Preakness Stakes Notes: The Field is Shaping Up

Stewart sent out Corona de Oro to work at 7:15 a.m., right after the first track renovation break. He worked five-eighths of a mile in 59.80 seconds, third-fastest of 13 at the distance Friday under exercise rider Pedro Velez. "Excellent. Fifty-nine and four, galloped out in 1:13," Stewart said. "A repeat from last week, maybe a little bit stronger. I think we'll be ready if we get in." Corona de Oro went from a front-running maiden victory in his fourth start to finishing third in the April 11 Lexington (G3) at Keeneland. He was the last of four horses on the also-eligible list for the Kentucky Derby and the only one who didn't ultimately get in the field because of defections. There was another scratch from the Derby, but it came after the 9 a.m. Derby eve deadline. Instead, Corona de Oro worked five furlongs Derby morning in 1:00.20. With the news that Bob Baffert will not run Pat Day Mile (G2) winner Crude Velocity, Corona de Oro moved into the body of the race under the Preakness' tiered preference conditions. However, Stewart, wary some new horse could jump in late, said he's not assuming anything until entries close Monday morning. In the meantime, he believes Corona de Oro deserves a shot at a race like the Preakness. "I love the horse," Stewart said. "I've loved him since I bought him. I own a piece of him." Stewart selected Corona de Oro out of last year's Fasig-Tipton 2-year-old sale at the Timonium Fairgrounds the week after the Preakness, with David Berman's U Racing Stables signing the ticket. The Bolt d'Oro colt now is owned by On Our Own Stable, Commonwealth Stable, U Racing Stables, Saints or Sinners, Titletown Racing, Jim Nichols, Edwin S. Barker, Daniel Rivers, John Haines and Stewart. If he runs, Corona de Oro will have Hall of Famer John Velazquez up, Stewart said. The Preakness was the only Triple Crown race Velazquez hadn't won until taking the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown in 2023 aboard the Bob Baffert-trained National Treasure. Asked the key to Corona de Oro winning the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, Stewart said, "When you have John Velazquez, we'll start with that." Corona de Oro: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwC_o8xZbPg O'Neill: Robusta Has Things Going for Him in Preakness Trainer Doug O'Neill thinks Calumet Farm's Robusta will have some things going for him in the Preakness Stakes (G1) May 16 at Laurel Park. "He's got speed, he's got stamina, he's got class.," O'Neill said. "If things go his way, he can be a factor. If all goes well, we're hoping to see it Preakness Day." Things didn't go Robusta's way May 2 at Churchill Downs, where he experienced bumping at the start of the Kentucky Derby (G1) and a wide trip to finish 14th. The son of Accelerate has subsequently shown his trainer that he's ready to run back in the Preakness. "He didn't break all that well [in the Derby] and he got into some trouble early, but he came out of the race in great shape," O'Neill said. "Talking to the ownership group we just decided that we'd come in and take a shot at the Preakness." Robusta, who had finished second in the San Felipe (G2) and seventh in the Santa Anita Derby (G1) prior to the Derby, is training for the Preakness at Keeneland. "He came into Keeneland in great shape," O'Neill said. "He trains like a monster and we just thought that he was doing good." O'Neill celebrated a Preakness victory in 2012 with Reddam Racing LLC's I'll Have Another. "It's such an historic race, Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown.," said O'Neill, who also saddled Reddam Racing LLC's Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist for a third-place finish in the 2016 Preakness. "Obviously, it's a unique situation this year being at Laurel Park, but all that stuff is a good addition to an exciting afternoon and we're optimistic that we can see it through." Robusta, who will be ridden Saturday by Rafael Bejarano, is scheduled to ship from Keeneland to Laurel Park Tuesday. O'Neill will arrive next Friday.