Red Route One, fourth in last year’s Preakness Stakes, drew post 5 in Friday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up racing 1 3/16 miles.
Trained by Steve Asmussen, Red Route One captured the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic on March 23 at Fair Grounds, then placed third in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap – his most recent start – on April 20.
The late-running colt by Gun Runner, a Winchell Thoroughbreds homebred, will be ridden by Joel Rosario.
Kingsbarns won last year’s Louisiana Derby before finishing 14th in the Kentucky Derby. He has taken both starts this year, including a Grade 3 victory in Keeneland’s Ben Ali Stakes over this distance April 20. Luis Saez retains the mount for trainer Todd Pletcher. Kingsbarns starts from post 2.
Eight entered the Pimlico Special. The field, from the rail out, consists of Harlocap (Paco Lopez), Kingsbarns, Double Crown (Jeiron Barbosa), Pyrenees (Brian Hernandez Jr.), Red Route One, Time for Trouble (Flavien Prat), Be Better (Sheldon Russell), and Royal Ship (John Velazquez).
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes
The Grade 2, $300,000 Black-Eyed Susan for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/8 miles drew a competitive field of eight.
Lemon Muffin (post 3, Prat) upset the Grade 3 Honeybee on Feb. 24 at Oaklawn, but was well beaten in both the Grade 2 Fantasy there March 30 as well as in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks two weeks ago.
Gun Song (post 5, Velazquez) recently finished fourth in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks, while Whocouldaskformo (post 6, Saez) just finished fourth in Aqueduct’s Grade 3 Gazelle.
Lightly raced Corposo (post 7, Tyler Gaffalione) placed third in her first start against winners, the Grade 2 Santa Anita Oaks on April 6.
From the rail out, the Black-Eyed Susan field includes Jeanne Marie (Mychel Sanchez), Ringy Dingy (Katie Davis), Lemon Muffin, Call Another Play (Jaime Rodriguez), Gun Song, Whocouldaskformo, Corposo and Recharge (Rosario).
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◗ Twelve 3-year-old fillies are expected to start in the Grade 3, $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes at six furlongs. Youalmosthadme (post 3, Gaffalione), Launch (post 4, Saez), and Carmelina (post 7, Sanchez) are among the main contenders.
◗ Eight fillies and mares entered the $100,000 Allaire du Pont Distaff at 1 1/8 miles. Maryland-bred Intrepid Dream (post 7, Rodriguez) has won her last five starts but faces the toughest test of her career against graded stakes winners Shotgun Hottie (post 8, Lopez) and Julia Shining (post 1, Saez).
◗ The $100,000 Hilltop Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at one mile on turf received 10 entries. She Feels Pretty (post 6, Velazquez) makes her seasonal debut after finishing third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf for trainer Cherie DeVaux.
◗ The $100,000 The Very One Stakes for fillies and mares at five furlongs on turf attracted 13 entries, including Bossarati (post 7, Russell), last year’s Maryland-bred 3-year-old filly champion and Maryland female turf horse of the year. She’ll face solid stakes foes such as Kaufymaker (post 4, Velazquez), All That Magic (post 8, Saez), and Future Is Now (post 10, Lopez).
Trainer bonuses
For the eighth consecutive year, the Maryland Jockey Club will offer bonus money totaling $100,000 to trainers who run a minimum of five horses in the 15 Thoroughbred stakes during Preakness weekend. The trainer with the most points will receive $50,000, second is worth $25,000, third $12,000, fourth $7,000, fifth $4,000, and sixth $2,000.
Points are accumulated for finishing first (10 points), second (seven), third (five), fourth (three), and having a starter (one).
There also is bonus money totaling $50,000 for trainers with the most points in non-stakes races. The points are accumulated with $25,000 to the leader, $10,000 to second, $7,500 to third, $4,000 to fourth, $2,500 to fifth, and $1,000 to sixth. Trainers must start a minimum of three horses.
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