2011 Preakness Profile: Astrology

The Kentucky Derby pace was surprisingly soft and if they try to go that slow again look for Astrology and jockey Mike Smith to make their presence felt throughout from the cozy rail.

Trainer Steve Asmussen has saddled two Preakness winners - photo by Eclipse Sportswire

Astrology showed ability right out of the box as a juvenile at Saratoga with a debut show finish and an extended sprint maiden win over To Honor And Serve. He was the beaten favorite in the Garden State Stakes at Monmouth in his third outing and rebounded to win Churchill’s Iroquois in October. He ended his juvenile season with a place finish behind Santiva in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes under the Twin Spires.

He got a late start on the 2011 Kentucky Derby trail and was forced to miss the first Saturday in May after a pair of runner-up efforts in the March 27 Sunland Derby and April 23 Jerome.

The son of A.P. Indy is no longer behind schedule for Steve Asmussen and he has the talent to make a longshot run for Preakness glory on Saturday.  He figures to save all of the ground on or near the lead and should have every chance if good enough.

2011 Preakness Profile: Concealed Identity

The Preakness would not be the same without a local hope and this year’s Maryland-bred entrant is Concealed Identity. He landed lucky post position thirteen and is listed at 30-1 on the morning line.

Concealed Identity is conditioned by longtime Maryland trainer Edmond Gaudet, and the octogenarian is saddling his first Preakness starter. The son of ’04 Preakness winner Smarty Jones has captured four of his eight lifetime starts and has really improved this spring.

The key to his recent success appears to be routing at Pimlico and he deserves a shot against the big boys especially in a wide open year like this. He is back in two weeks after winning the local Tesio Stakes and he beat a couple of decent horses that day.

It is obviously asking alot to step up and face grade one company in a race of this magnitude but a minor award is not totally out of the question for the improving sort.

2011 Preakness Profile: Isn’t He Perfect

At 30-1 on the morning line and breaking from post position twelve, Isn’t He Perfect is the longest of the longshots in the 2011 Preakness.

The experienced son of Pleasantly Perfect has faced the starter twelve times with a pair of wins to his credit. He has worked his way up from the maiden claiming ranks to compete in stakes races but he has yet to make a dent versus tougher competition.

Isn’t He Perfect is a decent allowance type with tactical speed and his new rider Edgar Prado knows Pimlico like the back of his hand. He would have to improve several lengths to make a dent in the Preakness and if his other three graded races are any indication he figures to be competitive until the real running begins around the far turn.

2011 Preakness Profile: Flashpoint

Flashpoint could have a big say in the final outcome of the 2011 Preakness. The speedy colt is the likely pacesetter but might have a hard time lasting the distance.

Flashpoint is the Preakness target - photo by Eclipse Sportswire

Owned by Peachtree Stable and formerly conditioned by Rick Dutrow, Flashpoint cruised in his inner track debut at Aqueduct and promptly shipped to Florida for the Hutcheson Stakes. He was sent off at almost 7-1 in the latter race and dusted heavy favorite Travelin Man. His connections caught Derby fever and he faded after chasing a fast pace in the nine furlong Florida Derby. In his defense, he did break from the outside post and chased wide in his first two turn try that day.

He moved to the Wesley Ward barn shortly after the Florida Derby and has drilled a pair of Keeneland bullets. He is bred to sprint and looks best around one turn, and his lack of experience and seasoning will probably catch up with him in Baltimore.

2011 Preakness Profile: King Congie

King Congie has done all of his damage on synthetic/turf and might struggle on conventional dirt in the 2011 Preakness. Yes, we heard the same thing about Animal Kingdom in the Kentucky Derby and that did not turn out as expected.

The difference with King Congie is that he tried dirt earlier in his career and did not handle it very well. Granted, those races were sprints and he is much better now.

After flopping in a pair of dirt sprints in New York, King Congie switched surfaces and crossed the line first in three straight turf routes. He rallied to finish a close-up 3rd when last seen in the Blue Grass Stakes but it should be noted that late runners fared well in that Polytrack affair.

Owned by West Point Thoroughbreds and trained by Tom Albertrani, the 3-year-old son of Badge of Silver can complete in the Preakness if he handles the footing and it would be fitting if his new pilot Robby Albarado, who was removed from Animal Kingdom just prior to the run for the roses, got sweet revenge on another 20-1 surface switcher.

2011 Preakness Profile: Norman Asbjornson

Norman Asbjornson drew post two and is a 30-1 outsider in the 2011 Preakness. Can the 3-year-old son of former Preakness hero Real Quiet upset the applecart? Probably not, but a minor award is not out of the question.

The Christopher Grove charge failed to get involved in a trio of Pennsylvania maiden sprint starts to begin his career but has been a new horse since stretching out in distance.

He graduated at a flat mile at Penn National in December and sailed through the entry level ranks to begin his 3-year-old campaign. A runner-up effort in the Gotham Stakes followed and he was last seen finishing a respectable 4th in the Wood Memorial.

The Preakness is a tough test but he shows two works at Pimlico including a solid one-mile move on May 6. He is not nearly as fast as some of his more fancied rivals but his numbers are slowly improving and he could spice up the exotics in Baltimore on Saturday.