Preakness qualifier: Informed Patriot leads Asmussen exacta

Informed Patriot got first run chasing the early pace and held off a late rally by his stablemate Imperial Gun to win by a head Saturday in the $200,000 Bathhouse Row Stakes, giving Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen the exacta in the race for 3-year-olds at Oaklawn.

For Informed Patriot (3-1), the victory came with an automatic berth in the May 18 running of the Preakness at Pimlico.

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Owned by Kirk and Judy Robison, the $90,000 Hard Spun colt never was more than a length behind at any call in the two-turn, 1 1/8-mile race on a drying, fast track. He applied outside pressure to pacesetting Maximus Magic (7-1) up the backstretch through early splits of 23.55 and 48.86 seconds.

With Ricardo Santana Jr. riding, Informed Patriot found the lead and opened it turning for home through three-quarters of a mile in 1:13.89.

Imperial Gun (3-1), who had been a close third most of the race, got around traffic and made his charge down the middle of the track under jockey Joel Rosario. The two colts were a length apart after a mile in 1:39.07 before Informed Patriot held on to win with a time of 1:51.48.

Four lengths behind the Asmussen pair, Gould’s Gold (5-1) finished third. Maximus Magic retreated to fourth followed in order by Brilliant Man (12-1), Count Dracula (9-1) and post-time favorite Militant (5-2), who faded from a close fourth to finish last. Willy D’s was scratched.

Informed Patriot paid $8.80, $4.20 and $2.80; Imperial Gun $4.20 and $3.20; and Gould’s Gold $3.80.

After breaking his maiden on his second try as a 2-year-old, Informed Patriot finished third in three consecutive races, including the Street Sense (G3) and Smarty Jones. Trying to earn points to get into the Kentucky Derby, he was a disappointing fifth carrying odds of 8-5 in the Sunland Park Derby (G3) before coming in fifth at odds of 69-1 three weeks ago in the Arkansas Derby (G1).

Saturday’s win pushed Informed Patriot’s record to 8: 2-0-3. With the $114,000 check for finishing first, his earnings rose to $313,140.