LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Topped by a five-furlong breeze in 59 1/5 seconds by Lexington Stakes winner Owendale, three new players joining the Triple Crown trail worked Saturday at Churchill Downs in preparation for the Grade 1 Preakness at Pimlico on May 18.

Among the first horses to breeze at Churchill after its opening at 5:30 a.m., Owendale zipped an opening quarter in 24 seconds before slowing somewhat under his exercise rider. He worked from the half-mile pole to the seven-eighths pole, a furlong beyond the finish, and was timed galloping out six furlongs in 1:12 1/5 by Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols.

The two other Preakness horses to work Saturday at Churchill Downs were Signalman, who was timed going a half mile in 47 3/5 seconds under regular jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., and Warrior’s Charge, another Cox-trained colt who covered five furlongs in 1:00 4/5. Like Owendale, Warrior’s Charge breezed from the half-mile to the seven-eighths poles.

A week before the race, a field of up to 11 horses is likely, with the projected morning-line favorite being Improbable, the Arkansas Derby runner-up who was placed fourth in the Kentucky Derby upon the disqualification of Maximum Security. Other potential returnees from the Derby include War of Will (7th), Win Win Win (9th), and Bodexpress (13th).

Winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club last year at 2, Signalman has raced twice at 3, finishing seventh in the Mar. 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream in his seasonal debut, and third in the Bluegrass at Keeneland Apr. 6. In the Bluegrass he was caught by a nose for second by late-running Win Win Win, just missing in a photo that vaulted Win Win Win in the Derby on qualifying points and left Signalman just short.

His workout Saturday was five furlongs, trainer Kenny McPeek said, though Churchill clockers only timed him for a half mile during an active period following the track’s first renovation break. He went in company with Indian Counselor, a maiden, pulling away by about two lengths at the finish.

Win Win Win is one of a couple of horses training at Fair Hill Training Center at Elkton, Maryland, with the other being Alwaysmining, a colt riding a six-race win streak. The latter breezed a half-mile in 48 1/5 seconds Friday over Fair Hill’s synthetic surface. 

Attached is the video replay of the Lexington, in which Owendale prevails over Anothertwistafate, who also goes in the Preakness.

More to come shortly at Drf.com