Preakness Preview J

Last updated: 5/19/06 1:33 PM

131ST PREAKNESS STAKES

PREAKNESS S. (G1), 12TH-PIM, $1,000,000, 3YO, 1 3/16M, 6:10 P.M. EDT, 5-20

1	LIKE NOW, 3, G, by JulesCan’t Bluff Me, by Pine Bluff O-John J Dillon; B-Dillon John (Fl)
2	PLATINUM COUPLE, 3, c, by Tale of the CatIngot’s Dance Away, by Gate Dancer O-Team Tristar Stable; B-Tri Star Stables LLC (NY)
3	HEMINGWAY’S KEY, 3, c, by NotebookWhirl’s Girl, by Island Whirl O-Kinsman Stable; B-Ocala Stud Farm (Fl)
4	GREELEY’S LEGACY, 3, c, by Mr. GreeleyDeceit Princess, by Vice Regent O-Donald F Flanagan; B-Select Broodmare Fund 2000 (Ky)
5	BROTHER DEREK, 3, c, by BenchmarkMiss Soft Sell, by Siyah Kalem O-Cecil N Peacock; B-Caldwell Mary H. (Ca)
6	BARBARO, 3, c, by DynaformerLa Ville Rouge, by Carson City O-Lael Stables; B-Jackson M. Roy Mr. & Mrs. (Ky)
7	SWEETNORTHERNSAINT, 3, G, by SweetsouthernsaintIce Beauty, by Waquoit O-Joseph J Balsamo & Ted Theos; B-Eduardo Azpurua (Fl)
8	BERNARDINI, 3, c, by A.P. IndyCara Rafaela, by Quiet American O-Darley Stable; B-Darley (Ky)
9	DIABOLICAL, 3, c, by ArtaxBonnie Byerly, by Dayjur O-Puglisi Stables & Steve Klesaris; B-Longleaf Pine Farm (Ky)

Unbeaten BARBARO (Dynaformer) moves to Pimlico in search of the second leg in
the Triple Crown, and he’s taken the Thoroughbred racing world by storm by
virtue of his incredible 6 1/2-length Kentucky Derby (G1) victory. Saturday’s 131st running
of the Preakness S. (G1) may produce a more competitive race than the Kentucky
Derby, with top challengers BROTHER DEREK (Benchmark) and SWEETNORTHERNSAINT (Sweetsouthernsaint)
both eligible to give a better account of themselves, but we can’t envision any
three-year-old stopping him.

Barbaro will try to continue his win streak in the Preakness
(Michael J. Marten/Horsephotos.com)

We’re jumping on the Barbaro bandwagon as the Michael Matz-trained colt
returns off only a 14-day rest, but the manner in which the dark bay colt
captured the Kentucky Derby indicated that there was still plenty in the tank.
He practically pulled jockey Edgar Prado to the lead midway on the final turn
and then finished extremely fast while completely unopposed through the stretch,
recording one of the fastest final quarter-miles (:24 1/5) in the Derby’s
storied history. The muscular Kentucky-bred possesses a rare combination of
speed and stamina, and he’s able to overcome obstacles with his athleticism.
Barbaro didn’t make his dirt debut until early February and entered the Kentucky
Derby lightly raced this year, indicating that he’s got plenty of room for
improvement. His BRIS Speed ratings are increasing, earning a 109 in the
Kentucky Derby following a 104 in the Florida Derby (G1), and he wasn’t tested
at Churchill Downs. We’d love to see him raise his game up another level at Old
Hilltop.

Brother Derek has proven impossible to get past when he has the lead at the
top of the stretch, winning two Grade 1 stakes and three Grade 2s, but he didn’t
get that opportunity in the Kentucky Derby, traveling wide into the first turn
in midpack and remaining hung out to dry the rest of the way while losing a
shoe. He still ran very credibly in defeat, rallying gamely through the stretch
to dead-heat for fourth, and the California-bred colt figures to receive a much
favorable trip this time around. Jockey Alex Solis will probably have the Dan
Hendricks runner close to the lead from the start, closely tracking LIKE NOW
(Jules) through the opening stages, and Brother Derek should get first run on
the Derby winner when the pacesetter begins to weaken. We still feel that
Barbaro will run him down, but we’re anxious to see these two hook up in what
could be a fantastic duel to the finish.

BERNARDINI (A.P. Indy) brings limited experience into his Triple Crown debut,
but the thrice-raced colt owns plenty of talent. He’ll offer much better value
in the exotics, and we feel he’s got a chance to
challenge for runner-up honors. The well-bred colt didn’t break his maiden until
his second start, winning a one-mile maiden special weight at Gulfstream Park by
7 3/4 lengths, and he stepped up to face stakes rivals last time in the Withers
S. (G3) at Aqueduct, winning easily by 3 3/4 lengths and registering a 110 Speed
rating. Bernardini will have to stretch out to two turns for the first time and
faces an extreme class hike, but the Tom Albertrani trainee is bred to run all
day and has earned strong BRIS Late Pace numbers in his last two outings. He’ll be
able to carve out a good trip with his natural speed and may have enough in
reserve to make his presence felt in the stretch.

The Preakness will have nine runners compared to the 20-horse field in the Derby
(Jim Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com)

Sweetnorthernsaint is a bounce-back candidate off his seventh in the Kentucky
Derby. The Florida-bred gelding was heavily bet in the final minutes that
afternoon, going off favored over Barbaro, but he was shuffled to near the
back of the pack approaching the first turn and had to use plenty of energy to
move into a striking position, launching his rally early on the backstretch. The
Michael Trombetta charge advanced into contention turning for home but ran out
of gas in the final furlongs. He could have much more to say on Saturday. Sweetnorthernsaint has displayed an excellent turn of foot this season, winning
the Illinois Derby (G2) by 9 1/4 lengths in stunning fashion, and he should be
in a much better position in the early stages Saturday under Kent Desormeaux. We
wouldn’t be surprised to see him offer a strong rally into the stretch this time
around.

GREELEY’S LEGACY (Mr. Greeley) has some appeal for the bottom of the trifecta
or superfecta at long odds. A confirmed closer, he rallied well to be a solid
fourth, beaten 1 1/4 lengths, in the Gotham S. (G3) three starts back but was up
against it in his last two outings, catching a sloppy track in the Wood Memorial
(G1) and a speed-favoring Keeneland strip in the Lexington S. (G2). The dark bay
colt has earned Late Pace figures as high as 108, and there will be plenty of
speed to set up his rally in the Preakness. Greeley’s Legacy still has class
concerns at this level, but the George Weaver pupil is bred to handle longer
distances and could get involved late if the front runners come back to him.

Like Now brings solid credentials into the Preakness — winning the Gotham two
starts back and second in the Lexington last out — and he’s committed to going to
the lead from the rail with Garrett Gomez. The jockey switch is a positive for
the Kiaran McLaughlin-trained gelding, and Like Now owns some solid Speed
ratings this year. However, his best efforts have come over Aqueduct’s inner
track and Keeneland’s speed-favoring oval, and he’s never raced past 1 1/16
miles. We like Like Now at middle to shorter distances, but we can’t envision
him sticking around for the latter stages on Saturday.

HEMINGWAY’S KEY (Notebook) merits respect because of his connections (trained
by Nick Zito), but the chestnut colt is unplaced in four starts this year. His
career-best 94 Speed rating won’t cut it at this level. DIABOLICAL (Artax) is a
fast colt who probably doesn’t want any part of this distance. PLATINUM COUPLE
(Tale of the Cat) looks overmatched at this level.