Report: Diamond King already pointed to Preakness Stakes 2018

Diamond King, a three-time winner from five starts, could prep for a start in the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes on on May 19. According to the Daily Racing Form, the 3-year-old John Servis trainee was scratched from the Private Terms Stakes March 17 due to a fever.

Winner of the Heft Stakes and third in the Swale (G3), Diamond King returned to the work tab March 24 at Parx Racing, going a mile in 1:47.60.

“The work was excellent. He’s doing very good,” Servis told the DRF. “His fever got up to about 102, but he fought it off. We never did treat him for it.”

Owners D. J. Stable LLC, Cash is King LLC and LC Racing are planning the best route to the Preakness with Servis. The Quality Road colt will run in either the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park April 21 or the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland April 14.

“We’re leaning toward the Tesio, but we’re still considering the Lexington,” Servis said. “The Tesio is a Win and You’re In for the Preakness and we also wouldn’t have to go all the way to Kentucky.”

Servis told the DRF about five of his horses at Parx had a fever but quickly recovered. Among those was Grade 2 winner Ms Locust Point, whose fever reached 101.5. She is being pointed to the Grade 1 Madison Stakes at Keeneland April 7.