Tale of Verve a Go for Preakness, Mr. Z Out

Charles Fipke's Tale of Verve entered the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) picture after a five-furlong work in 1:00 2/5 May 10 at Churchill Downs, and Zayat Stables' Mr. Z, who was 13th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), was withdrawn from consideration by owner Ahmed Zayat.



"I'm not running," Zayat said in an interview with The Courier-Journal. "I just don't see any merit for that. I know he didn't have a chance to run in the Derby. I know he was in huge traffic, but I think at this juncture, I need to get him confidence. I know the horse is tenacious. I know he's all heart. I know he's fast. I know he was in a photo finish with Dortmund and Firing Line (in the Los Alamitos Futurity, gr. I, in 2014). So you would argue he's as talented as they are, at least on paper and actuality... I think I need to build his confidence back."



Dallas Stewart trains Tale of Verve, whose work was the fifth fastest of 25 at the distance. The Tale of Ekati   colt broke is maiden at Keeneland in his most recent start April 23. It was his sixth attempt at the maiden special weight level.



With exercise rider Pedro Velez aboard and working with the Fipke-owned Lemon Drop Title, Tale of Verve produced fractions of :12 3/5, :24 3/5, and :36 3/5, then galloped out six furlongs in 1:14 3/5.



"He is fit and fresh, and we are excited to see what we have," Stewart said after the work. "(Joel) Rosario will ride. He was on him when he broke his maiden."



The top three finishers from the Kentucky Derby were on the track shortly after it opened, following the morning renovation break.



Zayat's Derby winner American Pharoah and Kaleem Shah's Dortmund, who was third, jogged to the starting gate at the head of the stretch, where they stood and then galloped 1 1/2 miles. Jorge Alvarez was aboard American Pharoah and Dana Barnes was on Dortmund.



Trainer Bob Baffert, who got his fourth Derby win with American Pharoah, is scheduled to arrive in Louisville later Sunday from his Southern California base. His two Derby colts are scheduled to leave for Pimlico Race Course May 13.



Arnold Zetcher's Derby runner-up Firing Line had an open gallop of about six furlongs under Humberto Gomez, with a similar activity scheduled for May 11, according to trainer Simon Callaghan.



Firing Line is also scheduled to ship to Baltimore Wednesday.



John Oxley's Danzig Moon, fifth in the Derby, had a scheduled walk day at trainer Mark Casse's barn.