This Week in Horse Racing

The Preakness is only a week away! So let's check out what went on in horse racing last week.

Fly Down Destroys Dwyer Field

Fly Down showed himself as a solid Belmont hopeful with his win in the G2 Dwyer Stakes May 8th at Belmont. Fly Down went four-wide around the turn, took over at the top of the stretch, and drew away to win by six lengths. It was the colt's first stakes win and his first win since finishing ninth in the Louisiana Derby in March. Carnivore and Turf Melody led the race while Fly Down trailed in last through the early stages of the race. The favorite, Drosselmeyer, was not a threat and finished second. Remand finished third 1 3/4 lengths back. Fly Down has only been out of the money once in his five starts.

Rail Trip Dominates in his Return

Rail Trip returned from his long layoff with style, winning the G2 Mervyn Leroy Handicap by 3 1/4 lengths. The 5-year-old was making his first start since finishing third in last year's G1 Pacific Classic September 6th. Tres Borrachos took the lead from the start and set a slow pace, leading by two lengths over Rail Trip in the backstretch. Rail Trip moved up around the final turn and took command going into the stretch. Sangaree swept by Tres Borrachos, but couldn't catch Rail Trip. Longshot, Cigar Man, rallied late and nosed out Tres Borrachos for third. Rail Trip kicked off his career with five consecutive victories in 2008 and 2009 before finishing second in last year's Mercyn Leroy. He finished second in the G2 Californian Stakes and went on to score an upset in the Gold Cup. After his Pacific Classic loss, Rail Trip was given time to recover from sore feet rather than going onto the Breeders' Cup Classic. Rail Trip has never been out of the money in his ten starts, winning seven of them.

Dublin Confirmed for Preakness with Gomez Up; Lucky Still Undecided

Garrett Gomez will be up on Dublin May 15 in the Preakness Stakes. Gomez was Lookin at Lucky's regular rider, but it's uncertain on whether or not Lucky will continue on to the Preakness. Lucky finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby after a troubled trip. If Lucky goes to the post this Saturday, Martin Garcia is likely to be up on him. Gomez is replacing Thompson on Dublin, who rode the colt to a seventh-place finish in the Derby.

Eskendereya Retires from Racing

Eskendereya, winner of the G1 Wood Memorial and G2 Fountain of Youth, and early favorite for the Kentucky Derby, has been retired from racing due to a soft tissue industry. No decision has been made on where he will stand. Eskendereya was withdrawn from the Derby six days before after a filling was discovered in his left foreleg. The decision to retire Eskendereya was made after it was positive that it would be impossible for the colt to return to racing with the same potential that he'd shown in racing.

Preakness a "No" for Conveyance

Bob Baffert declared May 7 that Conveyance would not go on to the Preakness after finishing fifteenth in the Derby. Baffert's other prospect, Lookin at Lucky, still has a 51% chance of going on to the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Preakness a "Yes" for Aikenite

Super Saver will be joined by stablemate Aikenite when he heads to Pimlico for the Preakness this weekend. Aikenite finished second in the G3 Derby Trial the week before Super Saver won the Derby.