Preakness Stakes: Orb braves rain in return to track at Belmont Park

ELMONT, N.Y. - Under gray, pre-dawn skies and with a steady rain falling, Kentucky Derby winner Orb returned to the track Wednesday morning, jogging a mile over a muddy Belmont Park surface.

Trainer Shug McGaughey said he would have galloped Orb Wednesday, but with the main track sealed and with two sets of orange cones, known as dogs, up to protect the inside paths of the track, he elected to have Orb simply jog.

“I got a day [to play with] so I might as well jog him and try not to beat him up over that track,” McGaughey said. “I thought he jogged really well. I was pleased with what I saw. Seemed to be good and settled in, wasn’t all frazzled. It seems to me that all systems are go.”

Jennifer Patterson, Orb’s regular exercise rider, said she was happy with how Orb felt underneath her Wednesday morning. Orb jogged alongside a stable pony and with very few horses on the track, most of them his stablemates.

“He was full of life out there, jumping around,” Patterson said. “Every time a horse would come galloping by us he’d try to buck and play. He’s happy. Moving good too.”

McGaughey said that regardless of track condition, Orb would gallop on Thursday and with everything being equal, he would breeze Monday morning at Belmont. Thus far, McGaughey has been pleased with how well Orb has come out of the race.

“I think he’s been fine, his energy level is good, he’s been eating very well,” he said. “I think his appearance is very good; so far everything is in order.”