Contenders for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes Arrive at Pimlico
May 14th, 2019
May 14, 2019
Market King, Bodexpress, Signalman Join War of Will
Click here to watch the inerview with D. Wayne Lukas.
BALTIMORE, MD – Robert Baker and William Mack’s Market King arrived at Pimlico Race Course midafternoon Tuesday for Saturday’s 144th Preakness Stakes following a 10-hour, 15-minute van ride that originated at Churchill Downs.
Market King, who finished 11th in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland and finished third in a division of the Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn, is trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has saddled five Preakness winners.
“The trip was really good,” said Lukas, who rode shotgun in the truck towing the van transporting that son of Into Mischief. “As you can see that horse never turned a hair. He ate on the way. I probably can’t make any excuses on the trip.”
Market King, who was the second to arrive at Pimlico following War of Will’s early-morning arrival, was joined at Pimlico about two hours later by Bodexpress and Signalman, who were aboard a flight from Lexington, Ky. to Baltimore Washington International Airport. Bodexpress and Signalman trained at Churchill Downs Tuesday morning before vanning to Lexington for the flight to Maryland.
Top Racing LLC, Global Thoroughbred and GDS Stable’s Bodexpress finished 14th after a troubled trip in the Kentucky Derby (G1) before being placed 13th through the disqualification of Maximum Security from first to 17th.
Tommie Lewis, Steve Crabtree, Dean Demaree, David Bernsen, Jim Chambers and Magdalena Racing’s Signalman finished third in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland in his most recent start.
Peter Redekop B. C. Ltd’s Anothertwistafate, who earned an automatic entry into the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown while winning the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, was scheduled to arrive by van from New York Tuesday Evening following a flight from Oakland, Calif.
Gary Barber’s War of Will was the first Preakness contender to arrive at Pimlico, arriving by van from Churchill Downs at approximately 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. Mark Casse-trained War of Will finished 8th and was placed 7th in the Kentucky Derby after disqualified first-place finisher Maximum Security drifted out into his path on the turn into the homestretch.
Preakness contenders Improbable, Laughing Fox, Owendale and Warrior’s Charge are scheduled to arrive at Pimlico Wednesday afternoon following a flight from Louisville, Ky. Bourbon War is scheduled to van to Pimlico Wednesday morning after training hours at Belmont Park.
Alwaysmining and Win Win Win are slated to arrive by van from Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md. late Thursday morning.
The Post Position Draw for Preakness 144 will take place at Power Plant Live! (34 Market Place, in Baltimore) at 4-6 p.m. Wednesday.
About Pimlico Race Course
Legendary Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the Middle Jewel in horse racing’s famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed, American Pharoah and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.
The Stronach Group is North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, home of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry. For more information contact David Joseph at david.joseph@marylandracing.com or call 954.658.7156.