Thursday, June 08, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP)
-- Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro will face several familiar rivals in the Preakness on May 20, including beaten favorite Sweetnorthernsaint. Brother Derek, who finished in a dead heat for fourth with Jazil, also will give it another go, along with Lawyer Ron, who was 12th. Sweetnorthernsaint was seventh as the 5-1 favorite. Jazil, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, is possible for the 1 3/16-mile race at Pimlico. New horses expected for the second leg of the Triple Crown include Gotham winner Like Now, Withers winner Bernardini and Simon Pure, who finished fourth in the Arkansas Derby for trainer D. Wayne Lukas. Trainer Bob Baffert said he'd wait a few days before deciding whether to send any of his three Derby starters, Point Determined (ninth), Sinister Minister (16th) and Bob and John (17th). As the field for the Preakness takes shape, Barbaro was being vanned to his home base at Fair Hill, Md., about 60 miles from Pimlico. Barbaro came out of the race in great shape, trainer Michael Matz said Sunday. "It was a tremendous race for him," Matz said. "He trained well for the race and we're glad he didn't disappoint us." Derby runner-up Bluegrass Cat was unlikely for the Preakness, trainer Todd Pletcher said. He added that his last-place finisher, Keyed Entry, most likely would make his next start in the Riva Ridge on the Belmont Stakes undercard. Steppenwolfer, who finished third, will be pointed to the Belmont, trainer Dan Peitz said. The Derby winner has gone on to win the Preakness six times in the last nine years. A win by Barbaro would set the stage for a seventh Triple Crown try in the last 10 years in the Belmont Stakes on June 10. The last non-Derby starter to win the Preakness was Red Bullet in 2000. The Preakness is limited to 14 starters.

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