Preakness Picks
1. Street Sense: At 7-5 on the morning line, and very likely even money in actual wagering, the Derby winner is hardly a tempting betting proposition, but he has a terrific post position outside Hard Spun and possible pacesetter Flying First Class and there’s plenty of speed in here to set up for his closing style. Plus, his class, speed, fitness, etc. make it difficult to get past him. So, I won’t even try.
2. Circular Quay: Consider the Derby a prep for the Preakness for this Pletcher-trained closer.
3. Curlin: I wasn’t on the Curlin bandwagon going into the Derby, but was impressed with the way he got up for third in that race after being shuffled back and blocked through the early stages.
4. King of the Roxy: The Santa Anita Derby second place finisher comes into the Preakness fresh.
5. Xchanger: Wire to wire over the track in the Federico Tesio last month, with a trainer who’s 47% at Pimlico. No surprise if he shows up in the exotics.
Looking for excuses after: Hard Spun. We’ve seen Hard Spun’s bottom. We saw it when he tired in the last furlong of his pre-Derby workout, we saw it again when he tired in the Derby. If ever a horse was ready to bounce, it’s this one.
Trailing, by several lengths, at the end: Flying First Class, Mint Slewlep, and C P West.
