Bourbon War Works for Preakness

On a crisp morning under mostly cloudy skies May 9, Bourbon War put together his final preparations for the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) coming up May 18 at Pimlico Race Course.

Owned by Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable, the 3-year-old son of Tapit  breezed over a fast main track at Belmont Park under exercise rider Jose Mejia, going five furlongs in 1:01.67 in company with stakes-placed stablemate Carlino. 

"I thought it went great," trainer Mark Hennig said following the work. "He was a little aggressive. We put those short-cup blinkers on him to make him more aggressive, and I sent him off with Carlino. I think he was just being sharp. He got away from Carlino early and basically just kind of maintained that margin. 

"It wasn't quite how I wanted to draw it up," continued Hennig. "I thought they would be right together, but I can understand that Bourbon War was a little more amped up. Carlino likes to come from the clouds."

Bourbon War was second in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), won by eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) runner-up Code of Honor, but was on the outside looking in for the Run for the Roses. 

With a Kentucky Derby start out of reach, the initial plan with Bourbon War was to race in the $300,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3), but Hennig altered course and decided to give the horse a shot at the second jewel of the Triple Crown. 

"I watched the Derby and kept on top of all the developments through the week," Hennig said. "Omaha Beach isn't part of the scene, Haikal isn't part of the scene. If Omaha Beach runs in the Derby and wins by 10, maybe we'd go a different direction, but the way it unfolded, the Florida horses ran superb and we felt like we deserved to be competitive with those horses, as we were all winter."

In his most recent effort, Bourbon War was a late-closing fourth in the March 30 Xpressbet Florida Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park. He will race in the Preakness off a seven-week layoff, which does not concern Hennig. 

"He's been doing great," Hennig said. "We've been through seven weeks between races with him before. He doesn't need a whole lot, so we don't need to do too much now."

Bourbon War has sported blinkers for his last several works and will wear them in the Preakness. Hennig said he expects Bourbon War to sit a little closer to the front this time. 

"Hopefully (he'll be) midpack, a little closer than he's been," Hennig said. "I don't want to try to make up all that ground by the quarter pole. I think the blinkers will put him where he needs to be. The pace dictates where he needs to be a lot of times. When he ran in the allowance race, he wasn't that far back. Last time, he ended up getting shuffled back, and that had a lot to do with it turning for home."

A solid effort from Bourbon War in the Preakness could result in a start June 8 in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1).

"We wouldn't rule out anything," Hennig said. "We have a lot of clients involved that own a piece of the horse that are New Yorkers, and they'd love to see him run in the Belmont. But it's all one step at a time."

Bourbon War has won two of his five starts. He broke his maiden at first asking Nov. 14 over the main track at Aqueduct Racetrack. Two starts later, he defeated winners over the main track at Gulfstream.

Irad Ortiz Jr. will have the mount for the Preakness. 

Bred in Kentucky by Conquest Stables, Bourbon War is the first foal out of grade 1 winner My Conquestadory and was purchased for $410,000 from the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Also breezing for Hennig Thursday morning was Courtlandt Farm's graded stakes winner Strike Power, who went a half-mile in :49.09 with Hall of Famer John Velazquez aboard. The son of Speightstown  emerged off an eight-month layoff last time out April 25 when taking a Gulfstream allowance race by five lengths. 

The $250,000 True North Stakes (G2) June 7 is a possible target for the colt.

"Johnny worked him for us this morning and worked him well," Hennig said. "I just told Johnny to sit on him and go a half in :49 or whatever he wanted to do. Something easy, because we got a ways to that race if we want to go there."

Trainer Brad Cox said early Thursday afternoon that owners Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables will pay the $150,000 supplement fee for Oaklawn Park allowance winner Warrior's Charge to run in the Preakness. Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano has the mount. Castellano won the 2006 Preakness on Bernardini and in 2017 with Cloud Computing.

"The owners got together and thought with some of the (Derby) horses not going back in the Preakness—I don't want to use the word short field, but not a full field yet—they're definitely going to entertain it," Cox said. "But we're pointing to it, and as of right now, we would enter in the race."

Warrior's Charge started his career with a trio of thirds before stretching out to 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn Park. The son of Munnings  promptly won a maiden race by six lengths in frontrunning fashion and came right back with an allowance victory by 6 1/2 lengths at the same distance.

"Look, if there was a Justify  out there, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation or thinking about it," Cox said. "We wouldn't try to tackle a horse like that. But I think it's just one of those years that you maybe take a chance here."