With Rodriguez Out, Goal Oriented Emerges for Preakness

The foot issue that prevented Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) winner Rodriguez from running in the Kentucky Derby (G1) has also removed him from the May 17 Preakness Stakes (G1), but his connections have another colt in mind for the second leg of the Triple Crown—undefeated Goal Oriented. Trainer Bob Baffert told Daily Racing Form that Rodriguez's foot issue, initially described as a foot bruise by his ownership, prevented him from adequately preparing the Authentic colt for the Preakness. "I couldn't prep him like I wanted to," Baffert told DRF. "Once he had the foot issue, you got to let those things simmer down. I didn't have enough time." Baffert said Rodriguez would be pointed for the June 7 Belmont Stakes (G1). Both colts are owned by the same SF Racing-led partnership that also includes Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Robert Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan. Goal Oriented was a $425,000 purchase from the 2023 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by his co-breeder Runnymede Farm. SF Racing's Tom Ryan said the Not This Time colt exhibited some signs of precocity at age 2 but had a few issues that prevented him from starting. "He wasn't in the Breeders' Cup window as a 2-year-old, so we decided to give him as much time as possible and then a little more, and that seems to have been to his benefit," Ryan said. "He's a horse we've always had a very solid opinion of. "Some of these later-born foals—his birthday is next Thursday—you really start to see them come into themselves this time of year." Goal Oriented is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Afleet Alex mare Bizzy Caroline, who is a half to 2017 champion turf female Lady Eli. He debuted April 6 at Santa Anita Park and, despite breaking last of seven and running a bit greenly, went six furlongs in 1:10.01 to break his maiden by 3 1/4 lengths. The race looks live, as second-place Train the Trainer came back to break his maiden by five lengths May 4 at Belmont Park. Goal Oriented stretched out to 1 1/16 miles in his second start, a May 3 allowance race at Churchill Downs. Moving strongly to the early lead with his head lower than in the debut, he set all the fractions and held off Hypnus by three-quarters of a length to improve to 2-for-2. The win in 1:42.83 over a sloppy sealed surface earned an Equibase Speed Figure of 109. "He's a very tractable sort of horse that has gears and seems to be strong mentally," Ryan said. "We've seen evidence with these Not This Times, there's no limit to what they can do—turf, dirt, long, or short. "He's really come out of his race in incredible form. He's bounced out floating over the track. He's a big, stylish, quality two-turn colt whom we feel has the foundation to come back in two weeks. Not to be too cliche, but he's putting his hand up for it." Ryan said Flavien Prat would ride Goal Oriented if he runs in the Preakness. Entries will be taken May 12. Goal Oriented is scheduled to breeze sometime this weekend at Churchill, with Baffert looking on, and the final decision would be made soon thereafter. "I've always had (the Preakness) in the back of mind, maybe. But after what I've seen, the way he came out of the race, he's a big, strong horse that looks like he could handle it," Baffert said. "He's really come into himself. The race the other day, he won that with so much to spare... "I don't want to go there unless he has a chance to win." Journalism, American Promise Continue to Show Good Energy After two days of jogging at Churchill, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith's Journalism galloped for the first time since he finished second in the Kentucky Derby. "He looked great, showed good energy," said Justin Curran, the assistant trainer who oversees California-based trainer Michael McCarthy's Churchill division. The Preakness decision is still pending for Journalism. Curran said McCarthy will be at Churchill Downs May 11. Virginia Derby winner American Promise went out for a spirited gallop as soon as the Churchill track opened Friday morning. Seven-time Preakness-winning trainer D. Wayne Lukas said he likes what he sees from the son of 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify. "He's doing exceptionally well," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "He's back in the feed tub, no worse for wear, almost like he didn't participate the other day. So, we feel pretty good about him. That's all you can ask. But his energy level is really good." BC Stables' American Promise will be the first Preakness mount for 31-year-old Maryland product Nik Juarez, who also rode him in the Derby to a 16th-place finish. River Thames, Gosger to work May 10 Winstar Farm, CHC, Pantofel Stable, and Wachtel Stable's River Thames is scheduled to tune up for a start in the Preakness with a workout at Belmont Park Saturday. Trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher, the son of Maclean's Music, who was withheld from the Kentucky Derby while being pointed to the Preakness, finished second to Derby winner Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park before checking in third in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. Trainer Brendan Walsh has scheduled Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables' Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Gosger to work Saturday at Keeneland.