Castellano seeks to be 'King' again in Preakness 2018

Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano figures to be in familiar territory with Cash is King, LC Racing and D.J. Stable’s Diamond King after being named to ride the John Servis-trained colt for the first time in Saturday’s 2018 Preakness Stakes.

Just last year Castellano went into the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown with a horse he had never ridden before, guiding 13-1 long shot Cloud Computing to a hard-fought head victory over juvenile champion Classic Empire.

It was the second career Preakness win for Castellano, who scored aboard Bernardini at odds of nearly 13-1 in 2006. The four-time Eclipse Award winner’s only Triple Crown race victories have come in Baltimore.

Only six jockeys have won the Preakness in back-to-back years led by Hall of Famer Pat Day, who won three straight editions from 1994-96. The others are Victor Espinoza (2014, 2015), Eddie Arcaro (1950, 1951), Fred Taral (1894, 1895), Tom Costello (1881, 1882) and Lloyd Hughes (1879, 1880).

“I’m very lucky and very fortunate, and I’m pretty excited, too, to be able to come back to the Preakness for another year,” Castellano said. “I am thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had to be there in my career and all the trainers and owners that give me the opportunity to ride their horses, some of the best horses in the country. I’m very fortunate to be a part of it.”

A perennial leading rider at Parx Racing in Bensalem, Pa., where Diamond King is based, Frankie Pennington has been aboard in each of the Quality Road colt’s first six races.

Two of their four wins together came in stakes, including the Federico Tesio April 21 at Laurel Park that earned Diamond King an automatic entry into the Preakness. They also finished third in the Swale (G3) Feb. 3 at Gulfstream Park.

“It was a business decision on the owners’ part. They just felt like going into a big race like this, you’ve got the Preakness winner from last year and a multiple Eclipse Award winner – he’d be the go-to guy,” Servis said. “He’s very professional, he’s a class act and he’s a good rider so he’s got everything going for him.”

Diamond King was entered in the Peter Pan (G3) May 12 at Belmont Park, with Castellano named to ride, but the horse was scratched to take a shot in the Preakness. Castellano, Servis and Cash is King teamed up to win the Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Davona Dale (G2) with Cathryn Sophia in 2016.

“I am thankful for the opportunity. John Servis and I have had a lot of success together,” Castellano said. “I’ve never had the opportunity to ride the horse before, but I’ve been pretty lucky with the Pimlico track. It’s a good track, and I’ve been blessed to win two Preaknesses in my career. Last year with Cloud Computing, I got the opportunity to ride the race and we had a very fortunate result.”

Castellano became available to ride Diamond King when Audible, whom he rode to a third-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, was removed from Preakness consideration last week.

“I’ve been studying the horse,” he added. “He’s a very straightforward horse, a speed horse. I’ve watched all the replays of his races and his works and he looks like a really nice horse. I think it all depends on how the race develops.”

Castellano has had six previous Preakness mounts, finishing third with Divining Rod behind Triple Crown champion American Pharoah in 2015 and fourth with General a Rod in 2014. Bernardini’s victory came in his jockey’s Preakness debut.

“I know that Justify is the best horse in the country, but nothing is predicted in this game. Anything can happen; it’s horse racing. It’s a competitive game with the top horses in the country,” Castellano said. “Hopefully we have a good trip and we can find the best way to win the race.”

Servis reported Monday that Diamond King exited Sunday’s five-furlong breeze (1:01.51) at Parx in good order.