In part because he's finalizing his schedule and in part because maybe it's not good luck to change what has been a successful routine, as of May 13 trainer Norm Casse had not decided if he would make the trip to Laurel Park for the $250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) May 14 when his Awesome Aaron will try to defend his 2025 victory.
"As it's worked out, I haven't been at the track for any of his wins," Casse said with a chuckle. "So I have to think about that as well."
While the Pimlico Special has moved about 30 miles from Pimlico Race Course to Laurel Park this year, most everything else will be familiar for Awesome Aaron: the same 1 3/16-mile distance, the same Hall of Fame rider in John Velazquez, and similar improving form for the 7-year-old Practical Joke gelding.
A former claiming horse, Awesome Aaron secured his first stakes win in last year's Pimlico Special when he tracked the early leaders from third then finished in a drive to secure a three-quarter-length win.
Campaigned by Turman Racing Stable, AJ Suited Racing Stable, and Mark Blieden, Awesome Aaron went off form after last year's Pimlico Special win, finishing off the board in his next two starts—both grade 2 stakes. After opening this season with a seventh-place finish in the Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) in March, he flashed an improved Equibase Speed Figure when fourth in last month's Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.
"Even the Oaklawn race was pretty good considering he hadn't done much going in," Casse said. "Then he ran pretty well at Keeneland. I'd like to say we were pointing for a return to the Pimlico Special, but he kind of pointed himself here."
When he starts from the middle of an expected field of seven older runners in the race for 3-year-olds and older, Awesome Aaron also will welcome back Velazquez, who has not been aboard since guiding him to victory in last year's Pimlico Special.
Frank Turman claimed Awesome Aaron for $40,000 out of a winning effort Sept. 26, 2024, at Churchill Downs, and sent him to Casse.
"I like training the claiming horses; sometimes I think that part of our game is overlooked. It's fun to try something new with a horse. In this case, we stretched Awesome Aaron out and it has worked well," Casse said.
Besides last year's Pimlico Special win, Awesome Aaron has an allowance-level victory at Oaklawn Park, a stakes-placing at Delaware Park, and earnings of more than $400,000 since the claim.
Another former claimer in Friday's race is Winning Move Stable's Yo Daddy, refreshed for his 5-year-old season as he chases a third win this year and first graded stakes victory. Yo Daddy was claimed for $50,000 out of an April 14, 2024, win at Keeneland by New York-based Linda Rice. In 17 starts since joining Rice's barn, Yo Daddy has been third or better 14 times, including six wins.
The veteran runners don't end there. BAG Racing Stables, Miller Racing, Dr. Derek Paul, Mathis Stable, Paul Braverman, and Timothy Pinch's 5-year-old Navajo Warrior seeks his ninth career win and first stakes score. The 5-2 morning-line favorite has won four of six races for South Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr., most recently over 2025 Preakness Stakes (G1) runner-up Gosger in a 1 1/16-mile allowance optional claimer March 21 at Gulfstream Park.
"He's a cool horse. He tries hard," Joseph said.
Laurel Park, Friday, May 15, 2026, Race 12Entries: Pimlico Special S. (G3)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L 1 1Maclean's Rook (MD) Ismerio Villalobos 120 Michael J. Trombetta 4/1 2 2Navajo Warrior (KY) Flavien Prat 120 Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 5/2 3 3San Siro (KY) Tyler Gaffalione 122 Brendan P. Walsh 6/1 4 4Awesome Aaron (KY) John R. Velazquez 120 Norm W. Casse 9/2 5 5Xcellent Start (WV) Fredy Peltroche 120 Wade S. Sanderson 30/1 6 6Duke of Duval (KY) Jose L. Ortiz 120 Steven M. Asmussen 5/1 7 7Yo Daddy (KY) Jose Lezcano 122 Linda Rice 3/1
