Preakness 2018 picks up contender in Asmussen's Tenfold

Steve Asmussen, trainer of previous race winners Curlin (2007) and Rachel Alexandra (2009), said Monday that Winchell Thoroughbreds' Tenfold is “probable” for the 2018 Preakness Stakes. 

Tenfold, a son of two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, was fifth in the Arkansas Derby (G1) in his third career start after winning his first two races at Oaklawn. Tenfold worked five-eighths of a mile in 1:00 1/5 Monday morning at Churchill Downs, the seventh-fastest of 23 at the distance.

“He’s a very nice horse that is getting better,” Asmussen said. “I liked his work a lot today. We’re expecting big things from him. I was a touch disappointed (in his Arkansas Derby). He’s better than that.”

The Hall of Fame trainer said he plans to be well-represented in Pimlico’s other stakes on Maryland’s showcase week. On Kentucky Derby Day, Asmussen became only the second trainer to win 8,000 races when 2017 Derby runner-up Lookin At Lee won an allowance race.

“Is that not incredible?” he said. “On Derby Day, with my parents in attendance? I am truly blessed.

Lone Sailor, who finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby, is a possible candidate for the Preakness.

Also at Churchill, trainer Tom Amoss said Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up Lone Sailor came out of his Derby start well and that no decision has been made on the Preakness.

“We’ll see how he trains and make a decision off of that,” he said. “Whether it should be the Preakness or something else, I don’t know. (The Preakness) is not out of the question.”

Along with Kentucky Derby winner Justify and Quip, who passed on the Derby for the Preakness, other contenders include D. Wayne Lukas-trained Bravazo and Sporting Chance. Trainer John Servis, who saddled Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones for a victory in the 2004 Preakness, will return with Federico Tesio winner Diamond King.  Kentucky Derby runner-up Good Magic is also under Preakness consideration.