Friesan Fire On Preakness Fourteen Limit List
Early Entries Include Mine That Bird, Hull, Mr. Fantasy, Big Drama
May 6, 2009 BarbaraAnne Helberg
While Kentucky Derby champion Mine That Bird might jump up in the favorite's betting for the 2009 Preakness Stakes, Friesan Fire may still have something to offer at the bettor's window. Pioneerof The Nile is very likely, however, to get the race's favorite's nod.
Pioneerof The Nile's second place finish in the Derby didn't menace the closing run of miracle longshot Mine That Bird, but the Bob Baffert schoolee dug in tough against two rivals to get his nose up second.
The Preakness field is limited to fourteen entries.
Two New Shooters for Preakness Stakes Won on April 25
- Mr. Fantasy ----- won the Withers Stakes at Aqueduct, going the eight furlongs in 1:34.91 on a fast track, beating favorite This Ones for Phil by 1-1/4 lengths
- Hull ----- won the Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs, going the 7-1/2 furlongs in 1:30.21 on a fast track, beating Kensel by four lengths
Hull is a Holy Bull son out of Band Queen, by Chimes Band, by Dixieland Band, by Northern Dancer. He is the winner of three races from three career starts.
Mr. Fantasy is a son of E Dubai, a Darley Lexington stallion, by Mr. Prospector, by Raise a Native, by Native Dancer. Mr. Fantasy has three wins from four lifetime starts.
Friesan Fire Grabbed Quarter in Derby
Betted as the Derby favorite by default when I Want Revenge was scratched, Friesan Fire failed to launch in the Run for the Roses because he was clipped out of the gate. Trainer Larry Jones said after the Derby if blood was visible on the track, it belonged to Friesan Fire.
Jockey Gabriel Saez claimed Friesan Fire got hit hard coming out of the gate and grabbed his left front quarter. The colt didn't want to quit running, Saez told post-Derby interviewers, so he let loose of the reins and allowed Friesan Fire to gallop out the race on his own.
Friesan Fire, an A.P. Indy son and Settle Slew grandson, finished eighteenth. He had come into the Derby with three sterling prep race wins in the January Lecomte Stakes, the February Risen Star Stakes, and the Louisiana Derby, all at the Fair Grounds track.
Second Todd Pletcher Colt Will Join Preakness
Take the Points, early on scheduled for the Kentucky Derby but later withdrawn, will join the Preakness field for trainer Todd Pletcher. His trainee Join in the Dance is also entered. Join in the Dance went a respectable seventh in the Derby.
First Twelve Early Entries for Preakness
- Big Drama ----- trainer, David Fawkes--- jockey, ? (has been Eibar Coa)
- Friesan Fire ----- Larry Jones --- Gabriel Saez
- General Quarters ----- Mark Miller --- Julien Leparoux
- Hull ----- Dale Romans --- Miguel Mena
- Join in the Dance ----- Todd Pletcher --- Chris DeCarlo
- Miner's Escape ----- Nick Zito --- Luis Garcia
- Mine That Bird ----- Bennie Woolley Jr. ---Calvin Borel
- Mr. Fantasy ----- Kiaran McLaughlin --- Alan Garcia
- Musket Man ----- Derek Ryan --- Eibar Coa
- Papa Clem ----- Gary Stute --- Rafael Bejarano
- Pioneerof The Nile ----- Bob Baffert --- Garrett Gomez
- Take the Points ----- Todd Pletcher --- Edgar Prado
The 2009, 134th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland is scheduled for May 16.
- Filly and Injuries Alter Preakness Line-up
- Filly Rachel Alexandra Headlines 2009 Preakness
- Kentucky Derby Graded Earners List Changes
- Big Drama Boosts Preakness Fever From Gate One
- Borel Back On Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes
- Six Kentucky Derby Horses Entered in Preakness
- Filly Rachel Alexandra Wins Preakness Stakes
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