Mr. Z Sold, Entered in Preakness Stakes

Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas reported this afternoon that multiple graded stakes-placed Mr. Z has been sold and entered in the Preakness Stakes.

Brad Kelley’s Calumet Farm purchased Mr. Z from his previous owner, Ahmed Zayat, who also owns Kentucky Derby winner and likely Preakness favorite American Pharoah.

“He is entered with Calumet,” Lukas said. “You always worry about any horse deal until it’s chiseled in stone. We’re dotting all the  I’s and crossing the T’s. They have reached an agreement. I’ve been on the phone negotiating and doing the dialogue. I’m just the messenger in this case.”

Mr. Z arrived at Pimlico Tuesday afternoon with five other Lukas-trained horses being aimed at Preakness weekend stakes. Most recently, the Malibu Moon colt finished 13th in the Kentucky Derby.

“He’s doing well,” Lukas said. “I galloped him over the track this morning and he handled it really well.”

Lukas has won the Preakness six times, most recently with Oxbow in 2013. Oxbow was also owned by Calumet Farm.

“I don’t know that I pushed the sale. The sale just came through conversation and dialogue,” Lukas said. “Mr. Z is a pretty well-bred horse. He might be the best bred horse in the Preakness if you look at it real critically. Brad flat asked me, ‘Would you run him,’ and I said if I owned him, I’d run him.”

Corey Nakatani will ride Mr. Z in the Preakness.

Source: Maryland Jockey Club