Tapwrit was pushed over into McCraken, who then bumped into Classic Empire.
(meta data) TITLE: Kentucky Derby: Always Dreaming recovers well, heads to Preakness in great shape (meta data) AUTHOR: Dan Wolken 26 captures 08 May 2017 - 22 Nov 2020 About this capture COLLECTED BY Organization: Internet Archive Focused crawls are collections of frequently-updated webcrawl data from narrow (as opposed to broad or wide) web crawls, often focused on a single domain or subdomain. Collection: usatoday.com The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20170508184130/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/horses/triple/derby/2017/05/07/always-dreaming-recovers-well-derby-heads-preakness/101410368/ SUBSCRIBE NOWto get home delivery Get the news Log In or Subscribe to skip ###### Join the Nation's Conversation To find out more about Facebook commenting please read the Conversation Guidelines and FAQs # Always Dreaming recovers well from Derby, heads to Preakness Dan Wolken , USA TODAY Sports Published 5:04 p.m. ET May 7, 2017 | Updated 14 hours agoCLOSESkip in Skipx USA TODAY Sports' Dan Wolken breaks down Always Dreaming's impressive win at Churchill Downs and explains why this horse is a legitimate contender for the Triple Crown. USA TODAY Sports John Velazquez rides Always Dreaming to victory in the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby horse race at Churchill Downs on Saturday, May 6, 2017, in Louisville, Ky.(Photo: The Associated Press) LOUISVILLE — Trainer Todd Pletcher's playbook often does not include the Preakness, preferring to take his Kentucky Derby horses back to his home base in New York to prepare for the Belmont Stakes or big races later in the summer. But with Always Dreaming, who won the 143rd Kentucky Derby on Saturday, there wasn't much doubt where he was headed next. After Pletcher joked after the race that he wouldn't have to "twist anybody's arm" to get the owners' approval for Baltimore, he made firm plans Sunday morning to ship the horse to Pimlico on Tuesday. With all physical indicators pointing toward Always Dreaming bouncing out of the Kentucky Derby in good shape, he will move on as the heavy favorite for the May 20 Preakness, trying to become the fifth horse in the last 10 years to win the first two legs of the Triple Crown. "He's outstanding," Pletcher told reporters Sunday morning. "He ate up really well last night. His energy level is good this morning. He looks super." The same cannot be said of several other runners in the Kentucky Derby, which turned into a rough-and-tumble race that compromised the chances of Always Dreaming's main competitors. RELATED: Always Dreaming wins Kentucky Derby on sloppy track Always Dreaming has perfect Derby after trainer's smart move After Irish War Cry veered right after the gates opened, causing a chain reaction that forced McCracken to slam into Classic Empire, those three horses were all facing an uphill battle to get position around the first turn. The only one who recovered well enough to run a representative race was Classic Empire, who finished fourth and was listed by trainer Mark Casse as a possibility for the Preakness. McCraken is off the Triple Crown trail after suffering a cut on his left hind leg, trainer Ian Wilkes said, while Irish War Cry is also unlikely to go to Baltimore. Among those who finished behind Always Dreaming, there were no hard commitments for the Preakness, though second-place finisher Lookin At Lee is a possibility, as well as seventh place Gunnevera and Girvin, who encountered serious traffic problems at the start and the far turn, eventually finishing 13th. There will undoubtedly be some newcomers waiting for Always Dreaming in Baltimore, including Royal Mo, who was third in the Santa Anita Derby but didn't have enough points to qualify for the 20-horse Kentucky Derby field (he was 21st in the standings). Still, it appears the Preakness may come up a bit light on quality this year, boosting the chances that Always Dreaming will head to Belmont on June 10 trying to become the 13th Triple Crown winner. The last one, of course, was American Pharoah, with whom Always Dreaming shares two key attributes: Speed and freshness. While others in the Derby encountered bad trips, Always Dreaming's natural front-running style allowed him to stay out of trouble and dictate the terms of the race, which was key on a sloppy track. It will be much the same in the Preakness, which is contested at a slightly shorter 1 3/16 mile distance and on a track with a speed-favoring reputation. If he comes through there, it will set up a wild scene in New York, as his majority owners, Anthony Bonomo and Vincent Viola, are lifelong buddies who grew up in Brooklyn and joined their stables together last year. "Growing up as kids, we've won a lot of Kentucky Derbies, but never in reality," Bonomo said. "I think we just knew, when we got together, something special was going to happen." Though Always Dreaming isn't ideally bred to go 1 1/2 miles, the Belmont Stakes distance he would have to navigate to win the Triple Crown, his relatively light 3-year-old campaign could now play to his advantage in a big way. Like American Pharoah, who had just two prep races under his belt that spring before the Kentucky Derby, Always Dreaming is a lightly-raced horse who broke his maiden Jan. 25 and easily won a conditional allowance race on March 4 before Pletcher entered him in the Florida Derby. It was a calculated risk to take that path, as anything short of a win would have probably prevented Always Dreaming from earning enough points to even qualify for the Kentucky Derby. But the horse validated Pletcher's decision, winning the Florida Derby by five lengths in a blistering 1 minute, 47 2/5 seconds, the fastest rendition of that race since Alydar in 1978. Now, the fact that Always Dreaming didn't have a grueling Derby prep schedule should play to his advantage. Always Dreaming is also fit enough that Pletcher said he doesn't plan on breezing him before the Preakness. "We were pretty high on him from the very beginning," Pletcher said. "But he kept showing us over and over again every breeze this winter, every race we ran him, he was special every time." Kentucky Derby 2017: Best photos from Churchill Downs Fullscreen #### Posted! A link has been posted to your Facebook feed. Always Dreaming's team celebrates in the winner's circle with the trophy after the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Always Dreaming owner Vinnie Viola, right, hugs jockey John Velazquez after winning the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Horse jockey John Velazquez drinks from a bottle of champagne after riding Always Dreaming to victory in the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen The post-race celebration in the winner's circle after Always Dreaming won the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen John Velazquez aboard Always Dreaming receives a garland of roses after winning the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen John Velazquez aboard Always Dreaming wins the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Mark Zerof, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen The Kentucky Derby field gets started at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen John Velazquez aboard Always Dreaming celebrates after winning the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen John Velazquez aboard Always Dreaming leads the field and wins the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Horses go into the first turn during the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Mark Zerof, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen John Velazquez aboard Always Dreaming crosses the finish line to win the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Jerry Lai, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Sehae Bicker jumps in a puddle in the infield before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Flowers at the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Samantha Fishburn wears a derby hat and drinks a mint julep before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Joe and Heather Cribbins take a selfie in the paddock area in their derby hats before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Horses are led out through the paddock area for early races prior to the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen John Sell and Megan Mejia smoke cigars in their derby hats on the infield before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen General view of patrons in the infield before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Dave Humes is interviewed in the infield before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen General view during the American Pharoah horse race before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Dave Gambetti places a bet before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Stephanie Waterhouse and Katie Hawk cheer during a race prior to the running of the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Bartender Ron Jones makes a thousand dollar mint julep before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen A patron wears a derby hat during the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mark Zerof, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Ryan Taylor proposes to Sarah Duda before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jerry Lai, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Sarah Rathsack and Ashley Loewe pose for a photo in their derby hats before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jerry Lai, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen Ashley Cebak with her derby hat before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jamie Rhodes, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen A man with his derby hat before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mark Zerof, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen A woman poses with her derby hat before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Mark Zerof, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen A detailed shilouette view of the staute of Barbaro outside of Gate One prior to the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Patrick Smith, Getty ImagesFullscreen Mint leaves in a souvenir mint julep glass before the 2017 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Jerry Lai, USA TODAY SportsFullscreen A horse is washed in the barn area prior to the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. Bobby Ellis, Getty ImagesFullscreen A detailed view of a horse getting his hoof shaved in the barn area prior to the 143rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs. 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train39757
Tapwrit
Racing career.:2017: three-year-old season.
He can go a mile and an eighth, a mile and a quarter. He did it pretty easily today. I think he’s going to get much better with each race." 
 Tapwrit's next start was the Blue Grass Stakes on April 8, where he once again faced off with McCraken, who had missed the Tampa Bay Derby with an injury. The two highly regarded colts were upset though by the lightly regarded Irap, who raced near the early pace and held off the rest of the field down the stretch. Tapwrit was never a factor in the race and finished fifth. 
 In the 2017 Kentucky Derby on May 6, Tapwrit was dismissed at odds of 27-1 despite analysis that suggested his pedigree was well suited to the distance. Tapwrit (in post position 16) got a poor start when Irish War Cry, in the 17th position, ducked to the inside at the start.