Preakness news roundup and workouts report: May 10, 2021

Medina Spirit battling to the Kentucky Derby (G1) finish line at Churchill Downs. (Photo by by Jamie Newell/TwinSpires)

May 10th, 2021

The 146th running of the $1 million Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico is just five days away. The second leg of the Triple Crown is back to its traditional date, on the third Saturday in May, after COVID-19 delayed the 2020 renewal until October.

Let’s catch up on all the latest Preakness news, notes, and workout reports.

We're in the home stretch for #Preakness 146!

5 more days 🌻 pic.twitter.com/JN6z31zgXf
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 10, 2021

Status of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit uncertain

On Sunday, trainer Bob Baffert announced expected Preakness favorite Medina Spirit tested positive for betamethasone following his victory in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The development has thrown Medina Spirit’s Preakness participation up in the air, with the Maryland Jockey Club releasing a statement that reads in part:

“1/ST RACING and MJC intend to review the relevant facts and information relating to the reported medication positive as a result of the post-race blood sample testing completed by Churchill Downs following the 147th Kentucky Derby involving Medina Spirit trained by Bob Baffert. We are consulting with the Maryland Racing Commission and any decision regarding the entry of Medina Spirit in the 146th Preakness Stakes will be made after review of the facts.”

Post position draw delayed until Tuesday

The post position draw for the Preakness was originally slated to take place at noon Monday, but Pimlico announced the draw would be pushed back to Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET.

On the work tab

Concert Tour

The Rebel S. (G2) winner completed his serious pre-race training with a five-furlong breeze Saturday at Churchill Downs, which he completed in 1:00.40.

“He worked really well. He’s been training really well,” Baffert said. “I’m happy with the way he went, so he’ll definitely be going to the Preakness.”

Crowded Trade

On Saturday at Belmont Park, the Wood Memorial (G2) third-place finisher breezed five furlongs in company with stablemate Risk Taking and got the distance in 1:01.76.

“They both worked together and worked super," said trainer Chad Brown. "They did a nice, standard, five-furlong workout and galloped out with plenty of energy."

Midnight Bourbon

Coming off a troubled sixth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, the Louisiana Derby (G2) runner-up turned in an easy half-mile workout Monday at Churchill Downs and traveled the distance in :50.20.

#MidnightBourbon this morning @ChurchillDowns :50.2 pic.twitter.com/kcMlnSXSbZ
— DJFiske (@DJFiske) May 10, 2021

Risk Taking

The Gotham S. (G3) winner worked five furlongs in company with Crowded Trade and covered the distance in 1:01.76 Saturday at Belmont.

Rombauer

Coming off a third-place effort in the Blue Grass (G2), the El Camino Real Derby winner sped five furlongs in :59.80 Saturday at Santa Anita.

“I couldn’t be happier,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “He worked in company, settled in a length behind the other horse, passed him coming to the eighth pole, and went on about his business.”

Unbridled Honor

The Lexington (G3) runner-up cruised through a half-mile in :49.75 over the Belmont Park training track Saturday, alongside Gulfstream Park Mile (G2) winner Fearless.

“I thought he worked well,” said trainer Todd Pletcher. “He looked good coming to the wire. He cooled out well. It looks like all systems are go, assuming that everything is in good order coming out of the breeze.”

Japanese raider France Go de Ina arrives

France Go de Ina, a Kentucky-bred colt based in Japan with trainer Hideyuki Mori, arrived at Pimlico on Saturday. The globetrotting sophomore has taken an ambitious route to reach the Preakness. He finished sixth after a slow start in the UAE Derby (G2), before he traveled from Dubai to Japan, California, New Jersey, and — finally — Maryland.

“He looked like he shipped very well. It was a long and bumpy road to get him from Japan, Dubai, Japan, Los Angeles, Newark to Pimlico, but he’s in good shape,” said Kate Hunter, Triple Crown representative for the Japan Racing Association. “We’ll know exactly how well we’re going to do Saturday when he breezes on Wednesday.”