Danzig Moon Confirmed for Preakness, Derby Top Three Gallop
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Danzig Moon exercises on the main track at Churchill Downs before his fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby. (All photos by Eclipse Sportswire)
John Oxley’s Danzig Moon, who finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, will ship from Churchill Downs to Pimlico Race Course to compete in the 140th Preakness Stakes on May 16.
Norman Casse, assistant to trainer and father Mark Casse, confirmed on Saturday morning the Preakness plans for the Malibu Moon colt.
“We are going,” Norman Casse said. “He came out of the Derby really well and deserves another chance.”
Danzig Moon ran into some traffic when caught in the middle of a tightly packed bunch in the cavalry charge into the first turn in the Derby, but he battled willingly to finish fifth, 6 ½ lengths behind winner American Pharoah.
“He has been getting better every time,” Casse said. “How do we make up the 6 ½ lengths? He just needs to keep improving.”
With plenty of speed expected in the Preakness, including American Pharoah, Derby pacesetter Dortmund and runner-up Firing Line, a faster pace than the Kentucky Derby could benefit Danzig Moon, who prefers to drop back and make one big run.
Julien Leparoux retains the mount for the Preakness.
“We made the decision last night, but we wanted to give him another day to train before making the announcement,” Casse said. “He trained great this morning.”
Zayat Stables’ Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah and third-place finisher Dortmund, both trained by Hall of Famer and five-time Preakness winner Bob Baffert, galloped 1 3/8 miles at Churchill Downs after the renovation break on Saturday.
AMERICAN PHAROAH TRAINS AT CHURCHILL IN PREPARATION FOR PREAKNESS
The duo will enter next Saturday’s Preakness with a combined record of 11 victories in 13 starts. American Pharoah brings a five-race winning streak to Baltimore, where he will be ridden by Victor Espinoza.
Espinoza, who rode California Chrome to victory in last year’s Preakness, will attempt to become the first rider since Pat Day (1994, 1995, 1996) to ride consecutive Preakness winners. Espinoza also won the 2002 Preakness aboard War Emblem for Baffert.
Arnold Zetcher’s Kentucky Derby runner-up Firing Line galloped 1 ½ miles at Churchill. Carlos Santamaria, assistant to trainer Simon Callaghan, said Firing Line could breeze in the next few days.
FIRING LINE GETS A BATH AT CHURCHILL
Lael Stables’ Coolmore Lexington Stakes winner Divining Rod worked an easy half-mile in :51.60 at Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., Saturday morning in preparation for a planned start in the Preakness. Trainer Arnaud Delacour said the four-furlong workout went according to plan.
“He just stretched his legs out there, and that’s kind of what we wanted. He had a good breeze last week,” Delacour said. “Everything has been going well with him. He’s happy and came back in good shape.”
Gretchen and Roy Jackson, who bred and own the Tapit colt, watched the workout during their weekly visit to Fair Hill. The Jacksons won the 2006 Kentucky Derby with Barbaro.
Trainer Todd Pletcher has made no decisions concerning the Preakness statuses of Materiality, Carpe Diem, Stanford and Competitive Edge. Materiality and Carpe Diem finished sixth and 10th, respectively, in the Derby. Stanford was scratched from the Derby. Undefeated Competitive Edge won the Grade 3 Pat Day Mile Stakes on the Derby undercard. All four are training at Belmont Park.
Possible Preakness Contenders
Horse
Trainer
Most Recent Race
American Pharoah
Bob Baffert
Won Kentucky Derby
Bodhisattva
Jose Corrales
Won Federico Tesio Stakes
Carpe Diem
Todd Pletcher
10th in Kentucky Derby
Competitive Edge
Todd Pletcher
Won Pat Day Mile Stakes
Danzig Moon
Mark Casse
Fifth in Kentucky Derby
Divining Rod
Arnaud Delacour
Won Coolmore Lexington Stakes
Dortmund
Bob Baffert
Third in Kentucky Derby
Firing Line
Simon Callaghan
Second in Kentucky Derby
Materiality
Todd Pletcher
Sixth in Kentucky Derby
Mr. Z
D. Wayne Lukas
13th in Kentucky Derby
Stanford
Todd Pletcher
Second in Louisiana Derby
Tale of Verve
Dallas Stewart
Won maiden race at Keeneland on 4-23