It’s not as bad as it looks, even if American Promise finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) after losing by more than 38 lengths. What a backhanded praise that is. After six furlongs, the tall, rangy colt was only a length behind the leader after being knocked at the start, but he was stopped on the far bend and had to back up. It was somewhat of a dogfight, according to jockey Nik Juarez. “Citizen Bull jumped off the rail, impacting two horses inside of me.” I needed to travel as efficiently as possible for American Promise. Given that the Preakness field is smaller and far weaker than the Derby’s, it would be difficult to see him running into more problems there. Thankfully, American Promise, fellow frontrunners East Avenue, Rodriguez, Citizen Bull and Owen Almighty aren’t entered, so maybe D. Wayne Lukas’ colt can make an easy lead.
In order to give Lukas his sixth Preakness trophy, Seize the Grey went all the way last year. When Citizen Bull arrived, Lukas remarked, “It all went to hell in a handbasket.” “… American Promise is a big horse, and it’s difficult to get him going again after he gets stopped.” Nevertheless, he persevered and displayed grit after initially running into difficulties. Juarez stated, “I just think he got a lot out of the race.” Perhaps he did. Coming off a seven-week layoff, the son of 2018 Triple Crown hero Justify faced a difficult time in the Derby. Look what occurred last year when few handicappers took Seize the Grey seriously. If American Promise can get loose on the lead, as he did while dominating the Virginia Derby, they might not catch him.
