Pyrenees Carries Winning Streak Into Pimlico Special

Blue Heaven Farm’s 4-year-old Pyrenees , named for the mountain range on the border of France and Spain, certainly has experienced peaks and valleys. Now, off three straight wins, the son of Into Mischief will ascend into graded-stakes company in the May 17 $250,000 Pimlico Special Stakes (G3) at Pimlico Race Course.

The 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up is among six stakes, three graded, worth $1 million in purses on a 14-race program. Friday’s first race post time is 11:30 a.m. ET.

Trained by Cherie DeVaux, Pyrenees had been off a full year when he won a maiden race this past December in New Orleans, followed by an entry-level allowance at the Fair Grounds and a second-level allowance at Keeneland. Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Derby (G1)-winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. will attempt to go to 4-for-4 on the colt.

DeVaux’s patience has paid off after Pyrenees went 0-for-4 as a 2-year-old—with an encouraging second and third but also a pair of nowhere finishes—before being sidelined.

“He forced us to give him time with an injury,” DeVaux said. “At the time, he was really immature mentally. He was quite aloof in the beginning of his career. His first three races since he’s come back, you can’t ask him to do any more. He’s come back obviously better than before.

“Before, he was just always really immature in everything about him. His second start, he ran a really good race, running second. Then he had a couple of disappointing races. He’s a goofball, I guess, is the only way to put it, especially when he was younger. He can go a little bit farther than he’s been running, but this is the next logical step.”

Of Hernandez riding Pyrenees, she said, “He gets along with the horse. Brian can be patient, not just in the race but with his antics.” They will break from post 4.

The likely favorite in the field of eight is Spendthrift Farm’s Kingsbarns , whose 5-for-7 lifetime record includes winning both starts this year after being off 8 1/2 months. Kingsbarns’ victories include Keeneland’s Ben Ali Stakes (G3) April 20 and last year’s Louisiana Derby (G2) in his third lifetime start. His only defeats came by a neck in last year’s Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park and a 14th-place finish after being part of a fast pace in the Kentucky Derby. He is trained by Todd Pletcher and will be ridden by Luis Saez from post 2.

Red Route One , fourth in last year’s Preakness Stakes (G1), won the Fair Grounds’ New Orleans Classic (G2) two starts ago before finishing third in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2). He’s one of two horses in the Pimlico Special trained by record-setting Steve Asmussen, who also is sending out Oaklawn Park allowance winner Harlocap .

“Red Route One is a very good horse,” Asmussen said the morning of May 12 at Churchill Downs. “He’s not made a million-and-a-half (dollars) by accident. I think the racetrack ought to suit Harlocap. On his best day he’s capable of a very good race. He’ll obviously have to step up to the competition. It’s a good opportunity.”

Red Route One with Joel Rosario will leave from post 5, while Harlocap is along the rail and will be ridden by Paco Lopez.