Eventful Morning for Preakness Contender France Go de Ina

There were some anxious moments for Yuji Inaida’s France Go de Ina at Pimlico Race Course Wednesday morning. The colt from Japan had just completed his four-furlong breeze when exercise rider Masaki Takano suddenly fell off the son of Will Take Charge just after he passed the finish line.

There were no other horses on the track. France Go de Ina prepares for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes (G1) each day following regular training hours due to quarantine regulations.

Takano slowly got to his feet as France Go de Ina continued on before being apprehended by Pimlico outriders. Both Takano and the horse are fine, according to Kate Hunter, the Preakness field representative for the Japan Racing Association.

“[Takano] slipped a bit from the stirrup on the left side and lost his balance,” Hunter said. “The horse is fine.”