom Ryan. "The horse is well, and statistically we've got one of the best jockeys in the nation. Sometimes when you're healthy and well, if the opportunity is there you have to make a decision. Do I want to go large or (not)? It's coming together in a way that we feel comfortable with the challenge."

Armagnac has raced exclusively at Santa Anita Park, making two starts since being transferred to trainer Tim Yakteen from the barn of Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, who is serving a 90-day suspension that goes to July 2. The colt was fourth in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) April 9 at odds of 72-1 prior to his recent 4 1/4-length allowance triumph May 8. The latter race marked his first race without blinkers.

"We've always felt that he has talent. Obviously, this is an incredible step up in class, no question, but he has some racing under his belt," Ryan said. "He's a fit, sound horse. Running him back in 13 days I suppose is an aggressive move but, that said, horses are coming back from the Derby in 14 days."

Ryan said the plan for Armagnac is to ship to Pimlico May 18 and train a couple of days there ahead of the Preakness.

Kenny McPeek trains Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll , a Connect   colt that won the 2021 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) but is unplaced in three graded stakes at age 3. McPeek still plans to be represented in the Preakness by Fern Circle Stables and Back Racing's up-and-coming Creative Minister . The latter, a colt by Creative Cause  , will be supplemented to the race at a cost of $150,000. He, like Armagnac, is stepping up in class after winning an entry-level race against winners in fast time. He won last out at Churchill Downs May 7.

Creative Minister is eligible for the $100,000 Sir Barton Stakes on the Preakness undercard, restricted to horses that have not won an open stakes race, but as McPeek explained, "We swing high and hard."

McPeek won the 2020 Preakness with the filly Swiss Skydiver .

Epicenter , Secret Oath , Early Voting , and Simplification  are the leading contenders for the Preakness.

Oaklawn's Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Un Ojo  is on target for the Preakness after working five furlongs in 1:02 May 14 at Churchill Downs. He was not entered in the May 7 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) due to a bruised foot.

Ramon Vazquez, who guided Un Ojo to the Rebel victory at 75-1, will be back aboard for the Preakness.

Kentucky Derby upsetter Rich Strike  is awaiting the June 11 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

Entries and post positions for the Preakness will be established May 16.