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Friday Notebook Late arrival Impeachment looks to close gap
Posted: Friday May 19, 2000 05:24 PM
BALTIMORE (AP) -- One of the last arrivals at Pimlico for the Preakness, Impeachment hopes to be the first to hit the finish line Saturday. A late rally by Impeachment at the Kentucky Derby resulted in a third-place finish. His trainer plans to close the gap on Fusaichi Pegasus, the Derby winner and overwhelming favorite in the Preakness. "If [Impeachment] moves forward two or three lengths and Fusaichi moves back a couple, we're right there," trainer Todd Pletcher said. "He beat us by 5 1/2 lengths, so that's all it will take." If Impeachment wins, it will be by virtue of a strong stretch run under rider Craig Perret. "The jockey doesn't have to worry about taking him back. He'll do that on his own," Pletcher said. "It looks like there is some pretty good speed in this race. You would simply diminish the effectiveness of his rally if you pushed him to get closer early." Impeachment got his first look at Pimlico on Friday, galloping at a leisurely pace under regular exercise rider Pablo Fergoso. The horse arrived by van from New York late Thursday morning after training hours. Impeachment is seeking his first victory of 2000. He's finished in the money in half his six races, taking one second and two thirds. Belmont possiblesThe field for the Belmont Stakes on June 10 is already taking shape. Preakness runners Fusaichi Pegasus, Red Bullet, Impeachment and High Yield are being pointed to the final leg of the Triple Crown, along with Aptitude, Wheelaway, Chief Seattle, Curule and Globalize. Possibles include Takohda Hills and Unshaded. The Triple Crown has been at stake in each of the last three Belmonts, but each time the Derby-Preakness winner fell short. Charismatic was third in 1999, Real Quiet second in '98 and Silver Charm second in '97. The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978. Conceding nothingThere's a reason that there hasn't been a Triple Crown winner in more than two decades -- it's not as easy as it looks. D. Wayne Lukas, trainer of High Yield, warned that Fusaichi Pegasus might experience some rough terrain on the road to the Triple Crown. "I don't think the horsemen and some of the public are as ready to concede the Preakness and Belmont to him as the press has," Lukas said. "You've got to remember that he has to run in these races. That's why the Triple Crown is so tough. You win one or two and you think, or hope, that you can go all the way." High Yield galloped for 1 1/2 miles Friday in his final tuneup for the Preakness. It also marked the last day that Lukas had to answer questions about his horse's 15th-place finish in the Derby. Hef all wet?The forecast for Baltimore on Saturday is for cloudy weather, a chance of showers and temperatures in the upper 60s. That doesn't bode well for those fans on the infield, but a wet afternoon would be delightful for long shot Hugh Hefner. "I wouldn't mind a bit. He's training super in the mud," said Marty Jones, trainer for Hugh Hefner. The horse galloped Friday under exercise rider Andy Durnin, who performs the same chore for Fusaichi Pegasus. Big payoffSnuck In has already earned more than a half-million, which makes him quite an investment for co-owner Bob Ackerley. Ackerley paid $130,000 for the son of Montbrook. "We've had a lot of success in the 2-year-old sales in Florida, and obviously we're very pleased with the way Snuck In turned out," Ackerley said. Snuck In will more than double his career earnings with a victory Saturday. "He's ready to go," trainer Steve Asmussen said, "This race looks like it should set up for him with speed in front."
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