Two Phil’s (Hard Spun), a game runner-up in the GI Kentucky Derby, will skip the May 20 GI Preakness S., according to a report from Jim O’Donnell in the Chicago Daily Herald.
“Too soon,” trainer Larry Rivelli told O’Donnell. “Phil came out of the Derby great. We shipped back to Chicago Sunday, but the Preakness is just 12 days away. That’s just too soon.”
Two Phil’s, coming off a win in the Mar. 25 GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks, was the only runner close to the hot pace to still be around at the wire in Saturday’s Derby.
“I’m not a guy who celebrates [second-place finishes], but this was an exception,” said Rivelli told O’Donnell. “So much had to go right for us and all came so close to going perfect. And you have to give major credit to [Jareth] Loveberry for the ride.”
Two Phil’s, winner of last year’s GIII Street Sense S. at Churchill Downs, opened 2023 with a runner-up effort in the Jan. 21 GIII Lecomte S. and was second in the Feb. 18 GII Risen Star S. before earning his spot in the Derby with his win in the Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park in March.
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