Barbaro will be flanked by his two most accomplished rivals, Brother Derek on the inside and Sweetnorthernsaint on the outside, when he leaves from the sixth post position in Saturday’s 131st running of the Preakness.
While the undefeated Barbaro had a perfect trip in winning the 20-horse Kentucky Derby decisively, Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint encountered serious traffic problems.
Santa Anita Derby winner Brother Derek and Illinois Derby winner Sweetnorthernsaint normally run on the lead or come from just off the pace, but in the Derby both were shuffled back and had to rally. Brother Derek finished in a dead heat for fourth, and Sweetnorthernsaint was seventh.
These are the only two Derby contestants returning to challenge Barbaro, the even-money favorite on the Pimlico morning line announced after Wednesday’s post-position selection process. Brother Derek was projected as the 3-1 second choice, with Sweetnorthernsaint the third choice at 4-1.
Making only the fourth start of his career and coming off an impressive victory in the Withers at Aqueduct, Bernardini is given the best shot of the six newcomers to Triple Crown competition at odds of 8-1.
“With the nine-horse field, post position isn’t the concern that it was in the Derby,” said Brother Derek’s trainer, Dan Hendricks.
“In one sense, you can say the Derby was my horse’s best race. He faded back, he took dirt, he handled adversity, he went outside and circled the field, he lost his shoe and he still finished a very creditable fourth.
“Barbaro came out of it as the best horse. If I can outrun him Saturday, I have the best 3-year-old again. If I can’t, I hope Barbaro wins the Triple Crown. He’s a deserving undefeated favorite. What’s the knock on him? Tell me. I haven’t seen it.”
Sweetnorthersaint’s trainer, Michael Trombetta, has the same high opinion of Barbaro.
“He won easily; he won wrapped up under the wire,” Trombetta said.
As was the case at the Derby, Barbaro fared better than the other two in the lottery that determines the order of selection for post positions. Trainer Michael Matz had the third pick, Hendricks the sixth and Trombetta the seventh.
Initially, Matz selected the No. 4 post, but it already had gone to Greeley’s Legacy. Informed of his mistake, Matz deliberated momentarily and chose No. 6.
“I wanted the 4 beforehand and had it on my mind,” he said. “The 6 is fine. I didn’t take 5 because the 1 and the 5 load first (the horses in those stalls are in the starting gate until the rest of the field is loaded).
“Nothing changes for me. It probably will be a lot cleaner-run race than the Derby. It’s a lot better than with 20 horses.”
The pace-setter figures to be Like Now. Attempting to maximize his horse’s front-running ability, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin picked post position No. 1.
Although Diabolical is leaving from the ninth post, he seems the logical horse to duel Like Now for the early lead. Barbaro, Brother Derek, Sweetnorthernsaint and Bernardini should be in stalking position by the time they reach the first turn in the 1 3/16-mile race.
“In the Derby there was no target,” Trombetta said. “Nobody knew who the horse to beat was.
“Now, if you ask the eight people [who have horses in the Preakness], they’ll tell you Barbaro is the target.”
Neil Milbert’s Preakness analysis
Post-position draw for Saturday’s 131st Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore; 5:14 p.m. CDT post time.
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PP HORSE JOCKEY TRAINER ODDS
6 Barbaro Edgar Prado Michael Matz 1-1
COMMENT: Crushed Derby rivals
7 Sweetnorthernsaint Kent Desormeaux Michael Trombetta 4-1
COMMENT: Derby favorite can run
5 Brother Derek Alex Solis Dan Hendricks 3-1
COMMENT: Best colt in California
8 Bernardini Javier Castellano Tom Albertrani 8-1
COMMENT: Green but looks good
1 Like Now Garrett Gomez Kiaran McLaughlin 12-1
COMMENT: Front-runner a factor
9 Diabolical Ramon Dominguez Steve Klesaris 30-1
COMMENT: Almost always in money
3 Hemingway’s Key Jeremy Rose Nick Zito 30-1
COMMENT: In slump since Feb.
4 Greeley’s Legacy Richard Migliore George Weaver 20-1
COMMENT: Prep form lukewarm
2 Platinum Couple Jose Espinoza Joe Lostritto 50-1
COMMENT: Late mover from N.Y.
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nmilbert@tribune.com
ON THE NET
– For more Preakness coverage, go to chicagosports.com/horseracing
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