Preakness 150: UAE Derby Runner-Up Heart of Honor on Course for Preakness Run

By David Joseph —-

UAE Derby Runner-Up Heart of Honor on Course for Preakness Run

BALTIMORE, MD – British trainer Jamie Osborne reported from his Lambourn stable Tuesday that UAE Derby (G2) runner-up Heart of Honor is scheduled to ship to the U. S. Thursday to begin preparations for a start in the 150th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

“He has to quarantine at Churchill. It’s a bit of a pain,” said Osborne, whose stable is located an hour from London. “He’s going to van to Pimlico on Monday. He’ll be on the track at Pimlico Tuesday morning.”

Heart of Honor ran five races at Dubai’s Meydan Race Course after debuting with a second-place finish at Southwell (England) on an all-weather surface. Jim and Claire Limited’s son of Honor A.P. came up a nose short of winning the 1 3/16-mile UAE Derby April 5 at Meydan, settling for second behind Japan’s Admire Daytona.

“Initially, after the UAE Derby, I thought that the horse may well need a break. He’d had five runs in Dubai. But when he got off the plane, he told me he wasn’t ready for a break. He’s thrived since he’s been back. He’s a hardy kind of horse,” Osborne said. “With that in mind, we thought this was worth a shot. He’s only 3 once. There’s nothing in the UK for him. So, the alternative was to give him a break, a long-extended break, and wait for next year’s Middle East season when we go back to Dubai.

“The Kentucky Derby was clearly going to be too soon for him. Logistically, it was going to be nearly impossible to ship from Dubai back here and then to America,” he added. “The extra couple of weeks will probably be to our benefit, as well. We’re going to have a go, and if he runs OK in the Preakness, the aim is to hang on for another three weeks and go to Saratoga.”

Heart of Honor was equipped with blinkers for the first time in the UAE Derby.

“He did travel more generously with them on, and he will wear them in the Preakness,” Osborne said. “Prior to that, he was being a little bit lazy. He was getting behind. He lost a couple of races in Dubai by getting a little bit too far behind and staying on a bit too late.”

Heart of Honor has been impressing his trainer with his steady development.

“I think this horse, in what he’s achieved so far, has to step up, but I think there’s a chance that he can step up,” said the 57-year-old conditioner. “He’s a horse that seems to be maturing and coming around this time of year.”

Saffie Osborne, the trainer’s 23-year-old daughter, rode Heart of Honor in the UAE Derby and has the Preakness mount.

Justin Curran, the Churchill Downs assistant to trainer Michael McCarthy, said Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Journalism had another walk day Tuesday and will train Wednesday.

“Then the owners will make a decision in the next couple of days,” he said. “He came out of the race great — has good energy and is eating. He looks like a happy horse.”

Curran said Journalism is likely to jog tomorrow, perhaps when the track first opens at 5:30 a.m. ET, then gallop Thursday.

McCarthy flew back to California and is expected to return to Louisville over the weekend.

Journalism is an $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta and Elayne Stables 5 LLC. Coolmore associates Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith are included in the racing ownership as lessees after acquiring the breeding rights to the son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, himself a Preakness winner.

After three days of delay because of sloppy track conditions at Churchill Downs, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen was finally able to work the lightly-raced Clever Again for the Preakness Stakes. The son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.60 in company and with jockey Jose Ortiz aboard.

“A work scheduled for Saturday has now happened on Tuesday,” Asmussen said. “The horse obviously has plenty of talent. He’s very kind, manageable. Jose loved how he felt today, how he galloped out. Very happy to get this work in him.”

Clever Again made his first start in April of his 2-year-old season at Keeneland, finishing second by a head at 4 ½ furlongs. He returned to the races at Oaklawn in February to win a 1 1/16-mile maiden race, followed by a front-running four-length victory in the mile Hot Springs Stakes March 30.

“I think it’s just talent,” Asmussen said. “You’re physically capable or you’re not, and he’s physically capable. Jose commented on how manageable he is. He’s got a great mind. He’s very athletic. He’s shown a lot of speed, but he doesn’t act like he’s in a hurry — he’s just capable.”

Ortiz rode Clever Again in his two Oaklawn races.

“It was a huge jump,” Ortiz said of Clever Again winning off the layoff and while stretching out to 1 1/16 miles in his second career start. “All the credit goes to Steve. The horse was ready to roll. He broke great, put me on the lead, and the horse did the rest. He came back after that and won the stakes, too. He’s a very nice horse. He’s very laid back, which helps him a lot during the race. He has speed, but it seems like he can carry it, too.”

Asmussen said Clever Again likely will work a half-mile on Monday and van to Pimlico on Tuesday. Clever Again is owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Coolmore partners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.

Asmussen is seeking a third victory in the Preakness, following Curlin in 2007 and the filly Rachel Alexandra in 2009.

Rodriguez is scheduled to have a timed workout this weekend for the Preakness Stakes as Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert shoots to add to his record eight victories in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.

Rodriguez won the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct but was withdrawn from the Derby due to a very minor foot issue that’s now behind him, Baffert said. Rodriguez continued to train every day, including galloping Tuesday morning at Churchill Downs.

“We’re going to breeze this weekend, and then ship to Pimlico,” Baffert said.

Hall of Famer Mike Smith, whose two Preakness victories include aboard the Baffert-trained 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify, has the mount.

Rodriguez is a $485,000 Keeneland yearling owned by SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan.

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas said that Virginia Derby winner American Promise, 16th in the Kentucky Derby, likely will resume training Thursday at Churchill Downs. American Promise, a $750,000 Keeneland yearling purchase owned by BC Stables LLC, was bumped around after the start from his No. 4 post.

“He’s back into the feed tub, doing well,” Lukas said of the massive son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. “He bounced back very well.”

Lukas said Nik Juarez will retain the mount in the Preakness, which the legendary trainer has won seven times, including last year’s running with Seize the Grey.

“He rode a real good race to get out of trouble right out of the gate,” Lukas said. “When that horse shoved everybody over, he ended up in the 1 hole. Then he was making that patented move and got sandwiched again. He’s a big horse. He can’t stop and start. When he gets in his motion, you can’t check and then get him going again.”

Brendan Walsh said that Stonestreet Lexington winner Gosger will work either Friday or Saturday at Keeneland, with the Preakness decision to be made after that. Gosger, owned by the estate of breeder Harvey Clarke, won the 1 1/16-mile Lexington in his third career start.

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