Making Graded Debut in Middle Jewel of Triple Crown May 18
    
LAUREL, MD – Runnymede Racing’s multiple stakes winner Alwaysmining resumed training this week and continues to progress nicely toward his graded-stakes debut in the 144th Preakness Stakes (G1) Saturday, May 18 at legendary Pimlico Race Course.

Maryland-bred Alwaysmining earned an automatic berth in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown by virtue of his runaway victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes April 20 at Laurel Park. The Tesio was his sixth consecutive victory, and fifth straight in a stakes.

“He came out of the race great, honestly,” trainer Kelly Rubley said after Frazza Cassimeris Racing’s 7-year-old gelding To Blave finished second at 10-1 in Laurel’s fourth race Saturday. “He’s been back galloping this week. He’s galloping nice and relaxed and very happy with himself.”

Rubley, based at the Fair Hill Training Center in Elkton, Md., said Alwaysmining will have at least one work there prior to the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.

“He’ll breeze next weekend, and we’ll take it from there,” Rubley said.

Rubley will watch the May 4 Kentucky Derby (G1) to see which horses may be Preakness-bound. Win Win Win, also based at Fair Hill with trainer Mike Trombetta, is among the Derby contenders.

Following the Derby Rubley expects action to pick up at bucolic Fair Hill, located approximately 60 miles northeast of Pimlico near the Pennsylvania border.

“It’s been quiet this week. I like it,” she said. “There seems to be more [attention] with the Triple Crown but that’s OK. We’re having fun.”

Rubley said Runnymede’s Greg and Caroline Bentley are enjoying the ride with Alwaysmining, and have already begin their own Preakness preparations.

“They’re great. They’re having a ball,” she said. “They’ve been shopping. They’ve got their outfits picked out and everything’s looking good.”

Alwaysmining captured the Maryland Juvenile Futurity and beat Win Win Win in the Heft Stakes in December to close his juvenile campaign. This year, he has reeled off wins in the one-mile Miracle Wood, about 1 1/16-mile Private Terms and 1 1/8-mile Tesio, by 36 ½ combined lengths.

In the Tesio, Alwaysmining showed a new dimension by coming from off the pace to post an 11 ½-length score after five straight front-running victories. Daniel Centeno has been aboard for every race during the streak.

“He’s a great horse to be around. He’s really fun. He’s so laid back,” Rubley said. “Everybody’s happy.”

Notes: Jockey Julian Pimentel won Saturday’s sixth race on Live Oak Plantation’s Souper Escape ($7.80) for trainer Mike Trombetta. Pimentel will work Win Win Win for the same connections Sunday morning at Churchill Downs, the colt’s final prep for the Kentucky Derby … Jockey J.D. Acosta and trainer Richard Sillman teamed up for their second win of the day with Scout’s Honor ($10.20) in Race 8. Acosta also won Race 4 on Fearless Terp ($4.40) while Sillman took Race 5 with Sir Brahms ($12.60) … Spring meet leader Trevor McCarthy rode two winners, Tale of E Dubai ($4.20) in Race 7 and Atlantic Avenue ($2.80) in Race 10 … There will be a carryover of $1,188.05 in the $1 Super Hi-5 for Sunday’s opener. First race post time is 1:10 p.m.