Vote early | Adam Coglian
Klaravich’s barn Vote early (Gunman) could start next in the GI Preakness S. May 21 in Pimlico, although coach Chad Brown could opt to join GIII winner Withers S. on Monday in the GI Kentucky Derby if there is a dig. strategic pipe. The four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer will be represented by Zandon, winner of the GI Blue Grass S. of Keeneland (Start up) at Churchill Downs for the Battle of Derby.
“Right now, the horse is still in New York preparing for the Preakness,” Brown said of Early Voting. “If the complexion of the Derby field changes in some way before the race, it is not surprising that I continue to take him to Churchill and enter him into the Derby. But now we are planning to run in Preakness. “
He continued, “We have the points [to get in the Derby]. The horse is doing well. We have the flexibility to keep it as an option. No one is forcing us to make decisions sooner than we would like. I don’t want to make a ‘final’ decision and then you change it. That’s worse than procrastination. Things happen. Horses drop out, speed scenarios can change, things like that. Seth [Klarman] and I want to handle it intelligently. We want flexibility. But if things stay the way they are with the field, I plan to run horses in Preakness. ”
Early voting took place only three times: victory in the mile-long maiden race at the Aqueduct on December 18, followed by a 4 1/2 victory over Un Ojo (Laoban) at the Battle of Withers on May 5. 2 before finishing second to Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in the GII Wood Memorial on April 9. Un Ojo then defeated GII Rebel S. 75-1 in Oaklawn on February 26.
“With only three starts below, put him in a 20 horse school that doesn’t even know what you’re going to draw and bring him all the way here. [to Churchill], I don’t feel it’s a good gamble for the horse’s future. Seth felt the same way. However, if the field changes in a direction that looks like he’ll be one of the main contenders and possibly one of the only speedhorses in the race, then I’ll change my mind. ”
The path to Early Voting’s Preakness is similar to that of former Brown curator Cloud Computing, who won the Classic in 2017. Also owned by Klaravich, Cloud Computing has also run three times, taking the top win. First at the Aqueduct in February, second in GIII Gotham S. before finishing third at Wood. He also skipped the Derby before winning the Preakness.
“Obviously we’ve won against Preakness before,” Brown said. “With Seth being a Baltimore native, it was a very important race for him and he would be honored to win it a second time,” he told me. So it’s not a disappointing target to shoot for. We take racing seriously and we want to do the right thing for the horse in the future, beyond Derby and Preakness. ”
He added, “This horse has a great career ahead of it. Now he is a beautiful, strong, progressing horse. We want to continue to develop him.”
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This story was posted in Top News and tagged Baltimore, Chad Brown, Cloud computing, Vote early, GI Preakness S., Gunman, Stable Klaravich, Seth Klarman.
