Lone Sailor confirmed to run in Preakness 2018; Ortiz rides

Just two days ago, trainer Tom Amoss watched as Kentucky Derby winner Justify returned to training at Churchill Downs, and noted the colt “looked identical" to how he did before winning convincingly.

“And I don’t think that’s very good news for anybody who wants to run against him in Baltimore,” Amoss said of the 2018 Preakness Stakes. “I’m not bubbling over with confidence that the Derby winner is going to get beat. (But) I think (running in the Preakness or not) is still going to boil down to how our horse is doing.”

And he must be doing just fine.

Owner G M B Racing announced on Twitter that Lone Sailor, who was eighth in the Derby, will run next weekend at Pimlico in the Triple Crown series’ middle jewel with jockey Irad Ortiz in the irons. G M B is the stable name for Gayle Marie Benson, wife of the late Tom Benson, who owned the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans franchises.

A son of Majestic Warrior, Lone Sailor has just one victory in his nine starts but has emerged as a quality closer from this 3-year-old crop, taking a narrow defeat in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby before running on the slop next out at Churchill Downs.

Given the lengthy break between the Louisiana Derby on March 24 and Kentucky Derby on May 5, the colt should be fresh enough to handle the two-week turnaround. Other confirmed Preakness runners are, of course, Justify, along with Bravazo, Diamond King, Quip, Sporting Chance and Tenfold. Bolt d’Oro is expected to run if the track is fast, while a decision is pending for Derby runner-up Good Magic.