The connections of a trio of Preakness contenders have decided to skip this Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, led by 2011 juvenile champion Hansen (9th in the Kentucky Derby). According to a report in the Thoroughbred Times, Hansen will likely be pointed towards the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes, a one turn, seven furlong race on the undercard for the Belmont Stakes on June 9th.
2012 Preakness: Hansen, Hierro And Isn’t He Clever Are Out
Joining Hansen on the sidelines are Hierro and Isn’t He Clever.
Hierro won the Grade 3 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs in the slop in late April but hasn’t been working up to the Preakness in a manner satisfactory to trainer Steve Asmussen.
Isn’t He Clever, second in the G3-Sunland Derby but well-behind Bodemeister in the G1-Arkansas Derby, is another Asmussen trainee that is electing to bypass the Preakness. Asmussen doesn’t believe the mile and three-sixteenths distance of the Preakness is ideal for Isn’t He Clever.
With the current defections, it appears that the 2012 Preakness will have a field of 11 or 12 horses when the entries and post positions are finalized on Wednesday. The connections of Daddy Nose Best, tenth in the Derby, are still weighing the options for their colt.
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