Preakness 2015: Tale of Verve In, Mr. Z Out
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Charles Fipke’s Tale of Verve entered the Preakness picture after a five-furlong work in 1:00.40 this morning at Churchill Downs and Zayat Stables’
Mr. Z, 13th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (GI), was withdrawn from consideration by owner Ahmed Zayat.
“I’m not running,” Zayat said in a phone interview with The Courier-Journal and Daily Racing Form. “I
just don’t see any merit for that. I know he didn’t
have a chance to run in the Derby. I know he was in huge traffic. But I
think at this juncture I need to get him confidence. I know the horse is
tenacious. I know he’s all heart. I know he’s fast. I know he was in a
photo finish with Dortmund and Firing
Line (in the Los Alamitos Futurity). So you would argue he’s as
talented as they are, at least on paper and actuality… I think I need to
build his confidence back.”
Dallas Stewart trains Tale of Verve, whose work accomplished a little after 6:30 was the fifth fastest of 25 at the distance.
With exercise rider Pedro Velez aboard and working with the Fipke-owned Lemon Drop Title, Tale of Verve produced fractions of :12.60, :24.60, :36.60 and galloped out six furlongs in
1:14.60.
“He is fit and fresh and we are excited to see what we have,” Stewart said after the
work. “(Joel) Rosario
will ride. He was on him when he broke his maiden.”
The top three finishers from the Derby were on the track shortly after it opened following the morning renovation break.
Zayat Stables’ Derby winner American Pharoah and Kaleem Shah’s Dortmund, third in the Derby, jogged to the starting gate at the head of the stretch where they stood and then galloped
1 ½ miles. Jorge Alvarez was aboard American Pharoah and Dana Barnes was on Dortmund.
Trainer Bob Baffert, who got his fourth Derby win with American Pharoah, is scheduled to arrive in Louisville later Sunday from his Southern California base. His two Derby colts are scheduled to leave
for Pimlico on Wednesday.
Arnold Zetcher’s Derby runner-up Firing Line had an open gallop of about six furlongs under Humberto Gomez with a similar activity scheduled for Monday according to trainer Simon
Callaghan.
Firing Line is scheduled to ship to Baltimore on Wednesday.
John Oxley’s Danzig Moon, fifth in the Derby, had a scheduled walk day at trainer Mark Casse’s barn.
Source: Churchill Downs
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