Preakness 2023: Salzman plans to enter Coffeewithchris

Trainer John Salzman Jr. plans to enter Coffeewithchris in Preakness 2023, as long as he continues to do well after a Friday morning drill.

"I worked him this morning and everything went well," Salzman told Horse Racing Nation. "As long as he comes out of the work good, which it looks like he did, we're heading that way."

Coffeewithchris, who had been entered in Saturday's Long Branch at Monmouth, worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds over the Laurel Park dirt Friday morning. The move was the 20th fastest of 35 at the distance. It was his second work since he finished fifth in the Federico Tesio on April 15, 2 1/2 lengths behind Perform.

Now owned by John Salzman Sr., Coffeewithchris sold to the younger Salzman for just $2,000 as a yearling but has already far outrun that sales price. The Maryland-bred gelding by Ride On Curlin is 12: 3-3-2 with $225,600 in lifetime earnings. He won his only start so far at Pimlico, a $40,000 maiden claiming sprint on May 12, 2022. His two stakes wins have both come at Laurel, in the Heft on Dec. 31 and the Miracle Wood on Feb. 18. The Preakness would be Coffeewithchris' first start in a graded stakes.