It’s back on the pitch for JR Sanchez Racing Stable’s Shake You Loosely after the claimant becomes the winner the bet on dirt is settled Laurel ParkThe evolution of the field on the morning of May 15.
Working in the company with a 6-year-old mare winning shares of Maybe Queen, Shake Em Loose and his partner are timed: 51.20 seconds in the productivity boost, with Shake Em Loose and jockey Jevian Toledo gallop out five chariots in 1:03 .
“I’m pretty excited and happy with his work on the pitch, I’m going to Murphy,” said owner-coach Rudy Sanchez-Salomon.
James W. Murphy Stakes $100,000 for 3-year-olds to walk a mile on grass held May 21 at Pimlico racetrack. Shake Em Loose was considered for the 147th Preakness Stake (G1), the Middle Jewel of the Crown Trio, the same day.
Shake Em Loose was nominated for the Triple Crown following his win in the Privacy Statement Stake on March 19 in Laurel. 3 year old kid Shakin It Up gelding ranks third after Joe and Mr. Jefferson last debuted at Frederico Tesio Stakes April 16.
“The horses are coming (for Preakness), I don’t want to go there just to show up,” Sanchez-Saloman said. “I just want the horse to be happy and let it be a racehorse, and he can continue to win races. There’s a lot of racing for him. I think he’s a grass horse.”
Shake Em Loose had raced once before on grass for his previous matches, the 1/16 mile maiden special at Laurel, where he lost all chances after a crash and pinched back at the top and finished in 11th. Two starts later, Sanchez-Salomon asked him for $16,000.
“A race like the Preakness is really, really tough,” said Sanchez-Saloman. “I really like this horse and I want to protect it a little. I don’t want to push it and break its heart.
Blinkers On for Happy Jack in Preakness Coach Doug O’Neill tested in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) with Jack is happy .
Happy Jack practices before the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs
It doesn’t work.
So when the son of the winner of 2013 Preakness Stakes (G1) Oxbow run in Preakness Saturday at Pimlico racetrackO’Neill will reset Happy Jack’s flash.
Happy Jack wore his hoods on three of his first four starts before O’Neill chose to remove them before the Run for the Roses. Happy Jack was never a factor, coming in 14th with 23-1 odds.
“In the Derby, you’re trying to move 1 1/4 mile away from 19 other horses,” says O’Neill, who won the 2012 Preakness with I’ll Have Another. “By taking off the blink, I think it will give him a chance to breathe a little.”
Happy Jack wore a flashlight in his first start-up and broke his girlhood at Santa Anita . Park January 22. O’Neill held them off in the match on February 6. Robert B. Lewis (G3) and the foal finished last in field five, beating 27 1/4 by length.
The convertible showed up at San Felipe Stakes (G2) on March 5, and Happy Jack came in third, passing 10 1/2 lengths. They came back in the Runhappy Santa Anita Derby (G1) and he finished third again, finishing 12 1/4 of the length Taiba .
Entering Preakness, blinking is returning.
O’Neill said: “He was a blender. “I think he’s got to come in sooner. Hopefully with a shorter pitch, better turret position and flashing lights, he can be more forward. Placed in front.”
Happy Jack is scheduled to arrive in Baltimore on Tuesday. He galloped 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs Sunday morning. Also coming to Pimlico Stadium on Tuesday is likely Preakness favorite Epicenter Fern Circle and Back Racing’s Cage Creative Minister and Vote early who took down five in 1:00.63 at Belmont Park for coach Chad Brown Friday.
Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Epicenterclose runner-up in the Kentucky Derby, had penultimate practice at Churchill Downs Sunday morning before being transferred to Baltimore on Tuesday. Epicenter galloped a mile and a half Sunday morning and will have one of Steve Asmussen’s famous half-mile easy hits early Monday morning.
“He seems pretty sharp,” said assistant coach Scott Blasi, who oversees Asmussen’s Churchill division. “I like the way he’s doing. He galloped today like nothing; stepped off the track with good energy. We’ll put a little bit of work on him and go. Not much work. must do from here on…. (but) victory,” a clear reference to Epicenter’s enormous effort in the Derby, as he looked like the winner midway through only to get through in final steps inside at 80-1 Rich Strike .
Asmussen won the 2007 Preakness with the 2007-2008 Horse of the Year Curlin and in 2009 with Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra .
All ‘Go’ systems for Un Ojo
Un Ojo one-eyed winner of Oaklawn ParkRebel Stakes (G2), at 75-1, came out of practice Saturday in good shape and is expected to move to Baltimore on Monday afternoon, coach Ricky Courville said.
Un Ojo after the April 30 show at Churchill Downs
The gelling worked for five eighths of a mile at Churchill Downs in 1:02, galloping out three quarters of a mile in a powerful 1:14 3/5 time. He had a scheduled walking day on Sunday, supervised by his son Courville and assistant coach, Clay Courville.
“I mean, we were very confident going into the Derby,” said Ricky Courville. “He did a great job on the Churchill track. Because he’s not a working horse, he never was. He’ll be working here at the Copper Crowne (Training Centre).” It’s like two turns five eighths working on a six – long track He’ll come in at 1:03, 1:02 if you ask him He goes to Churchill and comes in: 59 and looks like like he’s dancing. He loves that track.”
