Preakness 150: Wood Memorial Winner Rodriguez out of 150th Preakness Stakes

By David Joseph —-

May 9, 2025

Wood Memorial Winner Rodriguez out of 150th Preakness Stakes

BALTIMORE, MD – SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC’s, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Diane Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Tom J. Ryan, Waves Edge Capital LLC, and Catherine Donovan’s Rodriguez will not run in the 150th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 17 at Pimlico Race Course.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert notified Preakness officials Friday that the Wood Memorial (G2) would not run in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown as planned.

Rodriguez was scratched from the May 3 Kentucky Derby (G1) due to a minor foot bruise a week before the first leg of the Triple Crown. The son of Authentic had remained at Churchill Downs to prepare for the Preakness.

The ownership group and Baffert had notified Maryland Jockey Club officials Thursday of their intention to enter undefeated Goal Oriented in the Preakness Stakes.

Baffert said Friday morning that Goal Oriented’s appearance in the Preakness will hinge on a workout this weekend but that it’s so far, so good with the 2-for-2 colt who won an optional claiming allowance race on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

“We’re going to see how he works,” Baffert said after Goal Oriented came bouncing off the track following a routine gallop. “I’ve always had (the Preakness) in the back of mind, maybe. But after what I’ve seen, the way he came out of the race, he’s a big strong horse that looks like he could handle it.”

Goal Oriented debuted April 6 at Santa Anita with an off-the-pace 3 ¼-length victory in a six-furlong maiden special weight event. He returned last Saturday at Churchill Downs, where he registered a front-running three-quarter-length triumph..

“He’s really come into himself. The race the other day, he won that with so much to spare,” said Baffert, who has saddled a record eight Preakness winners. “I’m watching these horses closely. I don’t want to go there unless he has a chance to win. He’s going to breeze this weekend and then I’ll know more, for sure.”

Baffert said Goal Oriented could work Sunday. He said reigning Eclipse Award winner Flavien Prat would ride Goal Oriented in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness. Prat was aboard for Goal Oriented’s victory at Churchill Downs.

The $425,000 Keeneland September yearling sale purchase is a son of the hot young sire Not This Time. Goal Oriented’s broodmare sire is Afleet Alex, who won the 2005 Preakness and Belmont (G1) after finishing third in the Kentucky Derby.

After two days of jogging at Churchill Downs, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Journalism galloped for the first time since he finished second in the Kentucky Derby behind Sovereignty.

“He looked great, showed good energy,” said Justin Curran, the assistant trainer who oversees California-based trainer Michael McCarthy’s Churchill Downs division.

The Preakness decision is still pending for Journalism. Curran said McCarthy will be at Churchill Downs Sunday.

Virginia Derby winner American Promise went out for a spirited gallop as soon as the Churchill Downs track opened Friday morning. Seven-time Preakness-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he’s seeing what he wants from the son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. American Promise finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s doing exceptionally well,” the Hall of Fame trainer said. “He’s back in the feed tub, no worse for wear, almost like he didn’t participate the other day. So, we feel pretty good about him. That’s all you can ask. But his energy level is really good.”

BC Stables LLC’s American Promise will be the first Preakness mount for 31-year-old Maryland product Nik Juarez. Lukas said he plans to ship six horses to Pimlico for the weekend. Lukas said he will head to Baltimore Sunday to oversee setting up the barn, taking with him the fillies Princess Aliyah (Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan) and Lemon Muffin (Allaire du Pont Distaff). He said the colts will van to Pimlico Tuesday.

RKTN Racing’s Pay Billy had a walk day Friday following his final work for the Preakness Thursday at Delaware Park and continues to please trainer Mike Gorham ahead of what will be the Improbable colt’s most difficult test yet.

“Today he’s great,” Gorham said. “He felt good, bright and alert. No worse for the wear after his breeze.”

Regular rider Raul Mena, who was up for the half-mile breeze in 49 seconds, is named to make his Preakness debut. An automatic Preakness qualifier for his victory in the Federico Tesio April 19 at Laurel Park, Pay Billy is scheduled to return to the track Saturday and ship to Pimlico on Tuesday.

“He’ll gallop tomorrow,” Gorham said. “Usually after a breeze like that we give them one day off and then gallop, and then just kind of gallop into the race. Maybe get a strong gallop one or two days and that’s about it.”

Minneapolis-based attorney Nate Nelson is the managing partner for RKTN Racing, which will have 31 people in attendance on Preakness Day.

“They’re really excited, and they’re new owners in the game so they probably don’t even know the extent of what’s actually happening like [someone] that’s been around the game forever,” Gorham said. “They probably don’t know it’s as big a deal as it really is.”

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith’s Clever Again, winner of the two-turn mile Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park, was scheduled to school in the starting gate on a light-training Friday morning at Churchill Downs. Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, the son of American Pharoah is scheduled to work a half-mile Monday and ship to Baltimore Tuesday.

At Keeneland, Lexington (G3) winner Gosger had a routine gallop. Trainer Brendan Walsh has scheduled Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables LLC’s Gosger to work Saturday.

Winstar Farm LLC, CHC Inc., Pantofel Stable LLC and Wachtel Stable’s River Thames, is scheduled to tune up for a start in the Preakness during a workout at Belmont Park Saturday. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Maclean’s Music, who was withheld from the Kentucky Derby while being pointed to the Preakness, finished a close-up second to Derby winner Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park before checking in third in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland.

Jim and Claire Limited’s Heart of Honor is scheduled to quarantine at Churchill Downs until Monday following a trans-Atlantic flight from Great Britain Thursday. Trainer Jamie Osborne plans to van the UAE Derby (G2) runner-up to Pimlico Monday.

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