Preakness field firms as Ocelli warms, Golden Tempo waits
The 151st Preakness Stakes field began taking shape Tuesday as Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Ocelli moved from "extremely unlikely" to "maybe" for the May 16 race at Laurel Park, Derby winner Golden Tempo's connections targeted late this week for their final decision and Lexington Stakes (G3) runner-up The Hell We Did continued to train on the grounds for his confirmed start.
Trainer Whit Beckman upgraded Ocelli's likelihood of running in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown after expressing doubt Sunday. The maiden colt, owned by Ashley Durr, Anthony Tate and Front Page Equestrian, finished third at 70-1 odds in the Derby.
"If you look at it from a pace perspective, it could go as fast as the Derby," Beckman said, referencing a scenario that would help a closer such as Ocelli. "He's doing great. That's the only reason I'm saying 'yeah, maybe.' The horse is doing fantastic. The horse is made of iron. Generally, I run a horse, they may not come to the front of their stall for a week. He was right there."
Asked about any downside, Beckman said, "The only downside is if the horse is not ready to do it." The upside, he said, "is the chance to win a Triple Crown race."
A start would put Ocelli in unusual company. Bodexpress in 2019 was the last maiden to enter the Preakness, though he dumped National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez leaving the starting gate and ran riderless. The most recent maiden to win the Preakness was Refund in 1888.
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo had his third walk day Tuesday at Keeneland and returns to the track Wednesday for a light jog. Trainer Cherie DeVaux, speaking at a media availability arranged by Keeneland's communications department, reiterated that the Preakness call will come toward the end of the week.
"He's doing great," said DeVaux, whose main base sits at Keeneland's year-round Rice Road stabling area. "He'll return to the track tomorrow for a light jog. He'll do that for two days, and then he'll resume galloping."
As for running in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, she said, "We're going to see how much energy he has when he's on the track, see how he's moving, see his attitude and things of that nature…. I appreciate there's history with the Triple Crown. I appreciate everyone is excited about it. However, the horse comes first. So, any of that pressure is outside information from our decision-making."
The Hell We Did, the lone confirmed Preakness starter, continues to settle in at Laurel since arriving from Kentucky April 28. Trainer Todd Fincher's assistant and exercise rider Oscar Rojero oversees the colt until Fincher arrives Friday evening.
"Everything with him is good," Fincher said. "He obviously traveled really well, so we're very happy with that."
Fincher plans to attend The Hell We Did's final Preakness work Saturday. The son of 2020 Kentucky Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Preakness runner-up and horse of the year Authentic went five furlongs over Laurel's main track in 1:00.6 May 2.
"He had a good work and he came back good and is eating everything," Fincher said. "He scoped good, so everything is on schedule for his next work Saturday."
The Preakness marks the fifth start at as many racetracks for the Peacock Family Racing Stable homebred, who broke his maiden last fall at Remington Park and beat older horses in an open allowance March 15 at Sunland Park. Also second in the Zia Park Derby, The Hell We Did made his two-turn debut in the April 11 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland.
Following back-to-back walk days out of his work, The Hell We Did returned to the track Tuesday.
"Unfortunately, they had the track closed yesterday so he had to walk two days in a row," Fincher said, "but he went back to the track today and is doing really good."