Midnight Interlude Sharp in Preakness Drill

Midnight Interlude breezed an energetic three furlongs in :35.60 at Churchill Downs on May 16. The morning move was the second best of six at the distance and the Bob Baffert trainee will ship to Maryland on Wednesday. Martin Garcia replaces Victor Espinoza aboard the 16th place Kentucky Derby finisher.

Derby runner-up Nehro breezed four furlongs in :50.80 (17/26) under the Twin Spires on Monday morning and his Preakness status remains undecided. The second jewel of the Triple Crown would be his fourth outing in eight weeks.

In other Preakness workouts, Nehro's stablemate Astrology also exercised four furlongs (:51.60) on Monday.

Dance City drilled a five furlong bullet in 1:00.20 (1/20) at Churchill Downs on May 15. Todd Pletcher's improving colt looms a Preakness pace player at the very least.

The Preakness would not be the same without Wayne Lukas and he is expected to send out longshot entrant Saratoga Red. The 3-year-old son of Eddington traveled a muddy five panels in 1:02.80 (14/20). 

Over at Belmont Park on Sunday, King Congie went an easy five furlongs in 1:04.65. The move was the slowest of four at the distance.