Small Field for Preakness
After Big Brown’s impressive showing at the Kentucky Derby it appears that there are not a lot of takers for the Preakness Stakes. The field is only expected to have eight horses, with only two of the eight having also run in the Kentucky Derby. Only Big Brown and Recapture the Glory will be returning for the second jewel of the Tripe Crown.
Recapture the Glory finished fifth in the Derby, and co-owner Ronnie Lamarque has announced that “we’re there to win” when asked about Saturday’s $1M Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. “First of all we know that we belong,” said Lamarque “Of the 33,000 horses that were foaled three years ago, 20 of them made it to the Derby and we beat 15 of them. Big Brown is a bear but we’re not going to run in it to run second.”
Another contender for the Preakness is Kentucky Bear, who finished second in the Blue Grass Stakes. He has arrived at Pimlico and is already training with assistant trainer Cassie Garcia. “I’m super happy with how he settled in,” Garcia said. “We’re happy to be here. I know it’s supposed to rain, so if the track is okay we’ll gallop tomorrow, if not we’ll probably jog. Ever since he came into Kentucky (April 2) he’s built more muscle, he’s actually matured a little more. I think he’s got a great chance coming into this race. Everything’s just clicked perfectly with him.”
The Preakness will also see California Derby winner Yankee Bravo. The son of Yankee Gentleman also finished third behind Pyro at the Louisiana Derby and fourth behind Colonel John in the Santa Anita Derby. “He’ll work mid-week, sometime on Wednesday or Thursday,” said trainer Patrick Gallagher. “He didn’t have the earnings for the Derby so we decided to skip and take a close look at the Preakness.”
