Armagnac: Preakness contender profile
Armagnac at Santa Anita Park (Photo by Benoit Photo)
May 20th, 2022
Unplaced in his first two stakes attempts, Armagnac will join the Triple Crown scene following an encouraging 4 1/4-length allowance triumph at Santa Anita on May 8. He led wire-to-wire last time, and is eligible to add to the pace in the Preakness, but the bay Kentucky-bred colt employed stalking tactics in his first two stakes attempts. Armagnac has been installed as the 12-1 sixth choice on the Preakness morning line.
Armagnac Speed Figures
Top Brisnet Speed: 97, allowance and Santa Anita Derby
Top Brisnet Late Pace: 92, allowance
Armagnac Pedigree
Sire: Quality Road
Armagnac is from the eighth crop of multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Quality Road, sire of 2021 champion two-year-old male Corniche and 2017 champion three-year-old filly Abel Tasman. A son of Elusive Quality, sire of 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Smarty Jones, Quality Road is still seeking his first Triple Crown race winner at stud.
Dam: Kitty Wine
The third foal from the stakes-winning Kitty Wine, Armagnac is her first stakes winner. Kitty Wine is by noted sire Lemon Drop Kid, the broodmare sire of multiple champions but no Triple Crown race winners yet.
Armagnac Connections
Owner: SF Racing et al
A $210,000 yearling purchase, Armagnac is owned in partnership by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Sol Kumin’s Madaket Stables, Robert E. Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Donovan Stables. Kumin and Starlight partnered to win the Triple Crown with Justify in 2018.
Trainer: Tim Yakteen
Tim Yakteen took over training duties for Armagnac prior to his fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) two starts previously, and this will be his first Preakness starter.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Armagnac will receive a rider switch to three-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr., who has led all jockeys by wins the last five years. Ortiz’s best finish from three previous Preakness mounts came via runner-up Midnight Bourbon in 2021.
Learn about all of the Preakness Stakes Contenders and insight from our expert handicappers on the lead up to race day here on TwinSpires.com
