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Preakness Contenders Work Out

May 16, 2000 / 1:31 AM EDT / AP

Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus worked five furlongs in 59 seconds Monday in preparation for the Preakness Stakes.

The work was the second-fastest of 30 at the distance at Churchill Downs on Monday.

Fusaichi Pegasus, trained by Neil Drysdale, jogged and galloped more than two miles with exercise rider Andy Durnin up before breaking off for the work at the five-eighths pole.

The colt broke off about two lengths behind regular workmate Bodyguard, pulled alongside the other horse midway through the turn, and drew away in the stretch, setting fractions of 34 3/5 and 47 3/5.

"He worked well," Drysdale said. "It was just a little quicker than we anticipated, but he was working well within himself."

Drysdale said Fusaichi Pegasus has been looking good after the Derby, and he was happy with the colt's condition.

Drysdale said he'll ship the son of Mr. Prospector to Baltimore's Pimlico Race Course on Wednesday after training that morning. He said the colt will walk or trot on Tuesday.

If all goes well in the Preakness, Drysdale said he won't send Fusaichi Pegasus back to Churchill, but go ahead and send him to Belmont Park for the June 10 Belmont Stakes.

The fastest 5-furlong work of the day was 58 1/5 by Bob Baffert-trained Captain Steve, who finished eighth in the Derby.

Baffert, who was waiting on Monday's work to decide whether Captain Steve would start in the Preakness, said he would go ahead and send him to Pimlico on Wednesday.

"He wanted to go off at the pole, he wanted to do it," Baffert said. "That's what you're looking for. He wanted to do it and that means he came out of (the Derby) great."