Nyquist's brother shortening up on Preakness Stakes weekend
Kentucky Derby winner Graham Motion, who swept the two one-mile turf stakes on Laurel’s Spring Stakes Spectacular program April 20, has designs on Preakness weekend stakes for at least two of his recent runners.
Still Dreaming, a 3-year-old half-brother to 2016 Florida Derby (G1) and
Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist, was a determined nose winner over Bozzini in a
seven-furlong optional claiming allowance April 13, his second win from five
starts, both victories coming over Laurel’s main track.
On the same card, just over an hour later, Flying the Flag was beaten by
the same margin in a second-level optional claiming allowance going one mile.
West Point Thoroughbreds shares ownership in both colts, with Chris Larsen and
Chester Thoroughbreds, respectively.
“Oh my gosh. I won a race that I never thought we won, and we lost one
by about the same margin. It actually happened to me quite a bit [that day],
not just at Laurel but across the country,” Motion said. “But, that’s the way
it goes. They ran well and I was very pleased with them.”
Still Dreaming, by Flatter, broke his maiden Jan. 1 at Laurel and
finished seventh in the Sam F. Davis (G3) in his subsequent start at Tampa Bay
Downs. Prior to his allowance win, he ran fifth behind Preakness (G1)-bound
Alwaysmining – a winner of six straight races, five in stakes – in the March 16
Private Terms.
“That was exciting. I give Erin [Birkenhauer] credit from West Point,”
Motion said. “We had discussed shortening him up because he had been
disappointing in the two-turn races, so I think we’ll probably point him to the
Chick Lang now.”
The $200,000 Chick Lang for 3-year-olds going six furlongs, promoted to
Grade 3 status for 2019, is among nine stakes, five graded, worth $2.65 million
on the 144th Preakness Day program Saturday, May 18 at Pimlico.
Flying the Flag, 4, has yet to make his stakes debut. The son of Malibu
Moon has finished first or second in five of his six lifetime races, two of
them wins - a maiden special weight second time out Nov. 1 at Churchill Downs
and an open allowance going 1 1/16 miles Feb. 10 at Laurel.
“Flying the Flag ran a big race the other day, and I might point him to
the Pimlico Special,” Motion said. “He just got beat in the two-other-than. I
thought that was a big step up for him, too. He’s been a very consistent horse
for West Point.”
The historic $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3) for 3-year-olds and up,
extended from 1 3/16 miles to 1 ¼ miles for 2019, will be run May 17 at
Pimlico.
Motion won the $100,000 Henry S. Clark Stakes with Irish Strait and the
$100,000 Dahlia Stakes with Secret Message April 20. He leads all trainers at
Laurel’s spring meet with $230,615 in purse earnings from just 15 starters.