Preakness 2017: Gunnevera poised to bounce back
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Peacock Racing Stables’ Gunnevera returned to the Churchill Downs surface under Victor O’Farrell on Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. (all times Eastern) to complete his final preparations in Louisville, Ky. before the May 20 Preakness Stakes (Grade I).
“He went perfect,” trainer Antonio Sano said. “We’re very happy with how he looks after the race. He didn’t really lose any weight, in fact, he looks similar to when he won the Delta Jackpot.”
Gunnevera was the third-place finisher in the April 1 Florida Derby behind Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.
“Going into the race I thought Always Dreaming was the horse to beat,” Sano said. “We’ll go into the Preakness to try and win the race, not try to beat him.
“The Derby was a tough race. With the weather that we dealt with and the competition, I’m very proud of my horse for what he accomplished.”
Gunnevera is scheduled to van to Pimlico on Saturday at 4 a.m.
CHURCHILL-BASED PREAKNESS CONTENDERS CONTINUE STEADY TRAINING – John Oxley’s Classic Empire, L and N Racing’s Lookin At Lee and Calumet Farm’s Hence all continued preparations for the Preakness on Friday morning at Churchill Downs.
Classic Empire, off of his troubled fourth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, jogged one mile and galloped one mile under regular exercise rider Martin Rivera. Classic Empire, along with several other Mark Casse-trained contenders, are scheduled to van to Pimlico on Sunday.
Trainer Steve Asmussen’s duo of Lookin At Lee and Hence galloped Friday morning just before the renovation break and are expected to breeze Monday morning at Churchill Downs before shipping to Pimlico on Tuesday.
Source: Churchill Downs
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