| 1 |
Big Drama
 |
David Fawkes
John Velazquez |
I've never been a fan of this horse because he's always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Now, he's in the wrong place on the rail without his trusty blinkers, a move I've never understood. Is the second jewel of the Triple Crown the place you want to make an equipment change? I don't think so. |
| 2 |
Mine That Bird
 |
Bennie "Chip" Woolley Jr.
Mike Smith |
I can honestly say, him crossing the wire first in the Derby was one of the most shocking things I've seen in my 32 plus years on this planet. The question we now need answered is was it a fluke? Unfortunately I can't say. I won't say I think he's the winner but do think he has a better chance than most people think he has, especially if the pace is hot and/or it rains. |
| 3 |
Musket Man
 |
Derek Ryan
Eibar Coa |
One of a few that had a clean trip in the Derby until he was involved in a deep stretch bumping incident. Also one of a handful that actually ran his race. Coming back in just two weeks might be asking a bit much of him, or any of the others that were in the same boat he was. |
| 4 |
Luv Gov
 |
D. Wayne Lukas
Jamie Theriot |
After all of these years, you'd think Lukas would have learned his lesson by now. Thank God this horse didn't keep the filly out of the race because it would have been a real travesty. |
| 5 |
Friesan Fire
 |
Larry Jones/Gabriel Saez |
One of a few in here that has me tossing and turning. If the real Friesan Fire shows up, he'll be right there. But the foot injury bothers me as does his wheeling back in just two weeks. Combine that with the fact that I think he'll be the "wiseguy" horse at post time and a shorter price than he should be and I'm thinking about trying to get him out of the number as opposed to in it. |
| 6 |
Terrain
 |
Albert Stall Jr.
Jeremy Rose |
He's drawn well, has a capable jock and trainer and will be at least 25-1. If the pace is hot, stranger things have happened. Just think back to two weeks ago. I won't go as far as to say he's a legitimate win candidate but his price makes him awfully appealing. |
| 7 |
Papa Clem
 |
Gary Stute
Rafael Bejarano |
Like Musket Man, he had a pretty clean trip until the stretch in the Derby and is one of the few that ran throughout. His work patterns are strange to say the least and I think he'll be the one affected the most by running back in two weeks, and I mean that in a bad way. |
| 8 |
General Quarters
 |
Tom McCarthy
Julian Leparoux |
Maybe he didn't like the slop in Kentucky, maybe the trip (he steadied twice) was his undoing or maybe he's just not good enough. Has a lot of questions to answer, but so do others in here. The difference is they'll be over bet while he'll be a juicy price. Of those who disappointed in the Derby, I think he's the one most likely to rebound and be right in the thick of things. |
| 9 |
Pioneerof the Nile
 |
Bob Baffert
Garrett Gomez |
Like many, I was surprised to see him lying third in the Derby but Gomez was obviously paying attention that day and knew you had to be close. The problem now is that his newfound speed may get him into a bad spot come Saturday as it appears that half the field would like to be sitting where he was in the Derby. A return to his off-the-pace style may be just what the doctor ordered in the Preakness. An obvious major player. |
| 10 |
Flying Private
 |
D. Wayne Lukas
Alan Garcia |
It's amazing how big D Wayne's ego is. This horse doesn't even belong on the undercard. |
| 11 |
Take the Points
 |
Todd Pletcher
Edgar Prado |
Pletcher did the right thing by resisting the temptation to run this guy in the Derby. Too bad he didn't keep that mindset this time around. Maybe the blinkers will help, but I can't imagine his connections are hoping for more than a minor share, which I think is a reach. |
| 12 |
Tone It Down
 |
William Komlo
Kent Desormeaux |
Desormeaux, who has won the Preakness twice with Real Quiet in 1998 and last year with Big Brown, must have been really desperate to take the mount on this horse for another crack at it this year. This horse is a complete throw out. |
| 13 |
Rachel Alexandra
 |
Steve Asmussen
Calvin Borel |
We can sit here for days talking about whether a filly should be running against colts, especially under these circumstances. She wasn't with her new connections for a day before it was announced that she'd try the Preakness after her old connections completely closed the door on her running against the boys. Many will bring up Eight Belles, while some will mention the success Rags to Riches had when she defeated Curlin in the Belmont two years ago. I'm siding with the latter folks and think she'll be right there when the Preakness dust settles. |
