Kentucky Bear Beefs Up for Pimlico
Mr. Greeley Colt Likes Blue Grass; In Preakness for Bear Stables
Gaining 75 pounds on Kentucky blue grass since Apr.2, Kentucky Bear, third in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, takes on Big Brown in the May 17 Preakness.
With the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes, coming up May 17, contender Kentucky Bear is chomping down Kentucky blue grass as though it is digestive competition and not Preakness competition that he soon faces.
"...he is eating that green (Kentucky blue) grass like a lawn mower," says trainer Reade Baker of his charge, Kentucky Bear. Beefing up by 75 pounds since his Apr.2 arrival in Kentucky, Kentucky Bear has already faced some of the Derby entrants that are skipping the Preakness Stakes. On Apr.12, two Derby hopefuls beat him in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, winner, Monba (20th in the Derby), and 2nd place finisher, Cowboy Cal (ninth in the Derby).
The Canadian-based Bear Stables owns Kentucky Bear, a son of Mr. Greeley.
Tres Borrachos, third in the Apr.12 Arkansas Derby, is pointed at the Preakness. An Ecton Park gelding, Tres Borrachos used a 1-3/4 miles gallop last Monday at Churchill Downs to prepare for the upcoming Preakness Stakes. Trainer Beau Greely said he had hoped to work the colt some more, but heavy rains at Churchill closed the track.
Greely co-owns his charge with John Greely IV and Phil Houchens. Tyler Baze is in the saddle for the Preakness run against formidable Derby winner, Big Brown.
Two Todd Pletcher trained colts may appear in the Preakness. Behindatthebar, winner of the Apr.19 Coolmore Lexington Stakes, was already pointed to the Preakness after his connections decided not to include him in the Kentucky Derby field if a spot opened up. The Forest Wildcat colt is owned by Padua Stables, Michael Shustek, and W. Don Stanley.
Pletcher, who has not won a Triple Crown race with a colt, said Behindatthebar has impressed him since his allowance race victory in California. The Lexington at Keeneland Race Course is run on a synthetic surface, on which the colt did well.
David Flores is Behindatthebar's regular rider.
Pletcher's other trainee, Harlem Rocker, winner of the Withers Stakes Apr.26, may also be scheduled for the Preakness. The Preakness Stakes would be "a good progression" race for Harlem Rocker, Pletcher predicted. Taking on Big Brown is not an incentive for entering the Preakness, Pletcher admitted, but Harlem Rocker would enter with a record equal to Big Brown's pre-Derby mark, 3-0.
Racecar Rhapsody is firmed for the Preakness field, while Macho Again, the Apr.26 Derby Trial Stakes champion, remains uncommitted. Racecar Rhapsody fashioned fourth place finishes in the Apr.22 Lane's End Stakes and the Coolmore Lexington Stakes.
