Story perspectives

Velazquez, Bejarano to Ride Corona, Robusta; Silent Tactic Remains.

5/9/2026

Summary

Velazquez Targets Preakness

John Velazquez will ride Corona de Oro if it enters the Preakness, which posted a 1:00.20 five-furlong workout.
Mark Casse says Silent Tactic, after a Friday workout with exercise rider Jose Belarmino Vasquez, still has a Preakness chance despite a foot bruise.
Doug O’Neill says Robusta, a 14th-place Derby finisher after a bump, is training “like a monster” at Keeneland and will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano in the Preakness.

Summary

DeVaux Skips Preakness

Cherie DeVaux announced that Derby champion Golden Tempo will skip the Preakness, ending its Triple Crown bid.
54 Derby winners have also declined the Preakness to rest for later races.
Brittany Russell hopes Taj Mahal will give her the first female Preakness-winning trainer title on May 16.
Kenny McPeek suggested moving the Triple Crown to the first Saturdays of May, June and July, a plan Bob Baffert warned would lessen prestige.

Summary

Golden Tempo Surges

Golden Tempo’s Preakness odds surged, reflecting bettors’ confidence after his Derby win.
Chip Honcho’s odds sit at a level, showing market curiosity for a Derby-skip.
Cherokee Nation’s odds stay steady, buoyed by his $210,000 purchase price and training pedigree.
Asmussen says past wins over a Derby winner don’t affect future races, tempering betting optimism.
Laurel Park’s 4,800-person limit this year, due to Pimlico’s rebuild, adds scarcity that influences odds.

History

Historical Context

In 1973 Secretariat captured the Preakness, delivering the second leg of the first Triple Crown since Citation’s 1948 win. The Maryland Jockey Club recorded a 44,000-person crowd and $3.5 million in wagers at Pimlico Race Course, with jockey Ron Turcotte aboard, underscoring the surge in national interest that still drives today’s debates over race scheduling and horse welfare.

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Velazquez Targets Preakness

John Velazquez will ride Corona de Oro if it enters the Preakness, which posted a 1:00.20 five-furlong workout.
Mark Casse says Silent Tactic, after a Friday workout with exercise rider Jose Belarmino Vasquez, still has a Preakness chance despite a foot bruise.
Doug O’Neill says Robusta, a 14th-place Derby finisher after a bump, is training “like a monster” at Keeneland and will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano in the Preakness.

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