Enter Metallica: Sandman has some hard-rocking fans going into the Preakness
Trainer Bob Baffert is seen at Pimlico Race Course ahead of the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant River Thames works out at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant Sandman is walked around the barn at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant Sandman, left, works out at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant Sandman is bathed after a workout at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant Sandman is bathed after a workout at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Trainer Bob Baffert is seen at Pimlico Race Course ahead of the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant River Thames works out at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant Sandman is walked around the barn at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant Sandman, left, works out at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
Preakness Stakes entrant Sandman is bathed after a workout at Pimlico Race Course, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)
BALTIMORE (AP) — Mark Casse was not a Metallica guy until he began training Sandman. Now he is a big fan.
The band has returned the favor.
Front man James Hetfield met the horse at Churchill Downs before the Kentucky Derby, and he and the rest of Metallica filmed a video for Casse and Co. wishing Sandman well in the Preakness this weekend.
Advertisement
'We're excited to cheer on the people's horse, Sandman, who's heading to Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore this Saturday for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown,' Hetfield said. 'Metallica would like to wish Sandman and his awesome team good luck for a safe and winning trip at Preakness 150. Enter Sandman!'
Metallica also sent shirts to outfit the entire Casse Racing operation. Casse sent a hat signed by Hetfield to a friend and received in return a pair of Metallica-logoed underwear.
'I will be wearing them,' Casse said. 'There'll be no stone unturned.'
Sandman could use luck turning in his favor after finishing seventh in the Derby. Accustomed to being in the back of the pack, he struggled in the slop as he had more mud kicked back in his face than normal because of the 18 horses ahead of him.
Advertisement
'He just never got comfortable,' Casse said. 'That's why we're here. We're going to throw that one out. Hopefully we get a better track on Saturday, and even if we don't, we're only going to have eight horses throwing mud back at us.'
Calm River Thames
Todd Pletcher-trained River Thames was one of the latest-arriving Preakness horses, getting to Baltimore on Wednesday. The strapping colt took to the track at Pimlico for the first time Thursday morning, galloping a mile under exercise rider Nick Merritt.
'Just trying to keep him happy for the race, essentially,' Merritt said. 'Chill, chill horse. He's taking it all in.'
Advertisement
Pletcher has won the Derby twice and the Belmont Stakes four times. A Preakness victory is the last thing missing from his Triple Crown resume, and River Thames opened as the 9-2 third choice on the morning line after 8-5 favorite Journalism and Sandman at 4-1.
Baffert and Lukas
The far corner of the stakes barn at Pimlico during Preakness week has seen many Hall of Fame trainers, including good friends Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas chatting, telling stories and, often, giving each other and anyone within earshot a hard time.
They took their buddy comedy on the road for the annual Alibi Breakfast, roasting and poking some fun at fellow trainers. Lukas said he tried to talk Mike McCarthy out of having Journalism in the No. 40 stall usually reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner.
Advertisement
'That's the kiss of death — you can't put him in there,' Lukas said. 'I told him to go over and get him into another stall. Bob said: 'No, no, leave him there. Leave him there.' Don't make him feel comfortable. He's already got the favorite."
Baffert responded: 'The best horse wins the race, Wayne. It doesn't matter what stall he's in.'
Lukas and Baffert then turned their attention to Casse, who is based in Ocala, Florida, but is the most accomplished trainer at Woodbine Racetrack outside Toronto.
'We've got to watch out for this Mark Casse; he's won the Sovereign Award as leading trainer in Canada about 35 times or something,' Lukas said.
Advertisement
'What happens in Canada stays in Canada,' Baffert quipped. 'It's like Vegas, OK?'
Lukas chimed back in: 'It doesn't count. Mark, nothing counts in Canada.'
___
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
10 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Stanley Cup Final shifts to South Florida for Game 3 after the Panthers and Oilers split in Edmonton
SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Back in the same locker room that was the scene of Connor McDavid's profanity-laced outburst and the tearful ending to his first Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers hope they can avoid the same result this time around. Their next chance to take that step comes Monday night in Game 3 of their final rematch against the Florida Panthers, with play shifting to Sunrise after the teams split in Edmonton. The Oilers practiced in the shadow of the Panthers' championship banner and, afterwards, players stood in the same room McDavid did his post-Game 7 interview at the most disappointing moment of his NHL career. 'I think no matter how much time passes, it'll always be on your mind (when) you get that close,' coach Kris Knoblauch said. 'We're at a new stage of our season or our path, and we're just focused on what we need to do right now.' The Panthers won three of their four home games in the final last year, including the first two on the way to going up 3-0 in the series. The Oilers took Games 4 and 6 in Edmonton and Game 5 at Florida before their gut-wrenching loss in Game 7. This is also not their first trip back. They got that out of the way Feb. 27 and are very familiar with the arena thanks to last June. 'Absolutely, there's a comfort level in that, and there's a benefit in that,' forward Connor Brown said. 'You kind of know what to expect, you've been here and so you learn from experience, too. To be able to kind of have had to earn that experience last year, I think we'll benefit from it this year.' The Panthers went 27-12-2 at home during the regular season and 4-3 during the playoffs. 'It's never bad being in your own bed, have a nice home-cooked meal," Florida's Sam Reinhart said. 'I mean, once the puck drops, you might use the crowd a little bit. You might have that little extra energy. But at this time, it's the two best teams that are left standing. Once that puck drops, it's going to be a real battle regardless.' ___
Hamilton Spectator
13 minutes ago
- Hamilton Spectator
US Open ‘25: Hogan and Woods and other key anniversaries in the U.S. Open this year
OAKMONT, Pa. (AP) — A look at some of the anniversaries this year at the U.S. Open: 100 years ago (1925) Site: Worcester Country Club Winner: Willie MacFarlane Runner-up: Bobby Jones Score: 74-67-72-78-291 Margin: Playoff (MacFarlane 147, Jones 148) Winner's share: $500 Noteworthy: Jones felt his club moved the ball in the rough on the 11th hole of the first round. Officials were unable to confirm this and left it to Jones to make a ruling. He called a one-shot penalty on himself. Praised for his sportsman ship, Jones famously replied, 'You might as well praise me for not robbing a bank.' AP story: Willie MacFarlane, 'finest of men and a great golfer,' in the words of America's greatest amateur, little Bobby Jones of Atlanta, tonight is the open champion of the United States, a victory by a single stroke today ending the greatest tournament in history. The final score was 72 to 73 at the end of the second 18 holes of a playoff to decide the deadlocked tourney. Jones' opinion of the victory is of weight, for he was was — national amateur and former open champion — who fell before the other's prowess in a history-making playoff. Only after a throng of several thousand had boiled in the terrific heat through 36 holes did the end come, and then it was at the final green. 75 years ago (1950) Site: Merion Golf Club Winner: Ben Hogan Runner-up: Lloyd Mangum and George Fazio Score: 72-69-72-74-287 Margin: Playoff (Hogan 69, Mangrum 73, Fazio 75) Winner's share: $4,000 Noteworthy: Hogan hit 1-iron to the 18th in the final round, leading to one of golf's most iconic photos. When he played the 18th during the third round earlier that morning, he hit 6-iron to the green. It was an example of how much fatigue he had from his battered legs. AP story: Ben Hogan's legs held out today like stanchions of steel, and the game little man from Texas smashed Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio with strokes to spare in their 18-hole playoff for the National Open Golf Championship. In winning his second Open title within three years, Hogan climaxed gloriously the most remarkable comeback in the history of sports. This time a year ago, it was doubted that he ever would play golf again after barely escaping with his life from a head-on motor car collision near Van Horn, Texas. 50 years ago (1975) Site: Medinah Country Club Winner: Lou Graham Runner-up: John Mahaffey Score: 74-72-68-73-287 Margin: Playoff (Graham 71, Mahaffey 73) Winner's share: $40,000 Noteworthy: One year after Tom Watson had the 54-hole lead and shot 79, he had a 36-hole lead and shot 76-77. Watson won the first of his eight majors a month later at Carnoustie. AP story: Lou Graham, a 12-year-old tour veteran, wore down ambitious John Mahaffey and ended a career of golfing obscurity with a two-stroke victory Monday in the 18-hole payoff for the U.S. Open crown. 'It's the dream of a lifetime,' the 37-year-old Graham said in his soft, Tennessee drawl. He won it with a 71, even par on the 7,032 yards of gently rolling, heavily wooded countryside that makes up the Medinah Country Club course The bitterly disappointed Mahaffey, now a runner-up seven times since his lone tour title, didn't make a birdie in the hot and humid playoff and had a score of 73. 25 years ago (2000) Site: Pebble Beach Golf Links Winner: Tiger Woods Runners-up: Ernie Els, Miguel Angel Jimenez Score: 65-69-71-67-272 Margin: 15 shots Winner's share: $800,000 Noteworthy: Jack Nicklaus played in his final U.S. Open. In each of the four majors he played for the last time, Woods was the winner. AP story: Standing on the 18th fairway, Tiger Woods turned his back on Pebble Beach and looked out over Carmel Bay in the final moments of the most monumental U.S. Open victory ever. He was all alone, playing for himself — and for history. No one was close to catching him. No one is close in the game. 'We've been talking about him for two years. I guess we'll be talking about him for the next 20. When he's on, we don't have much of a chance,' Ernie Els said. While the rest of the field was playing for second, Woods took aim at the record books. When the final putt fell, Woods owned his third major championship, along with the kind of records no one imagined possible. 20 years ago (2005) Site: Pinehurst No. 2 Winner: Michael Campbell Runner-up: Tiger Woods Score: 71-69-71-69-280 Margin: 2 shots Winner's share: $1,170,000 Noteworthy: Retief Goosen and Jason Gore played in the final group and combined to take 165 strokes. Goosen shot 81, Gore shot 84. AP story: Michael Campbell answered every challenge Tiger Woods threw his way Sunday until a U.S. Open full of surprises got the biggest one of all. Woods blinked first. Ten years after being touted as a rising star, Campbell finally delivered a major championship no one expected with clutch par saves and a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that proved to be the knockout punch. The only drama at the end was whether Campbell would beat Pinehurst No. 2. He missed a 3-foot par putt on the final hole for a 1-under 69 to finish the tournament at even par. It was good enough for a two-shot victory over Woods, who charged along the back nine until missing an 8-foot par putt on the 16th hole, then three-putting from 25 feet on the par-3 17th, the same hole that doomed his chances at Pinehurst six years ago. 10 years ago (2015) Site: Chambers Bay Golf Club Winner: Jordan Spieth Runners-up: Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen Score: 68-67-71-69-275 Margin: 1 shot Winner's share: $1,800,000 Noteworthy: This was the first U.S. Open televised by Fox Sports in a 12-year deal. It gave up the rights after five years. AP story: Jordan Spieth is halfway home to the Grand Slam, a prize only three of the biggest names in modern golf have ever chased. And he still can't believe how he got there. Spieth won the U.S. Open in a heart-stopper Sunday with a turn of events even more wild than the terrain at Chambers Bay. He thought he had it won with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole. He threw away a three-shot lead one hole later. He made birdie on the final hole. And then he thought it was over as Dustin Johnson settled in over a 12-foot eagle putt for the victory. Three putts later, Spieth was the U.S. Open champion. Spieth joined Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in getting the first two legs of the modern slam that Palmer created on his way to St. Andrews in 1960. That's the next stop for the 21-year-old Texan whose two major championships could not be any more different. A wire-to-wire runaway at Augusta National. A nail-biter on the edge of Puget Sound. And another major heartache for Johnson. 5 years ago (2020) Site: Winged Foot Golf Club Winner: Bryson DeChambeau Runner-up: Matthew Wolff Score: 69-68-70-67-274 Margin: 6 shots Winner's share: $2,250,000 Noteworthy: It was the first U.S. Open in September since 1913. AP story: Call him a mad scientist in a tam o'shanter cap. Call him a game-changer in golf. Any description of Bryson DeChambeau now starts with U.S. Open champion. In a breathtaking performance Sunday at Winged Foot, on a course so demanding no one else broke par, DeChambeau blasted away with his driver and had short irons from the ankle-deep rough on his way to a 3-under 67. When his 7-foot par putt fell on the 18th, DeChambeau thrust those two powerful arms into the air. This was validation that his idea to add 40 pounds of mass, to produce an incredible amount of speed and power, would lead to moments like this. Two shots behind Matthew Wolff going into the final round, he passed him in five holes, pulled away to start the back nine and wound up winning by six shots. Wolff, trying to become the first player since Francis Ouimet in 1913 to win the U.S. Open in his debut, closed with a 75. ___ AP golf:
San Francisco Chronicle
14 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
US Open '25: Hogan and Woods and other key anniversaries in the U.S. Open this year
100 years ago (1925) Winner: Willie MacFarlane Runner-up: Bobby Jones Score: 74-67-72-78-291 Margin: Playoff (MacFarlane 147, Jones 148) Winner's share: $500 Noteworthy: Jones felt his club moved the ball in the rough on the 11th hole of the first round. Officials were unable to confirm this and left it to Jones to make a ruling. He called a one-shot penalty on himself. Praised for his sportsman ship, Jones famously replied, 'You might as well praise me for not robbing a bank.' AP story: Willie MacFarlane, 'finest of men and a great golfer,' in the words of America's greatest amateur, little Bobby Jones of Atlanta, tonight is the open champion of the United States, a victory by a single stroke today ending the greatest tournament in history. The final score was 72 to 73 at the end of the second 18 holes of a playoff to decide the deadlocked tourney. Jones' opinion of the victory is of weight, for he was was -- national amateur and former open champion -- who fell before the other's prowess in a history-making playoff. Only after a throng of several thousand had boiled in the terrific heat through 36 holes did the end come, and then it was at the final green. 75 years ago (1950) Site: Merion Golf Club Score: 72-69-72-74-287 Margin: Playoff (Hogan 69, Mangrum 73, Fazio 75) Winner's share: $4,000 Noteworthy: Hogan hit 1-iron to the 18th in the final round, leading to one of golf's most iconic photos. When he played the 18th during the third round earlier that morning, he hit 6-iron to the green. It was an example of how much fatigue he had from his battered legs. AP story: Ben Hogan's legs held out today like stanchions of steel, and the game little man from Texas smashed Lloyd Mangrum and George Fazio with strokes to spare in their 18-hole playoff for the National Open Golf Championship. In winning his second Open title within three years, Hogan climaxed gloriously the most remarkable comeback in the history of sports. This time a year ago, it was doubted that he ever would play golf again after barely escaping with his life from a head-on motor car collision near Van Horn, Texas. 50 years ago (1975) Site: Medinah Country Club Runner-up: John Mahaffey Margin: Playoff (Graham 71, Mahaffey 73) Winner's share: $40,000 Noteworthy: One year after Tom Watson had the 54-hole lead and shot 79, he had a 36-hole lead and shot 76-77. Watson won the first of his eight majors a month later at Carnoustie. AP story: Lou Graham, a 12-year-old tour veteran, wore down ambitious John Mahaffey and ended a career of golfing obscurity with a two-stroke victory Monday in the 18-hole payoff for the U.S. Open crown. 'It's the dream of a lifetime,' the 37-year-old Graham said in his soft, Tennessee drawl. He won it with a 71, even par on the 7,032 yards of gently rolling, heavily wooded countryside that makes up the Medinah Country Club course The bitterly disappointed Mahaffey, now a runner-up seven times since his lone tour title, didn't make a birdie in the hot and humid playoff and had a score of 73. 25 years ago (2000) Site: Pebble Beach Golf Links Winner: Tiger Woods Runners-up: Ernie Els, Miguel Angel Jimenez Score: 65-69-71-67-272 Margin: 15 shots Winner's share: $800,000 Noteworthy: Jack Nicklaus played in his final U.S. Open. In each of the four majors he played for the last time, Woods was the winner. AP story: Standing on the 18th fairway, Tiger Woods turned his back on Pebble Beach and looked out over Carmel Bay in the final moments of the most monumental U.S. Open victory ever. He was all alone, playing for himself — and for history. No one was close to catching him. No one is close in the game. 'We've been talking about him for two years. I guess we'll be talking about him for the next 20. When he's on, we don't have much of a chance,' Ernie Els said. While the rest of the field was playing for second, Woods took aim at the record books. When the final putt fell, Woods owned his third major championship, along with the kind of records no one imagined possible. 20 years ago (2005) Site: Pinehurst No. 2 Winner: Michael Campbell Runner-up: Tiger Woods Score: 71-69-71-69-280 Margin: 2 shots Winner's share: $1,170,000 Noteworthy: Retief Goosen and Jason Gore played in the final group and combined to take 165 strokes. Goosen shot 81, Gore shot 84. AP story: Michael Campbell answered every challenge Tiger Woods threw his way Sunday until a U.S. Open full of surprises got the biggest one of all. Woods blinked first. Ten years after being touted as a rising star, Campbell finally delivered a major championship no one expected with clutch par saves and a 20-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole that proved to be the knockout punch. The only drama at the end was whether Campbell would beat Pinehurst No. 2. He missed a 3-foot par putt on the final hole for a 1-under 69 to finish the tournament at even par. It was good enough for a two-shot victory over Woods, who charged along the back nine until missing an 8-foot par putt on the 16th hole, then three-putting from 25 feet on the par-3 17th, the same hole that doomed his chances at Pinehurst six years ago. 10 years ago (2015) Site: Chambers Bay Golf Club Winner: Jordan Spieth Runners-up: Dustin Johnson, Louis Oosthuizen Score: 68-67-71-69-275 Margin: 1 shot Winner's share: $1,800,000 Noteworthy: This was the first U.S. Open televised by Fox Sports in a 12-year deal. It gave up the rights after five years. AP story: Jordan Spieth is halfway home to the Grand Slam, a prize only three of the biggest names in modern golf have ever chased. And he still can't believe how he got there. Spieth won the U.S. Open in a heart-stopper Sunday with a turn of events even more wild than the terrain at Chambers Bay. He thought he had it won with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole. He threw away a three-shot lead one hole later. He made birdie on the final hole. And then he thought it was over as Dustin Johnson settled in over a 12-foot eagle putt for the victory. Three putts later, Spieth was the U.S. Open champion. Spieth joined Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in getting the first two legs of the modern slam that Palmer created on his way to St. Andrews in 1960. That's the next stop for the 21-year-old Texan whose two major championships could not be any more different. A wire-to-wire runaway at Augusta National. A nail-biter on the edge of Puget Sound. And another major heartache for Johnson. 5 years ago (2020) Site: Winged Foot Golf Club Winner: Bryson DeChambeau Runner-up: Matthew Wolff Score: 69-68-70-67-274 Margin: 6 shots Winner's share: $2,250,000 Noteworthy: It was the first U.S. Open in September since 1913. AP story: Call him a mad scientist in a tam o'shanter cap. Call him a game-changer in golf. Any description of Bryson DeChambeau now starts with U.S. Open champion. In a breathtaking performance Sunday at Winged Foot, on a course so demanding no one else broke par, DeChambeau blasted away with his driver and had short irons from the ankle-deep rough on his way to a 3-under 67. When his 7-foot par putt fell on the 18th, DeChambeau thrust those two powerful arms into the air. This was validation that his idea to add 40 pounds of mass, to produce an incredible amount of speed and power, would lead to moments like this. Two shots behind Matthew Wolff going into the final round, he passed him in five holes, pulled away to start the back nine and wound up winning by six shots. Wolff, trying to become the first player since Francis Ouimet in 1913 to win the U.S. Open in his debut, closed with a 75.
