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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Lucas Giolito felt “a little off” the morning after his May 10 start for the Chicago White Sox.“I immediately talked to (head athletic trainer) James (Kruk) and got tested, and that first rapid test showed positive (for COVID-19),” Giolito said Tuesday. “Then we did the PCR and it came back the next day. That was that.”AdvertisementThe Sox placed Giolito on the COVID-19-related injured list Friday. He’s expected to return Wednesday and pitch against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.“It was (my) second time having it,” Giolito said. “I had it in the offseason and this time was a little bit rougher the first couple of days. But I recovered very quickly. Excited to be back. It was not fun being away from the team and having to watch all the games on TV.Advertisement“I had body aches and stuff in the mornings and at night. It was two days of pretty bad. During the daytime, when we got meds in me, I was pretty good. But it was important to rest and recuperate. I’m glad to be feeling 100% now and back.”Giolito’s return means the Sox will make slight adjustments to the rotation. Vince Velasquez is in line to start Thursday’s series finale with Dallas Keuchel and Michael Kopech scheduled for the first two games against the Yankees in New York. Sunday’s starter will be either Johnny Cueto or Dylan Cease.White Sox pitcher Lucas Giolito wipes his face in the dugout after a rough first inning against the Los Angeles Angels on April 29, 2022, at Guaranteed Rate Field. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune)Giolito said he was able to stay in shape “as best as I can.”“Routine was thrown off a little bit,” he said. “But I was able to do some good work and I had some equipment at home, quarantine-style. Feeling good. It’s good to be back here and get a nice day of being outside.”Sox manager Tony La Russa said Giolito could have pitched one of Tuesday’s doubleheader games, but “we thought it was a real push. Better off having him pitch (Wednesday).” Giolito is 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA in five starts this season. He was on the IL from April 9-24 with a left abdominal strain that he suffered on opening day.The Sox will be a step closer to a healthy pitching staff when Giolito takes the mound. Lance Lynn is working his way back after undergoing right knee surgery to repair a torn tendon during spring training.Giolito enjoyed watching Cueto pitch six shutout innings in his Sox debut Monday.Advertisement“He’s come out of the gate tremendously already in one game,” Giolito said. “I’m excited to get to know him better and have him part of the rotation. We never know when like something like this could happen, like COVID … or the injuries happen. Having that depth is super important.“Bringing in a player like Cueto — who has a wealth of experience, been on winning teams — bringing that knowledge and that experience to the table to help us along with his great pitching ability (is) always welcomed.”

Former White Sox and Cubs pitcher Donn Pall offered up a message for high school baseball players after having his No. 20 retired by alma mater Evergreen Park.If he can do it, anybody can.Advertisement“Whenever I speak to kids, I’ll tell them my story,” Pall said. “Nobody ever looked at me and said, ‘That guy’s going to be a major leaguer. That guy’s phenomenal.’“Nobody said I was going anywhere. Nobody recruited me for college. I went to walk on at Illinois and got cut my freshman year. I tell people, ‘You just never know.’”AdvertisementDonn and Kate Pall walk out on the field for the former White Sox and Cubs pitcher’s number retirement ceremony before Shepard and Evergreen Park played a South Suburban Red game in Evergreen Park on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)After the pregame ceremony, the rest of Monday night belonged to Shepard. The Astros rolled to a 10-3 win to stay in the hunt for the South Suburban Red championship.Junior right-hander Andrew Alarcon allowed just one unearned run over four innings and drove in three runs on two singles to lead Shepard (15-10, 11-4).Dominic Chillmon went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Paul Kladis also drove in two runs as the Astros closed within a half-game of Reavis for the conference lead.Grady Elwood allowed one earned run in 5 2/3 innings of relief and Jack Hughes added a two-run single for Evergreen Park (14-17, 7-11).Shepard’s pitcher Andrew Alarcon (5) delivers a pitch against Evergreen Park during a South Suburban Red game in Evergreen Park on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)Alarcon said he was inspired by Pall’s story.“That was really exciting for me to see, that even if you don’t start at a big school, you can go far,” Alarcon said. “That’s my dream. I’m trying to do the same thing he did right now.“I’m just trying to get my name out there, start from the bottom and go to the top and finish there.”Pall’s name and number will adorn a fence along the third base line at Evergreen Park, an honor that means a lot to the 10-year Major League Baseball veteran.Advertisement“I grew up here and lived here for around 25 years,” Pall said. “I have a lot of friends that still live here. I love coming back to Evergreen Park always. There’s certainly a special bond with me and this community, all the fields I played on here and the high school. It means a lot to be back.“Who would ever think this would be happening for me? It’s so cool to be able to do that, to retire the number and to get to see these incredible fields they have here. It’s amazing. It’s a dream come true, really.”Evergreen Park’s Alejandro Munoz (7) connects against Shepard during a South Suburban Red game in Evergreen Park on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)After graduating from Evergreen Park, Pall attempted to walk on at Illinois but did not make the team as a freshman. He tried again as a sophomore and made the cut.His breakthrough did not come until he was a fifth-year senior. He went 13-1 with a 1.98 ERA and attracted attention from MLB scouts.Daily SouthtownTwice-weeklyNews updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and WednesdayIn 1985, he was drafted in the 23rd round by the White Sox. He pitched on the South Side for six seasons. He also had stints with the Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees and Florida Marlins.Pall went 24-23 in his career with a 3.63 ERA.AdvertisementShepard’s catcher Mike Radz (12) tags out Evergreen Park’s Sean Higgins (18) at the plate during a South Suburban Red game in Evergreen Park on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Steve Johnston / Daily Southtown)Not bad for a guy who could not get a college scholarship.“If you want something bad enough and someone tells you you’re not good enough but you want it, keep working hard and keep getting after it because you never know,” Pall said. “I’m the story that proves that.”For Elwood, a sophomore who retired Shepard’s final 10 hitters of the game, there could not be a better hometown role model for a young pitcher.“The path that he took, it would be awesome if I could ever do something even close to that,” Elwood said. “That’s the goal.”Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.

The mother of Rajon Rondo’s children has been granted an emergency protective order after he allegedly pulled a gun on her and threatened to kill her.Ashley Bachelor, the NBA point guard’s 36-year-old ex-girlfriend, claims that Rondo was playing video games with their son last week when she asked the boy to finish doing laundry, according to the order obtained by the Louisville Courier Journal Monday.AdvertisementRondo, 36, became “enraged” and “ripped the video game console from the wall” when their son got up, smashed a tea cup in front of their daughter, began throwing things around the house and outside, then drove his car onto the lawn, according to Bachelor.“You’re dead,” he allegedly told her when she asked why he was acting out.AdvertisementRajon Rondo most recently played with the Cleveland Cavaliers. (Sarah Stier/Getty Images)Instead of calling police, Bachelor said she called the former police chief personally, scared of how Rondo would continue to react. He left, then came back 15 minutes and began hitting the back window with a gun, according to the protective order request.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Still waving his gun, Rondo allegedly screamed at both children, asking why they were afraid of him.Rondo’s parents eventually showed up and he let the children back inside the house, but “could not be calmed down.”Despite Rondo trying to block the door, Bachelor said she was able to get inside and bring the children upstairs with her.The former police chief, Yvette Gentry, was eventually able to get the gun from Rondo, who left the house.Rondo has been ordered to stay 500 feet away from Bachelor and their children, and must surrender all firearms.The NBA said it is “aware of the report and are in the process of gathering more information.”Rondo, who played college basketball at the University of Kentucky, was on the Los Angeles Lakers and the Cleveland Cavaliers this season and is now an unrestricted free agent after 16 seasons in the NBA.

NEW YORK — Chicago Fire midfielder Xherdan Shaqiri is Major League Soccer’s highest-paid player, jumping past Los Angeles FC attacker Carlos Vela.The 30-year-old Swiss international, who joined Chicago this season from Lyon, has a base salary of $7.35 million and total compensation of $8,153,000, according to figures released Tuesday by the Major League Soccer Players Association.AdvertisementHe is expected to be passed by Italian winger Lorenzo Insigne, who joins Toronto this summer from Napoli.[ [Don’t miss] Xherdan Shaqiri signs with the Chicago Fire for a club-record $7.5 million fee — the team’s most significant signing in years ]LA Galaxy forward Javier Hernandez began the season in second at $6 million and Inter Miami striker Gonzalo Higuaín third with a $5.1 million base and $5,793,750 in total compensation.AdvertisementToronto midfielder Alejandro Pozuelo is fourth ($3.8 million, $4,693,000), followed by New England forward Jozy Altidore ($3,706,139 $4,264,963), Atlanta forward Josef Martínez ($3.75 million, $4,141,667), Vela ($2.25 million, $4.05 million), Atlanta midfielder/forward Luiz Araújo ($3.6 million, $3,941,667), Columbus midfielder Lucas Zelarayán ($3.1 million, $3.7 million) and New England midfielder Carles Gil ($3,25 million, $3,545,833).Atlanta has the highest payroll, with guaranteed compensation of $20,999,272, followed by the Galaxy at $20,128,040, Miami at $18,882,628 and New England at $18,141,886.Salt Lake is last at $10,477,859.The union said the average for senior roster players, not including designated players who count only partly under a team’s salary cap, increased by 10.3% to $438,728 from $397,753 in 2021.

The Chicago Fire’s Gabriel Slonina, an 18-year-old viewed as a goalkeeper of the future for the U.S. national team, was listed on Poland’s 39-man roster announced by coach Czesław Michniewicz on Tuesday ahead of four Nations League matches next month.Slonina, who turned 18 on Sunday, became Major League Soccer’s youngest starting goalkeeper last Aug. 4 at 17 years, 81 days, in a 0-0 draw against New York City. He started 11 league matches last season. including the final 10, and has started the first 11 this year.AdvertisementBorn in Addison, Ill., and of Polish descent, Slonina attended U.S. national team training camps in December and January but did not get into any matches. He has played for the U.S. at several youth national team levels.[ [Don’t miss] Gabriel Slonina is making waves — and not only for becoming the Chicago Fire’s ‘scary’ good goalkeeper. The Addison native’s unrelenting work ethic and maturity are well beyond his 17 years. ]Under FIFA rules, a player may appear into up to three matches for a national team before turning 21 without being tied to the team.AdvertisementSlonina is among five goalkeepers on Poland’s roster, joining starter Wojciech Szczęsny of Juventus and Bartłomiej Drągowski of Fiorentina, Kamil Grabara of Copenhagen and Łukasz Skorupski of Bologna.Zack Steffen of Manchester City and Matt Turner of New England, who is transferring to Arsenal this year, shared the U.S. starting job during World Cup qualifying, and Ethan Horvath and Sean Johnson also were on the roster.Poland hosts Wales on June 1 and Belgium on June 14, and is at Belgium on June 8 and the Netherlands on June 11.

Willson Contreras started getting emotional in the dugout after he crushed a first-inning grand slam Monday night.The slam punctuated an eight-run first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates, all the offense the Chicago Cubs needed in a 9-0 win at Wrigley Field. Left-hander Wade Miley locked down the Pirates lineup, tossing seven scoreless innings and allowing just one baserunner for the Cubs’ third straight victory.AdvertisementContreras’ fourth career grand slam was bigger than what it meant within the context of the game. It was the 100th home run of Contreras’ career, a milestone that prompted emotional thoughts in the dugout of the Venezuelan native’s winding baseball journey.“The whole thing that I went through in the minors came to mind,” Contreras said. “I mean, the road is not easy, but if you put the right work in, you might get there. Today is one of those days that made me think of my childhood, where I came from. It makes me proud.”Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Willson Contreras’ hot start for the Cubs is rooted in his approach: ‘One of the most talented hitters I’ve ever been around’ ]Contreras jumped a first-pitch hanging curveball from Pirates right-hander Bryse Wilson for the 422-foot grand slam. After the game, he received his 100th home run ball from the fan who caught it, exchanging a couple of balls and a bat and taking some photos with the fan.Contreras plans to give the memento to his dad, Wuiliam.“He knows how hard we work to get to the big leagues and there was a lot of calls during the minor leagues, a lot of frustration, a lot of obstacles that were in my road,” Contreras said. “But he was a support. He and my mom (Olga) were there all the time and this is for them.”Contreras’ 100th home run was notable on multiple levels:He became the third Cubs catcher to reach the mark, joining Gabby Hartnett (231 homers) and Jody Davis (122).According to Elias Sports Bureau, Contreras — who led off the first with a double — is the first Cub with a grand slam and an extra-base hit in the same inning since Wildfire Schulte on Aug. 16, 1911.Contreras is one of just 10 leadoff hitters since 1901 with a first-inning grand slam. George Springer, in 2016 for the Houston Astros, is the only other player to accomplish the feat in the last 35 years.“Unbelievable, man,” catcher Yan Gomes said. “He’s probably one of the better players in this game, and you can see when he gets hot, it’s not just like a couple of base hits. It’s like there’s no stadium that can hold him. So it’s nice to have him on our side.”Cubs DH Willson Contreras sits in the dugout during the eighth inning Monday, May 16, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)The Cubs sent 13 batters to the plate in the first with three of their eight hits going for extra bases. Ian Happ, Gomes, Andrelton Simmons and Rafael Ortega each recorded an RBI before Contreras’ grand slam.Watching Contreras’ special moment reminded manager David Ross of his 100th career home run, which he hit in 2016 at Wrigley during the last of his 15 big-league seasons. Ross laughed when noting how it took him a lot longer to hit the mark than Contreras, who just turned 30 in his seventh season.“He’s got to do a lot of cool things early on in his career, and it’s why he’s such a special player,” Ross said.Advertisement[ [Don’t miss] Drew Smyly reaches 10 years of MLB service time — something the Cubs pitcher doesn’t take lightly ]Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.Miley didn’t need any more offensive support after the eight-run first. He utilized his natural quick pace and an aggressive approach that allowed him to rack up outs with an efficient pitch count.Miley tallied six strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter after issuing five walks in three innings during his season debut Tuesday in San Diego.“I mean, guys know what I’m going to do,” Miley said. “I’m going to throw stuff in hard and soft away. But I have to be able to command it.”Fans applaud as Cubs DH Willson Contreras walks through the dugout after the 9-0 victory over the Pirates on Monday, May 16, 2022, at Wrigley Field. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Miley’s lone baserunner came on Michael Chavis’ two-out single in the fifth. Cubs fans booed Chavis as he reached first base after he stepped out of the box twice during the at-bat. The second time call frustrated Miley because he was already going into his delivery when plate umpire Dan Bellino stopped him to award Chavis’ request.The Pirates second baseman hit the next pitch into left to end Miley’s perfect game.“The second one was a little late,” Miley said. “I’m already in my leg kick when I hear (Bellino) start screaming. You don’t have to give him time, so I was just letting Dan know that I understand they call time a lot but you don’t have to give it to him.Advertisement“I‘m working quick, I’m coming at you, and if you want to step out, step out — I’m going to keep doing it, I don’t really care.”

BALTIMORE — With his ninth-inning home run, Anthony Rizzo joined Aaron Judge (12) and Giancarlo Stanton (10) with double-digit home runs. Amazingly, it is the first time in Yankees history that they have had three players with 10 or more home runs within the first 35 games.It took a while for Rizzo to get there. He had not hit a home run since April 29 in Kansas City — until he hit his 10th of the season in the ninth inning.Advertisement“It’s definitely just part of the season where you put in the work and you don’t necessarily get the results. So it’s definitely a battle, but usually you get into ruts like that and one swing like that could definitely help,” Rizzo said of his homer. “I feel like yesterday was a lot closer, even some of the outs today didn’t necessarily look too good, but felt better so we just gotta keep going every day and you know once we can just switch it all.”Anthony Rizzo celebrates his ninth-inning homer Monday night. (Nick Wass/AP)Overall, Rizzo’s lefty bat has been a big contributor to the Yankees lineup this season. Rizzo is hitting .224/.3336/.520 with nine home runs, an .856 OPS.

Andrelton Simmons’ return to the Chicago Cubs couldn’t have come at a better time.Simmons endured a frustrating rehab from right shoulder soreness, something he never had experienced in his 11-year big-league career before it sidelined him during spring training.AdvertisementBut with second baseman Nick Madrigal already on the injured list, shortstop Nico Hoerner’s move to the IL on Sunday struck a big blow to the Cubs’ middle infield depth while costing them one of their best defensive players.The Cubs activated Simmons from the IL as the corresponding move Sunday, and he entered as a defensive replacement at shortstop in the ninth inning and recorded the final out against the Arizona Diamondbacks.AdvertisementSimmons — who started at short in Monday’s series opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field — indicated his shoulder feels pretty good but still has room to improve.Chicago Tribune SportsWeekdaysA daily sports newsletter delivered to your inbox for your morning commute.He didn’t need to wait long to collect his first hit as a Cub. With the bases loaded in the first inning, Simmons hit a soft roller down the third-base line that slowed to a stop halfway to the base without a play being made. The two-out RBI infield single was part of an eight-run first against the Pirates.Cubs shortstop Andrelton Simmons hits an RBI infield single during the first inning at Wrigley Field on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)Hoerner’s stellar play at shortstop allowed Simmons to take the proper time to build up his shoulder and not feel pressured to join the Cubs before he was fully ready.“He was holding (it down), so I’m like, all right, I’ve got some room to improve,” Simmons said. “Do I jump back in or do I try to keep getting better, as good as I can, so I’m close to my best?“(The trainers) had my back the whole time. They made extra time for me and all that. So they want me out there. They’re doing everything to keep me on the field.”Simmons was a little discouraged by how long the shoulder soreness lingered, but he’s happy to finally be around his teammates. All of his 1,190 major-league games in the field have come at shortstop, though he’s willing to play second base if needed.Simmons likely will receive the bulk of playing time at shortstop for however long Hoerner is sidelined.“I mean, I want to help the team any way I can,” Simmons said. “I know short is always going to be my forte, but Nico has been playing pretty good. So whatever they need, I’m here to help.”

BALTIMORE — After taking over as the American League ERA leader on Sunday, Nestor Cortes took down his Twitter account. While the 27-year-old was on the mound in Chicago, fans had combed through his social media accounts and found Tweets and Instagram posts from 2012-2015 where he used a racial slur. Some of his tweets appeared to be quoting from rap lyrics.Cortes took responsibility Monday.Advertisement“I hate myself for having done that, it’s not who I am or want to be,” Cortes said. “I found out about it [the social media posts going viral], I sought out help on how to handle it and I am taking a break so that going forward I can use [social media] in the right way. I want to have a good message, especially for kids.”While Cortes was mowing down the White Sox Sunday, fans of a Yankees rival found the tweets and social media posts and put them together. At the time of the posts, Cortes would have between 17 and 20 years old.Advertisement“I didn’t know how it happened, but it doesn’t matter,” Cortes said. “I shouldn’t have done it. I don’t want it out there now. I want to use my [social media platform] to give a positive message to fans and especially to kids out there.”New York Yankees starting pitcher Nestor Cortes leaves a baseball game during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium, Monday, May 9, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez) (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP)Cortes has been the Yankees’ best pitcher this season, posting a 1.35 ERA through his first seven starts this season.

Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter is a 6-5 favorite in the morning line for the 147th Preakness, where he will try to reclaim his status as the top horse in this year’s 3-year-old class.Epicenter went off as the Derby favorite and appeared in perfect position to win until 80-1 long shot Rich Strike passed him shortly before they hit the wire. The 1-2 finishers were on track for a Preakness rematch until Rich Strike’s owner, Rick Dawson, announced the Derby champion would skip the $1.65-million race in favor of resting up for the Belmont Stakes.AdvertisementEpicenter would likely have been favored at Pimlico Race Course anyway, but Rich Strike’s withdrawal guaranteed he would be the clear choice. The Louisiana Derby champion will break from the No. 8 post as determined by Monday’s post-position draw for the nine-horse Preakness field.The 147th Preakness Stakes field of nine horses is set after the post-position draw on Monday. Epicenter, the runner-up at the Kentucky Derby, is a 6-5 morning-line favorite in the nine-horse field for Saturday’s race at Pimlico. (Kevin Richardson )The Preakness favorite looked comfortable during a half-mile breeze at Churchill Downs on Monday morning, and trainer Steve Asmussen plans to put him on a van early Tuesday for the 11-hour ride to Baltimore. Though Rich Strike’s charge denied Asmussen his first Derby win, the Hall of Fame trainer has enjoyed some of his greatest successes at Pimlico, where he won the 2007 Preakness with Curlin and the 2009 Preakness with Rachel Alexandra.AdvertisementTrainer Chad Brown saddled Zandon to oppose Epicenter in the Derby; two weeks later, he’ll take his Preakness shot with a fresh horse in Early Voting, a 7-2 second choice in the morning line. Early Voting qualified for the Derby field, but Brown and owner Seth Klarman, who grew up a few blocks from Pimlico, opted to skip the race and point to the Preakness.They’re attempting to follow the same formula they used to take the race with Cloud Computing in 2017, betting that Early Voting’s freshness will be more telling than his relative lack of experience. The Wood Memorial runner-up will break from the No. 5 post.Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, right, will try to win his seventh Preakness with Kentucky Oaks-winning filly Secret Oath, left, a 9-2 third choice in the morning line. Secret Oath will break from the No. 4 post on Saturday. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun)Trainer D. Wayne Lukas will try to win his seventh Preakness with Kentucky Oaks-winning filly Secret Oath, a 9-2 third choice in the morning line. Secret Oath finished third when she ran against male horses as the favorite in the Arkansas Derby, but Lukas and her owners, Rob and Stacy Mitchell, agreed it was worth trying to “step outside the box” by taking a shot in the Preakness.“I think the Preakness suits her as far as timing,” Rob Mitchell said. “Totally different horse than after the Arkansas Derby. She started her move so soon in the Arkansas Derby that she was totally depleted with half a furlong to go. Then you go all out that last half-furlong when you have no gas in the tank. She was really washed out for a few days. But that wasn’t the case with the Oaks. If anything, it might have made her stronger.”Swiss Skydiver in 2020 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009 were the only fillies to win the Preakness since 1924. Lukas won the 1988 Kentucky Derby with the filly Winning Colors, who came back to finish third at Pimlico.Secret Oath will break from the No. 4 post.Fourth-place Derby finisher Simplification is the 6-1 fourth choice in the morning line. He was the first Preakness horse to arrive at Pimlico last week, and assistant trainer Jesus Prada said he loves the surface.“I read [jockey] John Velazquez hasn’t won the Preakness. He will win the Preakness with this horse,” Prada said. Simplification drew the dreaded No. 1 post on the far inside.AdvertisementFourth-place Kentucky Derby finisher Simplification is the 6-1 fourth choice in the morning line. He drew the dreaded No. 1 post on the far inside for Saturday’s Preakness. (Kenneth K. Lam)Owners Paul Fireman and Greg Back paid an extra $150,000 to get Creative Minister in the Preakness field after he was not originally nominated for the Triple Crown series. The gray colt did not make his debut until March but took a step forward with his decisive win in an allowance race on the Derby undercard. Now, he’s a 10-1 choice in the morning line for the Preakness and will break from the No. 2 post.“He had what I call some growing issues,” said trainer Kenny McPeek, who won the Preakness with Swiss Skydiver. “When we got him ready this spring, I didn’t Triple Crown nominate him because I didn’t think he’d be ready. Since then, he’s just blossomed. His last two starts have been completely professional.”Armagnac, one of the horses transferred from suspended trainer Bob Baffert to his former assistant, Tim Yakteen, was a late addition to the field. He finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby but bounced back to win an allowance race in California the day after the Kentucky Derby.“The horse is well, and statistically we’ve got one of the best jockeys [Irad Ortiz Jr.] in the nation,” said Tom Ryan of SF Racing, part of the ownership group behind Armagnac. “Sometimes, when you’re healthy and well, if the opportunity is there, you have to make a decision. Do I want to go large or [not]? It’s coming together in a way that we feel comfortable with the challenge.”Armagnac is a 12-1 choice in the morning line and will break from the No. 7 post.Saffie Joseph Jr. was disappointed with White Abarrio’s 16th-place finish in the Derby, but the Florida-based trainer will take a Preakness shot with Skippylongstocking, the third-place finisher in the Wood Memorial. He’s betting the 1 3/16-mile distance will suit his horse. “I think the distance is going to help him, but obviously, he’s going to face quality horses like Epicenter and the Chad Brown one that beat him in the Wood [Early Voting],” Joseph said. “We’re just taking a chance.”AdvertisementSkippylongstocking is a 20-1 choice in the morning line and will break from the No. 9 post.Shortly after Rich Strike was withdrawn from the field, trainer Doug O’Neill and Calumet Farm owner Brad Kelley decided to take a shot at the Preakness with Happy Jack, who finished 14th in the Derby.“He is checking all the boxes of a horse that exited his recent race in good shape. We like the Preakness distance, and we like a shorter field than the 20 horses in the Derby,” said O’Neill, who won the 2012 Preakness with I’ll Have Another. Happy Jack is a 30-1 choice in the morning line and will break from the No. 6 post.Fenwick, the 11th-place finisher in the Blue Grass Stakes, is the longest shot in the morning line at 50-1. He’ll break from the No. 3 post after joining the field shortly before the Monday entry deadline.The Preakness lost an expected entrant Monday morning when Un Ojo showed warmth in the same injured foot that kept him out of the Derby. Trainer Ricky Courville said the gelding must have aggravated the injury during weekend preparations for the Preakness.His withdrawal left the field at nine horses, slightly below the average of 10 over the previous decade.Advertisement147th Preakness StakesPimlico Race CourseSaturdayTV: Chs. 11, 4 (coverage begins at 2 p.m.)