Great White is still on course for the 151st Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park, but trainer John Ennis says the final call will depend on how the grey gelding feels in an easy half-mile workout scheduled for Saturday in Lexington.
But he remains a live Preakness possibility less than a week after his Kentucky Derby bid ended before the race began.
According to the latest update, trainer John Ennis plans to put the John Battaglia Memorial winner through an easy half-mile workout on Saturday at The Thoroughbred Centre in Lexington before deciding whether to enter him for the second leg of the Triple Crown – the Preakness Stakes.
Workout to Decide Next Step
Ennis made clear that Great White’s energy level will determine whether he goes forward to Laurel Park for the May 16 classic. The trainer said he wants the gelding to be showing the same freshness he had during Derby week before committing to the trip.
It’s reported that Ennis may ride the horse himself in the breeze, with the trainer looking for reassurance that Great White has fully moved on from the incident that forced his Derby scratch.
Derby Mishap Did Not Stop Him Training
Great White was added to the Kentucky Derby field on April 29 after Silent Tactic was scratched, but his own run ended behind the stalls when he reared and flipped while the field was loading.
It was reported earlier this week that Ennis believed the colt came out of the episode unscathed and was still firmly in the Preakness picture.
Ennis also said Great White has not missed a day of training since returning to his home base, and that the horse appears physically strong heading into the weekend test.
Race Record Still Gives Him a Case
Great White earned his place on the spring trail by winning the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park in February.
He then stepped onto dirt for the first time when finishing fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland.
Equibase’s Kentucky Derby scratch report confirmed that Great White only got into the Churchill Downs field after Silent Tactic came out, giving Ennis a late chance at the race before the gate incident intervened.
If he pleases connections on Saturday, Great White would give Ennis another runner in a major Triple Crown event and add another late-developing name to the Preakness frame.
Saturday’s workout now stands as the key test for whether Great White’s spring campaign can continue at Laurel Park.
Preakness Stakes Race Information
📅 Date: Saturday, 16 May 2026
⌚ Time: 7:01pm ET
🏇 Racecourse: Laurel Park
🔄 Trip: 1m 1 1/2f
💷 Purse: $2m
📺 TV: Sky Sports Racing / NBC / Peacock
