Filly Ria Antonia Confirmed for Preakness

The filly Ria Antonia will compete in the May 17 Preakness Stakes (gr. I) and be ridden by Calvin Borel, the Maryland Jockey Club confirmed May 12.

Owned by Christopher Dunn and Loooch Racing Stable, Ria Antonia would bid to become the sixth filly to win the 1 3/16-mile Preakness at Pimlico Race Course. It appears a field of at least 10, including Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner California Chrome, is shaping up for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Majority owner Ron Paolucci indicated his desire to run Ria Antonia in the Preakness after he confirmed the filly had been moved to the barn of trainer Tom Amoss just days after she finished sixth in the Kentucky Oaks (gr. I) at Churchill Downs.

"She had a nice work (May 11 in :47.60 for a half-mile) and looks good today," Amoss said May 12 at Churchill Downs. "We have a healthy, sound horse, and we are ready to roll the dice. The idea (to run in the Preakness) was Ron's. She passed all the tests with us physically, mentally, and how she trained.

"I got to see her before the Oaks and she prepared well and worked well before the race. I don't know what happened in the Oaks, but I like the way she looks now. We wanted to get a rider that had the opportunity to work her and feel good about it. I know Calvin's confidence is strong after the work."

Ria Antonia was placed first in the 2013 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (gr. I) after the disqualification of She's a Tiger.