Preakness Field in Flux
– With nine days to go, the Preakness has only six definite starters: Barbaro, Brother Derek, Sweetnorthernsaint, Like Now, Bernardini, and trainer Nick Zito’s morning glory, Hemingway’s Key. “I had this in mind from day one because I thought he was Belmont material,” said Zito of the colt, who finished eighth in his last start, the Lexington. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas, put off by Barbaro’s dominating win in the Derby, has decided not to enter Simon Pure, who finished fourth in the Arkansas Derby. “I think [Barbaro] should scare a few horses away — me included,” said Lukas. Lawyer Ron is also out — the colt is having surgery Friday to remove chips in his right hind ankle.
– Lawyer Ron wasn’t the only horse to exit the Derby with an injury. Sharp Humor has a knee fracture, for which he’ll have surgery today. “It was very unfortunate and now we know why he ran the way that he did,” said trainer Dale Romans. “He just didn’t run his race at all.” Sharp Humor finished 19th in the Derby.
