Preakness Preview
Fri, 05/18/2007 - 05:17
The Preakness Stakes is set to start at 6:15pm on May 19, 2007. Shadows of Barbaro, last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, still shroud the track at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland. It was this time last year that the undefeated Barbaro shattered his leg in three places after false starting. The thoroughbred was euthanized earlier this year, after several attempted surgeries proved to be futile. In his honor, Pimlico will be launching the Barbaro Stakes this May. According to Lou Raffetto, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Maryland Jockey Club, “Barbaro has become the most popular racehorse in the country because of his courageous battle to overcome such a severe injury. This change will allow the next generation of race fans to reflect upon this magnificent and beloved champion during Preakness day at Pimlico.”
The field for the 132nd Preakness includes:
Mint Stewlip at 30-1
Xchanger at 15-1
Circular Quay at 8-1
Curlin at 7-2
King of the Roxy at 12-1
Flying First Class at 20-1
Hard Spun at 5-2
Street Sense 7-5
C P West at 20-1
The track is expected to be fast and the turf firm on Saturday. The forecast calls for sunny and clear weather, with the temperature reaching the 60s.
Winner of the Kentucky Derby Street Sense is a heavy favorite at 7-5, but Hard Spun, who came in second, is also favored at 5-2. The third place finisher in the Derby, Curlin, was beaten by 8 lengths but still a favorite with 7-2 odds.
The Preakness winner is usually one that has raced in the Derby. Hard Spun and Street Sense fought hard in the Derby, and the race was a closer one than it may have looked. Hard Spun generally runs at a high cruising speed, while Street Sense ran the Derby close to the rail, hanging back all the way until the final stretch.
Curlin also had a good run in the Derby, but was even better in his first three wins. He came off of a bad start and got shuffled back to 13th place early in the race. He managed to improve his position to 3rd place in the final half-mile, and so is ranked accordingly.
Mint Slewlip is the son of Slew City Slew, and has two wins to his name.
Xchanger is the son of Exchange Rate, and won the Federico Tesio Stakes at Plimlico.
Circular Quay is the son of Kentucky Derby andBelmont Stakes winner Thunder Gulch. He finished sixth in the Kentucky Derby and was the runner-up to Street Sense in the 2006 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
King of the Roxy is the son of Littleexpectations. He skipped the Kentucky Derby in favor of the shorter Preakness.
Flying First Class won the Churchill Downs’ Derby Trial on the track’s opening day.
C P West finshed second in the Grade II Futurity at Belmont Park in 2006, as well as in the Withers Stakes, also at Belmont.