Talkin, Crude Velocity target Preakness on divergent paths

Danny Gargan's Talkin and Bob Baffert's Crude Velocity emerged from Saturday's action on opposite ends of the results spectrum, but both 3-year-olds share a common target: the Preakness on May 16 at Laurel Park.

Talkin finished third in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland, beaten 11 lengths by runaway winner Further Ado but earning 25 Kentucky Derby qualifying points for a career total of 30. That figure is unlikely to secure a spot in the Derby starting gate, and Gargan indicated he will bypass the run for the roses and instead point Talkin toward the second leg of the Triple Crown.

The Good Magic colt, who broke his maiden at Saratoga last summer and placed second in the Champagne (G1), ran his best race in three starts since that Champagne effort. Joel Rosario had him in a stalking position early in the Blue Grass before Talkin made a move on the far turn and held third through the stretch.

Gargan took a similar route with Dornoch in 2024. That colt finished fourth in the Blue Grass and 10th in the Kentucky Derby before finding his stride in the Belmont and Haskell (G1). Several members of Talkin's ownership group – which includes Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Belmar Racing and Breeding and R. A. Hill Stable – were part of the Dornoch partnership.

On the other side of the country Saturday, Crude Velocity cruised to a 6 3/4-length allowance victory at Santa Anita to remain undefeated in two career starts. The Beau Liam colt sat off the pace under Florent Geroux before circling the field in the second turn and drawing off with authority in a final time of 1:14.32 for 6 1/2 furlongs.

Owner Bill Childs told Thoroughbred Daily News that Crude Velocity will head next to the Pat Day Mile (G2) on the Kentucky Derby undercard May 3 at Churchill Downs before shipping to Maryland for the Preakness. The Triple Crown-nominated colt has yet to race beyond a sprint distance, and the step up in both class and ground will be a significant test.

Crude Velocity was a $250,000 purchase at the 2025 OBS Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training after selling for just $12,000 as a yearling at Keeneland the previous fall. CSLR Racing Partners owns.

The Preakness will be held at Laurel Park for the first time while Pimlico undergoes a $400 million reconstruction project, with attendance capped at 4,800.