1. LION HEART
Chestnut colt, by Tale of the Cat (Storm Cat), out of Satin Sunrise (Mr. Leader)Jockey: Mike Smith – Preakness Record: (7) 1 0 1Trainer: Patrick Biancone – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0Earnings: 2004 (3) 0 3 0 $360,000 2003 (3) 3 0 0 $310,800Totals (6) 3 3 0 $670,800 CURRENT FORM: Ultra-consistent speedball never has finished worse than second in six trips to starting gate. Owns impressive record with win and two seconds in his Grade 1 tries, but could be starting to feel effects of three energy-sapping races in a row, all of which saw him get caught and passed in stretch. WORTH A WAGER?: Forced to run eyeballs out every step in Derby and felt sting of Mike Smth’s whip numerous times through gut-busting final furlong. Figures to cut out early fractions again, but suspicion is Triple Crown grind is going to catch up to him tomorrow. Don’t be shocked if he comes up empty in stretch and finishes off board. 2.
THE CLIFF’S EDGE
Dark bay or brown colt, by Gulch (Mr. Prospector), out of Zigember (Danzig) Jockey: Shane Sellers – Preakness Record: (5) 0 1 0 Trainer: Nick Zito – Preakness Record: (12) 1 2 0 Earnings: 2004 (4) 1 1 1 $580,000 2003 (5) 3 1 0 $255,258 Totals (9) 4 2 1 $835,258 CURRENT FORM: Looked primed to make big impact in Derby off gritty Blue Grass triumph, but sloppy conditions compromised his chances from git-go and when he lost both front shoes during race, his fate was sealed. Obviously, much, much better than he showed in Louisville.WORTH A WAGER?: If he bounced in Derby off career-best race in Blue Grass, he certainly is candidate to bounce back big-time tomorrow. Trainer skilled in winning Triple Crown events and deep closer should get honest fractions to chase. Can see him passing everybody else in stretch, but don’t think he’ll spoil “Smarty’s Party.” Use in exactas only. 3.
BORREGO
Chestnut colt, by El Prado (Sadler’s Wells), out of Sweet as Honey (Strike the Gold)Jockey: Victor Espinoza – Preakness Record: (3) 1 1 0 Trainer: Beau Greely – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0Earnings: 2004 (4) 0 3 0 $336,280 2003 (4) 2 0 0 $63,300 Totals (8) 2 3 0 $399,580 CURRENT FORM: Made mid-race move into contention in Louisville, but wheels came off around turn and he backed up to 10th, finishing more than 16 lengths behind winner. Only lifetime wins came in maiden-breaker on grass and optional claimer at Santa Anita. WORTH A WAGER?: Connections are hanging hat on his close-up finish to Smarty Jones in Arkansas Derby, but underachieving colt never seems to do enough to earn trip to winner’s circle. Has some closing ability, but others figure to be motoring more powerfully through lane. Would be major surprise.4.
SMARTY JONES
Chestnut colt, by Elusive Quality (Gone West), out of I’ll Get Along (Smile)Jockey: Stewart Elliott – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0 Trainer: John Servis – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0 Earnings: 2004 (5) 5 0 0 $6,713,535 2003 (2) 2 0 0 $49,620 Totals (7) 7 0 0 $6,763,155 CURRENT FORM: Mr. Perfect transformed America’s Most Famous Horse Race into his own personal coming-out party when he galloped to scintillating victory in Kentucky. Impossible to knock 7-for-7 record achieved on four different racetracks and in conditions ranging from fast to muddy to sloppy. WORTH A WAGER?: Truly great horses don’t carry their tracks around with them and are not affected by biases, and “Philly Flash” has handled everything thrown at him in what is quickly unfolding as storybook career. Running style will allow him to stalk pace over track that is kind to speed-types and make patented move to lead at top of lane. Should hold off cavalry in final eighth and add second jewel to trophy case.5.
ROCK HARD TEN
Dark bay or brown colt, by Kris S. (Roberto), out of Tersa (Mr. Prospector)Jockey: Gary Stevens – Preakness Record: (14) 2 1 5 Trainer: Jason Orman – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0 Earnings: 2004 (3) 2 0 1 $147,600 2003 (0) 0 0 0 $0 Totals (3) 2 0 1 $147,600 CURRENT FORM: Won first two races in California without breaking sweat, then locked horns with big boys in Santa Anita Derby and finished second by head to Castledale, only to have number taken down for lugging in badly in deep stretch and interfering with Imperialism. WORTH A WAGER?: Left Coast DQ cost him spot in Run for Roses when he came up short in graded stakes earnings. Switches back to superstar rider Gary Stevens, who wore Black Eyed Susans with Silver Charm (’97) and Point Given (’01), but colt looked like tired horse at end of SA Derby and inexperience will work against him. One to watch down road … throwout tomorrow. 6. EDDINGTON
Chestnut colt, by Unbridled (Fappiano), out of Fashion Star (Chief’s Crown) Jockey: Jerry Bailey – Preakness Record: (13) 2 0 3 Trainer: Mark Hennig – Preakness Record: (1) 0 0 0 Earnings:2004 (5) 2 1 2 $140,360 2003 (1) 0 1 0 $9,200
Totals (6) 2 2 2 $149,560 CURRENT FORM: Burst onto 3-year-old scene with pair of dominating two-turn wins at Gulfstream in February but flattened out late in Gotham and couldn’t get past Master David while finishing close-up third in Wood, denying him spot in Derby. Next stakes win will be his first. WORTH A WAGER?: Hall of Fame rider Jerry Bailey, who has won this race twice, finally gets chance to climb aboard Triple Crown hopeful he preferred all along, but still-maturing colt is probably not ready for breakout performance in race of this magnitude. Live longshot could add value to gimmicks, however. Don’t overlook. 7.
WATER CANNON
Gray or roan gelding, by Waquoit (Relaunch), out of Crying in the Rain (Baederwood) Jockey: Ryan Fogelsonger – Preakness Record: (1) 0 0 0 Trainer: Linda Albert – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0 Earnings: 2004 (4) 4 0 0 $134,250 2003 (7) 1 2 1 $32,500 Totals (11) 5 2 1 $166,750 CURRENT FORM: Hometown hero added blinkers and won last five starts, including Tesio Stakes at Old Hilltop April 17 at mile and an eighth. All wins have come in Maryland and around two turns but against less-than-formidable competition.WORTH A WAGER?: Carries banner of local bettors into battle, but has very little chance to extend his win streak against this group. Speed figures dwarfed by heavy hitters and gelding never has won graded stakes. Biting off much more than he can chew. No chance. 8.
LITTLE MATTH MAN
Dark bay or brown colt, by Matty G (Capote), out of Lady’s Legacy (Matchlite)Jockey: Richard Migliore – Preakness Record: (3) 0 1 0 Trainer: Martin Ciresa – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0 Earnings:2004 (4) 1 1 1 $122,225 2003 (8) 2 0 1 $63,130 Totals (12) 3 1 2 $185,355 CURRENT FORM: Won ungraded Whirlaway over Big A’s inner track (gulp!) in February, then hit board in two lower-tier stakes at Turfway. First try against big boys in Wood was train wreck as he never was in contention while finishing almost 11 lengths behind trio on wire. WORTH A WAGER?: Modestly talented New York-bred should stick to state-bred ranks because he is way over his head in Triple Crown’s middle jewel. If you can bet him to finish last, send it in. Hopelessly mismatched. 9.
SIR SHACKLETON
Chestnut colt, by Miswaki (Mr. Prospector), out of Naskra Colors (Star de Naskra)Jockey: Rafael Bejarano – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0 Trainer: Nick Zito – Preakness Record: (12) 1 2 0 Earnings: 2004 (4) 3 1 0 $127,4272003 (0) 0 0 0 $0 Totals (4) 3 1 0 $127,427 CURRENT FORM: Speedburner didn’t begin career until middle of February when he ran into eventual Bay Shore winner Forest Danger in ultra-tough maiden event at Gulfstream. Has done nothing wrong since, romping to three straight victories, including razor-sharp score in one-mile Derby Trial. WORTH A WAGER?: Lightly raced colt has speed, but does he have enough talent, and moxie, to mix it up with Lion Heart and Smarty Jones early and live to tell tale late? Never has been around two turns. Figures to be pace factor into backstretch, but should get swallowed up at top of lane when real running starts. Toss. 10.
IMPERIALISM
Gray or roan colt, by Langfuhr (Danzig), out of Bodhavista (Pass the Tab) Jockey: Kent Desormeaux – Preakness Record: (8) 1 2 0 Trainer: Kristin Mulhall – Preakness Record: (0) 0 0 0 Earnings: 2004 (5) 2 1 1 $448,000 2003 (11) 3 3 1 $74,605 Totals (16) 5 4 2 $522,605 CURRENT FORM: Colt who seems to be dogged by trouble found tons in Derby when he got trapped down inside and was forced to steady before taking overland route in stretch and closing like wild horse to get show money. Lost all chance when he got cut off by Rock Hard Ten in final yards of Santa Anita Derby prepping for Triple Crown.WORTH A WAGER?: California-based trainer Kristin Mulhall wanted to pass this race and wait for Belmont, but was convinced late-running colt’s best chances to win Triple Crown race were waiting in Baltimore. Criss-crossing country twice in less than two weeks can’t help. Stalkers figure to get jump on him, leaving him with too much to do late. Include in exotics only.
