Stonestreet Thoroughbred’s colt Astrology is ready to rock and roll for the Preakness Stakes after stretching his legs in a four furlong move which was clocked in :51.60 on Monday.

Regular visitors to this site know that I was high on his chances to make the Kentucky Derby and he was on my Kentucky Derby Contenders page for much of the winter before it became apparent that he wouldn’t make the race.

Astrology made his 2011 debut in the Sunland Derby where he was fairly close to a torrid pace and ended second behind Twice The Appeal. Not a bad effort considering he had been off so long and was tackling the distance of 9 furlongs for the first time.

After the Sunland Derby trainer Steve Asmussen sent the colt to Aqueduct for his next start in the Jerome Handicap where he looked done at the top of the stretch, but still finished second. The winner, Adios Charlie, is a very serious racehorse that came back to run a desperately close second in the Peter Pan Stakes. To me, it showed heart for Astrology to keep coming in the Jerome after it looked like he was defeated. He did it over a wet track too which is something he might encounter in the Preakness.

I love Astrology’s breeding. He is a son of A.P out of the Quiet American mare Quiet Eclipse. Recognize that cross? You should. It is the same one that 2006 Preakness Stakes and Travers Stakes winner Bernardini is bred on.

Not that looks mean much, but Astrology is one of the best looking colts of this crop that I can remember seeing. He is a strong colt and a good mover. He’s got heart as we saw Jerome and he showed last year he is plenty good enough to run with the big boys by finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club and winning the Iroquois Stakes.

Making his third start of the year in the Preakness means Astrology is ready to run the race of his life. He will need to do s0 to win. We know he can get the distance and we know he is classy enough. The connections are top notch and all systems are go. Look for Astrology to give them hell in the Preakness.

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