78th Article at the Independent

Zandon not running in Preakness, Belmont

CHRIS DRUMMOND cdrummond@marshallindependent.com

MARSHALL — Zandon, who came in third at the Kentucky Derby on May 7 and is owned by Marshall native Jeff Drown, will not run in either the Preakness or the Belmont Stakes, according to an article by Rachel Blount in Friday’s edition of the Star Tribune.

Zandon will take some time to rest and get ready for future races, aiming towards the Travers Stakes in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. on Aug. 27. Zandon ended up earning $300,000 for his third-place finish at the 148th Kentucky Derby. Drown spoke to the Tribune on the decision to not run Zandon in the Preakness or Belmont, with the two-week turnaround between the Derby and the Preakness and the finish at the Derby being a factor.

“If he had won the Derby, we’d be talking about the Preakness,” Drown told the Tribune. “But we didn’t, so we’ll make another decision. We love this horse a lot and we think being very patient is the right decision. He’s at Belmont now, and he’s a happy horse. We’ll just give him the time to hopefully do well in the other (races).”

Zandon was a 6-1 favorite heading into the Derby and was the horse chosen mostly by the experts to win. In a shocking upset, however, Rich Strike won at 80-1 odds. Strike also won’t be competing in the Preakness due to rest, but is targeting a return at Belmont on June 11.

Zandon’s style of running is a closing style that was exhibited at the Derby, passing many on his way to a third-place finish. Epicenter, the horse that came in second, will be running in the Preakness and is presumably the favorite to win the race at a 3-1 odds. Other notable horses that are favored in the Preakness are Secret Oath at 11-2 odds and Early Voting at 6-1 odds. The Preakness will air on May 21 at approximately 6:01 p.m.