As storm clouds continue to circle around current Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, and while online and industry conversations argue over appropriate medications and the rules regulating their use, the focus Friday afternoon and on Saturday at Pimlico in Baltimore, MD will (thankfully) return to the horses.
Earlier this week and in accordance with an agreement reached with the Maryland Jockey Club, the three trainer Bob Baffert entries in the weekend races, Beautiful Gift in Friday’s Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, and Medina Spirit and Concert Tour in Saturday’s Preakness, all passed pre-race substance testing and were cleared to participate in their respective races.
Medina Spirit is the current favorite at 5-2, the usual position for the Derby winner in the Preakness.
The half-length-behind second place finisher Mandaloun looms as the Derby winner should Medina Spirit be disqualified for the excessive presence of the substance betamethasone following his post-race Derby test.
Medina Spirit tested positive for 21 picograms, or 21 trillionths of a gram, of betamethasone. Baffert has claimed this was due to the use of the veterinarian-prescribed topical medication Otomax, used on the horse to treat an outbreak of dermatitis on his right rear hind quarter. Photographs published in the Daily Racing Form confirmed the presence of the condition.
But let’s get back to the horses.
Neither Mandaloun nor third and fourth place finishers, Hot Rod Charlie and Derby favorite Essential Quality, are entered in the Preakness, resting up instead for a possible run at the carnations in the Belmont Stakes, the third jewel in the American Triple Crown, set for New York on June 5.
There are new, fresh entries in the 10-horse Preakness field. The one getting the most attention is Baffert’s second entry, Concert Tour, ridden by Mike Smith from post 10. The current third choice at 5-1 skipped the Derby.
Trainer Michael McCarthy’s Rombauer with Flavien Prat has his supporters and takes the center spot in post 6 at 11-1, the longest odds for the American entries. Tied for that longest American odds slot and starting from post 1 on the Pimlico rail, is D. Wayne Lukas’ Ram, under Ricardo Santana Jr.
France Go de Ina starts aside Rombauer in post 7 after journeying from Japan for legendary trainer Hideyuki Mori. He was the first Japanese trainer to race in a U.S. Triple Crown race, saddling Ski Captain to a 14th-place finish in the 1995 Kentucky Derby. Mori was the first Japanese trainer to saddle a winner in the Hong Kong International Races and the first Japanese trainer to win a G1 contest in France.
Those firsts aside, the winner in two of his four starts and son of Will Take Charge (out of Dreamy Blues by Curlin) leaves gate 7 at 19-1 odds, the longest among the field. That is likely because the horse is unknown in the U.S. His latest speed figures, a critical tool for handicappers, are unavailable. He will be ridden by Joel Rosario.
Among the Derby returnees is 3-1 second choice Midnight Bourbon with Irad Ortiz Jr. piloting. It’s difficult to know whether handicappers are betting on the son of Tiznow, who finished sixth in the Derby for trainer Steve Asmussen, or on three-time consecutive Eclipse Award-winning jockey, Irad Ortiz Jr.
Perhaps the most intriguing Derby returnee is the horse that may have delivered the most impressive performance in the Run for the Roses, Keepmeinmind.
The son of Laoban (out of Inclination by Victory Gallop) has raced seven times, winning only once, the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill, as a two-year-old. He’s placed twice and shown once for trainer Robertino Diodoro.
His performances in the Rebel Stakes (G2) and Blue Grass Stakes (G2), sixth and fifth respectively, were flat.
His Derby performance, however, suggests he may be reaching peak form.
A deep closer, Keepmeinmind had the worst start of any of the 19 Derby entries. At one point, he was 19 lengths off the leader. He made up well more than half that deficit to finish seventh, a respectable eight lengths off the winner after his poor start and difficult trip. And he recorded the best Time Form figure of his career.
Speaking with TVG, trainer Diodoro reasoned his charge’s Derby finish.
“You never want to finish seventh,” conceded the trainer, “but he was one of the few remaining horses running at the end.”
Explaining the difficult trip, he added “We didn’t like his having to go wide, then get in the middle of the racetrack.”
Still, the slightly shorter distance in the Preakness, 1 3/16 miles, may be more to the colt’s liking, since he’s run well at shorter distances.
Diodoro seemed content with the condition of Keepmeinmind as he approached a race some must think can be set up for him, since he is currently listed at 6-1.
“He bounced out of [the Derby] really great,” noted the trainer, “and seemed very happy coming off the [shipping] van. First thing this morning, we checked his feed bucket and it looked clean. That’s always important when you’re shipping.”
Diodoro avoided predictions, but concluded, “He trained great this morning and we couldn’t be more happy.”
Promises made aren’t always promises kept, but when you fill out your Preakness slip, you may want to keep in mind Keepmeinmind.
Post positions, current odds, jockey and trainer for the 146th Preakness are as follows:
Preakness coverage will air 5 pm–7:30 pm EDT on NBCSN and stream on NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app. Coverage is also available on select online wagering sites. Check local listings.