Preakness 2022: See who is in, who is out, who are maybes

Louisville, Ky. 

Provided he gets a clean bill of health in the coming days, Rich Strike is committed to being in the Preakness Stakes in two weeks. So, too, might a few other horses whom he upset in the Kentucky Derby.

Simplification, who made a late close to finish fourth Saturday, will be the first Derby horse to get to Pimlico.

“The horse leaves for Baltimore tomorrow for the Preakness,” trainer Antonio Sano said in a text message Sunday to Horse Racing Nation.

Smile Happy, who spent the Derby in mid-pack and finished eighth, could be one of two horses in the Preakness for trainer Kenny McPeek.

“We will watch this week,” McPeek texted while ruling out 10th-place Tiz the Bomb. He also said “maybe Creative Minister” would go to Baltimore. The Creative Cause colt won a two-turn, 1 1/16-mile allowance race Saturday on the Derby undercard.

McPeek on Monday added Rattle N Roll, who was sixth in the Blue Grass (G1), to his Preakness possibilities.

Taiba, the Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner who finished 12th on Saturday, could be headed to Baltimore to make the fourth start of his career.

“I haven’t made a decision yet,” trainer Tim Yakteen said Sunday. “I don’t know what we’re going to do there. You can put him down as possible. We’ll make a decision in the next 48 hours.”

Also from California, 14th-place Happy Jack is expected to line up in the Preakness, according to what trainer Doug O’Neill told Daily Racing Form.

DRF also reported that Rebel Stakes (G2) victor Un Ojo and allowance winner Skippylongstocking were probable for Pimlico. Un Ojo was removed from Derby consideration just before entry time because of a bruised left-front foot. Skippylongstocking’s trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. subsequently confirmed his Preakness plan in a text message to HRN.

There also were a bunch of maybes in the Churchill Downs stables Sunday morning and some non-committal responses.

Steve Asmussen, who confidently trained Epicenter for what he hoped would be his first Derby win, settled for second and said Sunday, “I have to talk to the boss first” before saying yes or no to going to Pimlico. Racing manager David Fiske, who represents Winchell Thoroughbreds, said no decision had been made yet.

Trainer Chad Brown said he had “no plans” yet for third-place Zandon. “I’ll talk to the owner (Jeff Drown) today.” Brown added that Early Voting, second in the Wood Memorial (G2), remains on course for the Preakness.

D. Wayne Lukas, whose decision to scratch Ethereal Road from the Derby allowed Rich Strike to get in, said it was possible he could circle his colt back for the Preakness. He also said Secret Oath, the filly he trained to Friday’s win in the Kentucky Oaks (G1), could end up in Baltimore for the Preakness or the Black-Eyed Susan (G2).

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said. “It could be all of the above or none of the above.”

Todd Pletcher, who seldom enters the Preakness unless he has the Derby winner, said Mo Donegal (fifth), Charge It (17th) and Pioneer of Medina (19th) did not have immediate plans.

“We’ll take a few days and have some conversations to figure out what’s next for them,” Pletcher said, “but it’s likely they’ll be headed up to our stable in New York.”

After Barber Road finished sixth, trainer Johnny Ortiz said no to the Preakness and added, “We will let him tell us where and when he wants to run.”

Brad Cox all but ruled out Tawny Port (seventh), Zozos (10th) and Cyberknife (18th).

“I didn’t see anything yesterday that gets me excited about going, so I’ll leave it at that,” Cox said. “I never say ‘never,’ but I’m not seeing anything right now.”

Brian Lynch said “no” when asked about Classic Causeway (11th) going to Pimlico. “We’ll get him rested and find a spot for his return,” he said.

Crown Pride, the UAE Derby (G2) winner from Japan, was being sent to Chicago on Sunday afternoon to be prepared for his flight back to Asia on Monday.

Taiba’s stablemate Messier, who finished 15th for Yakteen, is headed back to California to await his next start.

“We’ll regroup,” Yakteen said. “We’ll hit the reset button.” He said that may mean shorter races for the Santa Anita Derby runner-up.

White Abarrio (17th) may be shipped back to Florida as soon as Monday.

“He’ll have some time off for a freshening before focusing on summer races,” White Abarrio’s trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. said. “He’ll definitely not be going on to the Preakness.”

Summer Is Tomorrow, the blazing pacesetter who finished last Saturday, might have gone to the Preakness had he finished in the top four, according to trainer Bhupat Seemar. Instead, he will leave Tuesday to go back home to Dubai.

Blackadder, who got an automatic Preakness bid by winning the El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields, will not be going to Baltimore, according to his new trainer Christophe Clement.

The 1 3/16-mile Preakness, the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown, is scheduled for May 21 at Pimlico. The 1 1/2-mile Belmont Stakes will complete the series June 11 on Long Island, N.Y.