Preakness contenders as of May 7: American Promise, Heart of Honor, Pay Billy, River Thames

Westminster-native jockey Nik Juarez looks forward to homecoming at Preakness 150

Westminster-native jockey Nik Juarez looks forward to homecoming at Preakness 150

Video Player is loading.

Current Time 0:00

Duration 0:00

Loaded: 0%

Stream Type LIVE

Remaining Time 0:00

THAT MOMENT. THAT’S THAT’S WHEN THAT’S WHEN WE ALL KNEW NIK JUAREZ. JUST DOMINATED THE VIRGINIA DERBY, RIDING AMERICAN PROMISE, LEADING TO A FIRST IN HIS 12 YEARS OF RACING. HE’S QUALIFIED FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY. THE LIGHT BULB TURNED ON THAT DAY. THE LIGHT BULB STAYED ON AND I’M VERY, VERY EXCITED FOR SATURDAY. THE SPORT IS IN HIS BLOOD ON BOTH SIDES OF HIS FAMILY. HIS FATHER, A JOCKEY IN THE 90S. MY FATHER, YOU KNOW, COMING TO AMERICA WITH AN AMERICAN DREAM. HE CAME HERE WHEN HE WAS 14. IT’S PRETTY COOL TO BE ON A HORSE NAMED AMERICAN PROMISE HERE. MY DAD IS REALLY, REALLY LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM. JUAREZ GREW UP CHEERING HIM ON ALONG WITH HIS MOTHER, WHOSE OWN FATHER WAS AN OUTRIDER FOR THE MARYLAND JOCKEY CLUB. HIS FATHER, JUAREZ, IS GREAT GRANDFATHER, A TRAINER. EVEN WITH THE GENERATIONS THAT CAME BEFORE HIM, JUAREZ SAYS HORSE RACING COMES DOWN TO HARD WORK, AND PAIRING UP WITH THE RIGHT HORSE AT CHURCHILL DOWNS, HE’LL AGAIN RIDE AMERICAN PROMISE, THE SUN AND SPITTING IMAGE OF 2018 TRIPLE CROWN WINNER JUSTIFIED. GORGEOUS. HE IS 70, THE LARGEST HORSE IN THE FIELD, 17 HANDS, STRAPPING BIG RED. THE HORSE IS FROM THE BARN THAT WON PREAKNESS LAST YEAR UNDER HALL OF FAME TRAINER D WAYNE LUKAS. SATURDAY, THE DUO WILL HIT THE MILE AND A QUARTER TRACK AMID A PACK OF 20 HORSES. OH MY GOODNESS. THE LONGEST SHOT HAS WON THE KENTUCKY DERBY. THIS YEAR. JUAREZ BELIEVES HE CAN TAKE THE TITLE THROUGH HIS RIDING. HE ALSO HOPES TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF MARYLANDERS, INCLUDING HIS OWN CHILDREN. THIS WEEK, REFLECTING ON HOW FAR HE’S COME TRUTHFULLY FOR THE KID LISTENING AT HOME IN BALTIMORE, I KNOW THIS IS THE PLACE YOU CAN WATCH THE NEWS AND IT’S A PLACE THAT I ACTUALLY SPENT SOME TIME AS AN ADOLESCENT, AND THAT’S A PLACE THAT SOME PEOPLE MAY MAY KNOW. IT’S CHARLES HICKEY SCHOOL. IF ANYBODY LISTENING, YOU CAN ALWAYS CHANGE YOUR LIFE. IT’S ALWAYS SOMEBODY THERE. ALWAYS, ALWAYS SOMEWHERE TO GO. YOU ALWAYS HAVE AN OUTLET. AND IF YOU EVER HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET AROUND A HORSE, IT’LL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. I’

Preakness contenders as of May 7: American Promise, Heart of Honor, Pay Billy, River Thames

Westminster-native jockey Nik Juarez looks forward to homecoming at Preakness 150

Here are some of the reported contenders for the 150th Preakness Stakes as of May 7.American PromiseWhen Westminster-native jockey Nik Juarez rides American Promise at the Preakness on May 17, it will be his first mount in his home state's biggest race.Video above: Racing runs in Nik Juarez's blood"It's a dream come true for every rider to ride the Derby," said Juarez, who comes from a longtime Maryland racing family. "For me, I'm super-excited to ride the Preakness, to be home at Old Hilltop, Pimlico; lots of good memories there. It's another dream come true."Juarez, 31, shifted circuits over the years from Maryland to New Jersey\Florida and then to Arkansas for the past few winters. He began riding for seven-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas at Oaklawn Park, which led to Juarez traveling to Colonial Downs to ride American Promise for the first time in the Virginia Derby. After a 7 3/4-length victory, Juarez was rewarded with his first Kentucky Derby mount.But if his 16th-place outcome was disappointing, Juarez is undaunted going into the 1 3/16-mile Preakness."American Promise was able to show us he has the speed, that size, and he really won going away at Colonial Downs," Juarez said. "The Kentucky Derby was awesome. Just being here in Louisville, being around 'The Coach,' seeing him in his element, to be a part of his team was really amazing. And, being represented by Gary Stevens, it was a dream come true."Of course, the actual running of the Derby can at times be more akin to a nightmare."It was a bit of a dogfight," Juarez said. "We had Citizen Bull, who broke outward. Two horses to my inside were impeded. I had to make a trip for American Promise the best way I could. Luckily, getting into that first turn, it was where we wanted to be, and he was able to avoid most of that trouble. There were many variables. It's the Kentucky Derby, you're dealing with that many horses. I just think he got a lot out of the race, and he’s still American Promise."American Promise had another scheduled walk day on Wednesday before he resumes training Thursday.Heart of HonorHeart of Honor, who finished second in the April 5 Lexington, is scheduled to ship from trainer Jamie Osborne's stable in England to the U.S., where he will quarantine at Churchill Downs before making the trek to Pimlico.The 3-year-old son of Honor A.P. is scheduled to run in the Preakness.Osborne is no stranger to competing in major U.S. stakes, having campaigned Toast of New York stateside in 2014. The Thewayyouare gelding, who captured the UAE Derby that year, finished second in both the Del Mar Classic and the Breeders' Cup Classic.Osborne's daughter Saffie, who was aboard Heart of Honor for the UAE Derby, has the return call for the Preakness.Pay BillyPay Billy earned an automatic Preakness berth with his victory in the April 19 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park.Trainer Mike Gorham indicated Pay Billy's regular rider, jockey Raul Mena, will be up for the work and will also have the mount in the Preakness."I breezed him last Saturday just real easy, but tomorrow is going to be his real final serious work," Gorham said. "Probably, a good half and gallop out strong. He's been training good, galloping good all week long and acting good. Everything's going forward."The Preakness will be the first Triple Crown race for Gorham, a multiple graded-stakes winning trainer who has won 1,443 races since 1985. A former assistant to leading New England conditioner Bruce Smith, Gorham has been a fixture in the Mid-Atlantic region for decades."I've run in Maryland for a lot of years and the Mid-Atlantic for a long time," Gorham said. "To me, going to Pimlico is like a home game for us. We're there all the time and a few different times I've even been stabled there with horses. We know the area. It's great. We all try to get good horses and get into these big races. Now we're in one, so we'll try to make the best of it."River ThamesRiver Thames, who was withheld from the Kentucky Derby, has pleased Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher with his preparation for the Preakness."He's doing well. He galloped well this morning and is scheduled to breeze on Saturday at Belmont," Pletcher said. "I'm happy with his progress."River Thames kicked off his career by winning his first two starts by a combined 11 1/4 lengths before the son of Maclean's Music came up a neck short of holding off Sovereignty while finishing second in the March 1 Fountain of Youth.River Thames again lost valuable ground in the Blue Grass, in which he finished third, beaten by less than a length by winner Burnham Square."He's run well in every start. The tough beat in the Fountain of Youth looks even stronger after Sovereignty's performance in the Derby," Pletcher said. "He's held his best form. He's run well every time. We're hoping maybe by bringing in a fresh horse, it will give us a little bit of an advantage."Irad Ortiz Jr., who was aboard for the Blue Grass, has the return call on River Thames.Clever Again (pending for Preakness)Clever Again, winner of Oaklawn Park's Hot Springs Stakes at a two-turn mile in his last start, had a walk day Wednesday at Churchill after working five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.60 on Tuesday. Clever Again is trained by two-time Preakness winner Steve Asmussen.Gosger (pending for Preakness)Lexington-winner Gosger galloped Wednesday morning at Keeneland and remains on schedule to work Friday or Saturday, after which a Preakness decision will be made, trainer Brendan Walsh said.Journalism (pending for Preakness)Kentucky Derby runner-up and beaten favorite Journalism returned to the track Wednesday, jogging once around Churchill Downs' mile oval under exercise rider Marc Witkowski.Justin Curran, who heads trainer Michael McCarthy's Louisville operation, said the Santa Anita Derby winner will also gallop on Thursday."He seemed happy. He came out of his race well, just like he's bounced out of every race. The rider is happy, and if the rider is happy, everybody else is happy," Curran said.Rodriguez (pending for Preakness)Wood Memorial-winner Rodriguez had a routine gallop Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. Trainer Bob Baffert plans to work the Authentic colt this weekend. Baffert, a record eight-time Preakness winner, notified the Pimlico racing office that Rodriguez would arrive Monday in Baltimore.Baffert scratched Rodriguez from the Derby over a sensitive foot bruise.Sovereignty (not running in Preakness)Derby-winner Sovereignty is skipping the Preakness and "point toward the Belmont Stakes," trainer Bill Mott told 1/ST on Tuesday.

BALTIMORE —

Here are some of the reported contenders for the 150th Preakness Stakes as of May 7.

American Promise

When Westminster-native jockey Nik Juarez rides American Promise at the Preakness on May 17, it will be his first mount in his home state's biggest race.

Video above: Racing runs in Nik Juarez's blood

"It's a dream come true for every rider to ride the Derby," said Juarez, who comes from a longtime Maryland racing family. "For me, I'm super-excited to ride the Preakness, to be home at Old Hilltop, Pimlico; lots of good memories there. It's another dream come true."

Juarez, 31, shifted circuits over the years from Maryland to New Jersey\Florida and then to Arkansas for the past few winters. He began riding for seven-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas at Oaklawn Park, which led to Juarez traveling to Colonial Downs to ride American Promise for the first time in the Virginia Derby. After a 7 3/4-length victory, Juarez was rewarded with his first Kentucky Derby mount.

But if his 16th-place outcome was disappointing, Juarez is undaunted going into the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.

"American Promise was able to show us he has the speed, that size, and he really won going away at Colonial Downs," Juarez said. "The Kentucky Derby was awesome. Just being here in Louisville, being around 'The Coach,' seeing him in his element, to be a part of his team was really amazing. And, being represented by Gary Stevens, it was a dream come true."

Of course, the actual running of the Derby can at times be more akin to a nightmare.

"It was a bit of a dogfight," Juarez said. "We had Citizen Bull, who broke outward. Two horses to my inside were impeded. I had to make a trip for American Promise the best way I could. Luckily, getting into that first turn, it was where we wanted to be, and he was able to avoid most of that trouble. There were many variables. It's the Kentucky Derby, you're dealing with that many horses. I just think he got a lot out of the race, and he’s still American Promise."

American Promise had another scheduled walk day on Wednesday before he resumes training Thursday.

Heart of Honor

Heart of Honor, who finished second in the April 5 Lexington, is scheduled to ship from trainer Jamie Osborne's stable in England to the U.S., where he will quarantine at Churchill Downs before making the trek to Pimlico.

The 3-year-old son of Honor A.P. is scheduled to run in the Preakness.

Osborne is no stranger to competing in major U.S. stakes, having campaigned Toast of New York stateside in 2014. The Thewayyouare gelding, who captured the UAE Derby that year, finished second in both the Del Mar Classic and the Breeders' Cup Classic.

Osborne's daughter Saffie, who was aboard Heart of Honor for the UAE Derby, has the return call for the Preakness.

Pay Billy

Pay Billy earned an automatic Preakness berth with his victory in the April 19 Federico Tesio at Laurel Park.

Trainer Mike Gorham indicated Pay Billy's regular rider, jockey Raul Mena, will be up for the work and will also have the mount in the Preakness.

"I breezed him last Saturday just real easy, but tomorrow is going to be his real final serious work," Gorham said. "Probably, a good half and gallop out strong. He's been training good, galloping good all week long and acting good. Everything's going forward."

The Preakness will be the first Triple Crown race for Gorham, a multiple graded-stakes winning trainer who has won 1,443 races since 1985. A former assistant to leading New England conditioner Bruce Smith, Gorham has been a fixture in the Mid-Atlantic region for decades.

"I've run in Maryland for a lot of years and the Mid-Atlantic for a long time," Gorham said. "To me, going to Pimlico is like a home game for us. We're there all the time and a few different times I've even been stabled there with horses. We know the area. It's great. We all try to get good horses and get into these big races. Now we're in one, so we'll try to make the best of it."

River Thames

River Thames, who was withheld from the Kentucky Derby, has pleased Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher with his preparation for the Preakness.

"He's doing well. He galloped well this morning and is scheduled to breeze on Saturday at Belmont," Pletcher said. "I'm happy with his progress."

Ryan Thompson

River Thames

River Thames kicked off his career by winning his first two starts by a combined 11 1/4 lengths before the son of Maclean's Music came up a neck short of holding off Sovereignty while finishing second in the March 1 Fountain of Youth.

River Thames again lost valuable ground in the Blue Grass, in which he finished third, beaten by less than a length by winner Burnham Square.

"He's run well in every start. The tough beat in the Fountain of Youth looks even stronger after Sovereignty's performance in the Derby," Pletcher said. "He's held his best form. He's run well every time. We're hoping maybe by bringing in a fresh horse, it will give us a little bit of an advantage."

Irad Ortiz Jr., who was aboard for the Blue Grass, has the return call on River Thames.

Clever Again (pending for Preakness)

Clever Again, winner of Oaklawn Park's Hot Springs Stakes at a two-turn mile in his last start, had a walk day Wednesday at Churchill after working five-eighths of a mile in 1:01.60 on Tuesday. Clever Again is trained by two-time Preakness winner Steve Asmussen.

Gosger (pending for Preakness)

Lexington-winner Gosger galloped Wednesday morning at Keeneland and remains on schedule to work Friday or Saturday, after which a Preakness decision will be made, trainer Brendan Walsh said.

Journalism (pending for Preakness)

Kentucky Derby runner-up and beaten favorite Journalism returned to the track Wednesday, jogging once around Churchill Downs' mile oval under exercise rider Marc Witkowski.

Justin Curran, who heads trainer Michael McCarthy's Louisville operation, said the Santa Anita Derby winner will also gallop on Thursday.

"He seemed happy. He came out of his race well, just like he's bounced out of every race. The rider is happy, and if the rider is happy, everybody else is happy," Curran said.

Rodriguez (pending for Preakness)

Wood Memorial-winner Rodriguez had a routine gallop Wednesday morning at Churchill Downs. Trainer Bob Baffert plans to work the Authentic colt this weekend. Baffert, a record eight-time Preakness winner, notified the Pimlico racing office that Rodriguez would arrive Monday in Baltimore.

Baffert scratched Rodriguez from the Derby over a sensitive foot bruise.