Mr. Money likely to bypass Preakness Stakes 2019

Pending a discussion with owner Chester Thomas, trainer Bret Calhoun said Wednesday he’s likely to pass on the Preakness Stakes with Mr. Money, a breakout winner of last Saturday’s Pat Day Mile (G3) at Churchill Downs.

A son of Goldencents, Mr. Money posted a 5 1/4-length victory on the Kentucky Derby undercard in what was his third start of the season.

“There are always things that can change your mind — the way the race develops and things like that — but the bottom line is, we think it’s a little quick back for a horse coming off some of the biggest numbers of his life,” Calhoun said.

“The conservative approach would be to give him a little bit more time between races.”

Calhoun quipped that while there are “a million and a half reasons to go” to the Preakness, he’ll take a close look at Churchill Downs’ June 15 Matt Winn Stakes (G3) before the Indiana Derby (G3) a month later.

To pass on the Preakness would be more a matter of timing than talent for Mr. Money’s connections.

“I think he fits in there well,” Calhoun said. “That was my first thought after the Pat Day Mile. But a little common sense and thinking about it coming off his best speed figures, you just know deep down inside it’s probably going to have some effect on him even though he acts good coming out of it.

“I’m just afraid that you get down to the eighth pole, the sixteenth pole, and he could come up a little empty coming off a fast race and wheeling back in two weeks. There’s a lot of money to run at — a lot of good derbies to run at also. I’d like to keep him as fresh as possible.”

Mr. Money has run his best races under the Twin Spires, breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs before a fourth last fall in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He was scheduled to begin his 3-year-old campaign in Fair Grounds' Lecomte (G3) but came down with a fever that may have left the colt short on fitness. After finishes of seventh in the Risen Star (G2) and fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2), the Pat Day Mile represented a step forward with a 92 Beyer Speed Figure registered.

Calhoun’s call narrows the prospective Preakness field to nine runners: three who ran in the Derby (Improbable, War of Will and Bodexpress); three who bypassed it (Signalman, Owendale and Bourbon War); as well as three automatic qualifiers (Anothertwistafate, Alwaysminind and Laughing Fox).

The Preakness took a hit in the days following the Derby when connections of the first two across the wire took a pass. Maximum Security suffered cuts on his rear legs, according to connections, while trainer Bill Mott said Country House developed a cough.

“We anticipate an outstanding group of horses who will race in this year’s Preakness Stakes,” a statement Tuesday from The Stronach Group reads, “and we anticipate there will be more interest from owners and trainers, who have until Wednesday, May 15, to make a final decision on whether to race.”