Big Brown ran his record to 5-5 with yet another powerful performance in the 133rd Preakness Stakes.

The son of Boundary stalked the pace in third behind Gayego and Riley Tucker, and he burst away from his rivals when asked by Kent Desormeaux en route to a geared down 5-1/4 length tally in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
He ran the nine and one-half furlong Preakness in 1:54-4/5 and paid $2.40 to win. He finished with plenty left in the tank and will go for the Triple Crown sweep at Belmont Park in three weeks.
Macho Again rallied …read more

The 133rd Preakness Stakes has arrived, and Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown looks like a short priced winner on paper. The undefeated colt has been awesome in four victories to kick off his career, and he hardly faces a stellar cast in Baltimore. His task was made that much easier when Grade 2 winner Behindatthebar scratched due to a bruised foot. Returning in two weeks following a career top is a concern, but the Dutrow trainee could bounce and still beat many of these. They still have to run the race, and there are a few with the talent to …read more

Behindatthebar is out of the 133rd Preakness Stakes with a bruised left front foot. The injury was discovered Friday morning at Belmont Park.
The Todd Pletcher trainee was exiting a victory in the Grade 2 Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, and his departure will make things that much easier for Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown, shown training at Pimlico on May 15th.

Twelve horses will now line up for the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
Photo Credit: Newscom

Post positions have been drawn for the 133rd Preakness Stakes, and undefeated Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown (post 7) has been installed as the 1-2 morning line favorite.
Big Brown deserves to go off at low odds after his smashing Derby victory. He could easily regress two weeks after a career top in the biggest race of the year for his age group, but he is faster than these and will likely prevail anyway.
Late entrant Gayego could give him a scare if he brings his A game. He was thrown off his early/pressing game with early trouble at Churchill Downs, …read more

Frank Stronach’s Harlem Rocker will not contest the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Todd Pletcher and company have decided to point the undefeated colt to the Queen’s Plate at Woodbine on June 22nd. Pletcher will be represented in the Preakness by Lexington Stakes winner Behindatthebar.
Kentucky Derby hero Big Brown might get a bit of competition from Arkansas Derby winner Gayego. The son of Gilded Time was a gem of consistency before a troubled start in the Derby hurt his chances. He hardly owns a classic pedigree, and if the early/pressing type is going to make any Triple Crown …read more

Recapturetheglory was on the fence for several days after the Kentucky Derby, and no sooner than his connections decided to try the Preakness, he developed a temperature and will miss the second jewel of the Triple Crown. It would have been great to have Louis Roussel and Ronnie Lamarque put on a public relations show at Pimlico…but it was not meant to be. Their early/pressing colt will live to fight another day.
Holy Bull winner Hey Byrn failed to make the Derby field because of insufficient graded earnings, but he will give the Preakness a whirl. Note that Big Brown …read more

Ronnie Lamarque and Louie Roussel of Risen Star fame are heading to Baltimore and a rematch with Derby winner Big Brown with their Illinois Derby hero and Derby 5th place finisher Recapturetheglory.
The early/pressing type continues his Preakness preparations at Churchill Downs and should show up in Baltimore around May 10th.

Tres Borrachos, last seen landing the show in the Arkansas Derby, worked a second best of 30 five furlongs in :59.60 at Churchill on May 7th. Tyler Baze retains the mount in the Preakness Stakes.
Wood Memorial 4th place finisher Giant Moon drilled five panels in 1:01.01 at Belmont Park …read more

Many if not all of the horses behind Big Brown in the Derby are skipping the Preakness, making the second leg of the Triple Crown that much easier for the 2008 Kentucky Derby winner.
Show finisher Denis of Cork is likely for the Belmont Stakes, along with 4th place finisher Tale of Ekati.
Recapturetheglory is possible for the Preakness Stakes, but he is more likely to return to Illinois for a breather. Cowboy Cal, Smooth Air, and Visionaire will also go on vacation. Colonel John will most likely return to California, and Monba will join Todd Pletcher’s New York string. …read more