Laoban Works Toward Preakness ... or Derby
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Photo: Coady Photography/Keeneland
Laoban has been training at Keeneland
Trainer Eric Guillot was pleased with the morning performance by McCormick Racing and Southern Equine Stable's Laoban April 29 at Keeneland, as the grade III-placed son of Uncle Mo breezed six furlongs in 1:12 on a fast track under jockey Paco Lopez.
Clockers caught Laoban in fractions of :12 2/5, :24 2/5, :35 4/5, :48: 2/5, 1:12, and out in 1:25.20.
"The work was awesome," Guillot said. "This horse is getting good, really good."
The breeze was the second at Keeneland for the maiden Laoban, who was fourth in the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I). He was third in the Jan. 9 Sham (gr. III) at Santa Anita Park and second in the March 5 Gotham Stakes (gr. III) at Aqueduct.
Laoban, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01 3/5 at Keeneland on April 23, is 23rd in points earned toward the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). He needs three defections from the list of prospective entrants to make the field, which is limited to 20 starters.
Even one defection would encourage Guillot to send Laoban to Churchill Downs. The trainer said he will make the decision about whether to ship to Churchill on Tuesday, May 3. Derby horses must be on grounds there at noon May 4. Otherwise, Guillot said Laoban would be headed to the Preakness Stakes (gr. I).