After checking in third in the $1.25 million Toyota Blue Grass (G1) on April 4, Talkin has remained at Keeneland to prepare for the Preakness (G1) on May 16 at Laurel Park. He is one of seven horses at Keeneland for trainer Danny Gargan, whose stable winters in Florida before relocating to Belmont Park and Saratoga for the rest of the year.

“Right now, we are in kind of a transition where we are shipping,” Gargan said. “We’ll keep these horses here until we go to Maryland. Two or three will go to Maryland for Preakness weekend and then they will go to Saratoga, where we mainly train. Talkin came out of the Blue Grass really good. He’s a super sound horse and is doing really well. I’ve always thought he was more of a Preakness- type horse, and I didn’t want to run in a 20-horse field (in the Kentucky Derby-G1 Presented by Woodford Reserve.)”

Owned by Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Pine Racing Stables, Legendary Thoroughbreds, Belmar Racing and Breeding and R.A. Hill Stable, Talkin was purchased at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. Gargan and his team intentionally shop for horses suited for the Triple Crown races.

“Keeneland is where you have to buy them,” he said. “The better horses are here.”

Talkin’s potential was evident early as he learned his early lessons under saddle and he quickly fulfilled expectations.

“He showed a lot of promise as a 2-year-old (winning career debut at Saratoga in August),” Gargan said. “But he didn’t have a good trip (when second in the Champagne-G1 at Aqueduct in October).

After finishing unplaced in the Remsen (G2) at Aqueduct on Dec. 6, the son of 2018 Toyota Blue Grass winner Good Magic was given time off. He returned to action with a fifth-place finish in the ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on March 7 prior to his third in the Toyota Blue Grass.

Gargan noted that one of Talkin’s attributes is his quiet demeanor.

“He’s calm and cool and real laid back,” he said. “Nothing bothers him.”