FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010 For information about TDN, call 732-747-8060. ‘BLANCO’ AND SARISKA DOMINATE AT YORK FEATURE PRESENTATION • GI PREAKNESS S. Despite their slow start to the season, Ballydoyle gave further notice that it is firmly on the right track again, as Cape Blanco (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) impressively resumed the winning thread in Thursday=s G2 Dante S. In putt- ing some serious reputations to the sword and clocking a time just a half-second slower than four-year-old Sariska (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G2 Middleton S. 30 minutes earlier, the chestnut en- ters the G1 Epsom Derby picture MAKING THE dominated for so long by his sta- ble companion St Nicholas Abbey SCENE Sariska (GB) (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}). Horsephotos ALIBIS AND LAUGHS AT PREAKNESS Already armed with a pair of There was plenty of activity around the stakes barns Classic victories, Lady Bamford=s G1 English and G1 at Pimlico yesterday after the vast majority of the Irish Oaks winner Sariska, who crossed the wire 1 3/4 GI Preakness S. field arrived Wednesday afternoon. lengths ahead of GI Breeders= Cup Filly & Mare Turf WinStar Farm homebred heroine Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the Middle- Super Saver (Maria=s Mon) ton, was much the best despite the margin of victory. was sent to the track early. AShe is a good mover and if you analyse her form, He jogged the wrong way she has got some on quick ground, but is one of those around a Pimlico track that who goes even better with cut, so she's a joy,@ said continues to be muddy from winning trainer Michael Bell. ALast year, we went from on-and-off rains over the last the Musidora at this track to the Epsom Oaks and we day or two. Super Saver will do the same this year and go for the [June 4, G1] returned to the Preakness Coronation Cup." Cont. p7-9 barn for a bath, and seemed Pletcher talks with local TV LM to be enjoying the attention of the gathered crowd. At the Alibi Breakfast later in the morning, his trainer, Todd Pletcher, was asked if Super Saver knew he was a rock star yet. AI think he=s picked up on it, yeah,@ Pletcher said as Sue Casner broke into a grin behind him. AHe seems to like the cameras and the action. He=s such a cool horse to be around. He=s very laid back and takes everything in stride. That=s probably part of what makes him as good as he is, is that he doesn=t get too upset about anything.@ Sue Casner is the wife of WinStar principal Bill Casner, who himself took ample time with reporters yesterday, speaking with several local news outlets back at Pletcher=s barn. He also was asked a few ques- tions at the Alibi Breakfast, including his thoughts about the ongoing Triple Crown ride. Cont. 2 (859) 233-4252 www.claibornefarm.com P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 5/14/10 • PAGE 2 of 9 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Baffert was also on his game yesterday. Before MAKING THE Lookin at Lucky went out, Baffert watched as GIII Chick Lang S. hopeful Quiet Invader (Songandaprayer) jogged. SCENE cont. Asked who the horse was, he explained both the Alibis and Laughs at Preakness. cont. from p1 horse=s name and the intended target. AIt=s just very special to be identified with this horse,@ AWhat did the race used to be called? The Hirsch Casner said. AHe=s a homebred, and that=s one of the Jacobs? Man, I just hope they aren=t calling it the Bob things that does make it so special. There are so many Baffert anytime soon,@ Baffert quipped. The race was people on our team that have been indeed previously the Hirsch Jacobs; it was renamed part of this horse=s development. this year after the passing of Lang, longtime general From the time their moms give them manager of Pimlico and known as AMr. Preakness.@ The to us, every day is a challenge for three-year-old Quiet Invader, incidently, made a favor- them in terms of going through the able impression in the morning. In fact, he looked great process of making it to Derby day. walking up to the track. There are very few of them who Lookin at Lucky=s visit to the track after the renova- make the cut, and to have one of tion break also produced a few laughs. Baffert and a these horses and to be able to par- colleague stood on the track against the outside rail to ticipate in these races is just very, watch the juvenile champ. Soon, an older gentleman very special. It=s what everybody wearing a blue security jacket came over and, having dreams of.@ no clue who Baffert was, nor caring, told him to get off Casner also reminded fans to en- the track. Baffert turned to his friend and said, AWhat=s ter the "Super Name Sweepstakes,@ the matter with you Bernie--get off the rail!@ The secu- a contest sponsored by WinStar rity guard mistakenly thought Baffert was giving him WinStar’s Bill Casner LM that will give the winner the rights grief, and snapped, ANow if you don=t want to, I can to name Super Saver=s baby brother. Born this spring, just make a call. I got them guys telling me they don=t the colt is by Medaglia d=Oro and was produced by want you on the track, and now you=re going to argue Supercharger (A.P. Indy). Contestants can log on to with me?@ Baffert congenially acted in his own self www.winstarfarm.com, sign up for the contest and interest and moved back into the gap without further suggest a name. WinStar will select a winner, who incident. receives as a grand prize 50 percent of any winnings The aforementioned Alibi Breakfast was held in the resulting from a $1,000 win wager on Super Saver in Pimlico clubhouse, where a nice spread--one that in- the Preakness. The other 50 percent goes to charity. cluded the signature drink of the weekend, the Black- The winner also gets a $100 gift certificate to the Eyed Susan--was served to the horsemen and media. WinStar Farm online store. Entries close just before the Five-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas was Preakness Saturday. prodded when announced to admit that the Lukas- Kentucky Derby favorite and sixth-place finisher trained Codex did, in fact, bump Genuine Risk in the Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike) got his first taste of controversial 1980 running of the race. Lukas re- Pimlico=s track yesterday. Trainer Bob Baffert watched sponded, AIt took two weeks to decide that he didn=t trackside as >Lucky= took a spin around the oval and bump her. We=ve won five of them, but we had to win appeared content at what he saw. From this reporter=s that one three times--once on the track, once in the perspective, Lookin at Lucky=s transformation from barn stewards= room and once at the commission.@ Cont. p3 to track was notable. The colt looked a tad flat back at the Preakness barn--not unhealthy, not drab, just a bit THE TDN IS ON flat. But as he followed the wood-chip path that edges the Pimlico property and leads to the track, he picked YOUTUBE! up considerably. He pricked his ears and arched his www.youtube.com/tbreddailynews neck a bit and, by the time he stepped onto the muddy Report includes coverage of the Alibi surface, looked eager to get down to business. Breakfast at Pimlico. P TDN HEADLINE NEWS • 5/14/10 • PAGE 3 of 9 • thoroughbreddailynews.com Making the Scene cont. from p2 Lukas drew laughs when asked about the pick-up of Garrett Gomez for Dublin (Afleet Alex), following trainer Bob Baffert=s decision to take the rider off Lookin at Lucky. ABob realized that I was getting up there in years, and wouldn=t have too many more opportunities to run in the Preakness, and he felt sorry for me,@ said Lukas. AHe said, >Look, if you want my rider, just take him. I=ll get along with one of the bug boys, and I have a lot of good years left in me, and if Gomez is gonna help you out...go ahead and take him.@ Lukas was reminded of his quote from last week, when he likened the decision to secure Gomez to making sure Peyton Manning wasn=t sitting in the locker room on game day. Lukas laughed, AYeah, but Bob had a better [quote]. He said, >Sure, but he threw five interceptions in his last game.=@ Lukas was also asked about Dublin=s Assistant trainer outside, post-12 draw in the Tom Morgan & Preakness. AI didn=t like it,@ he admit- Paddy O’Prado ted. AI don=t think anybody wants the one or the 12 hole in a horse race. But we=re going to live with it. Like there are no ugly brides on wedding night, there are no bad posts if you=re in the Preakness.@ There are 11 members in Donegal Racing, the group that owns Kentucky Derby third Paddy O=Prado (El Prado {Ire}), and almost all of them are or were from Iowa. That includes Jerry Crawford, who was on hand at the Alibi Breakfast, but it was the Boston-based Joe Savage who handled the public speaking duties. Despite Paddy O=Prado=s strong third-place showing in the Derby, Savage thought the colt could have run even better, had hormones not reared their ugly little heads.