Big Brown Scares Away Derby Also-rans in Preakness

By: Greg Melikov

Can you recall the last Preakness that lacked a single runner from the Kentucky Derby to challenge the winner in the second leg of the Triple Crown?

Better ask your grandpa because I was 13 when my favorite horse romped in a wire-to-wire victory by 5 ½ lengths at Pimlico. Citation, en route to the 1948 Triple Crown, defeated his Calumet Farm stablemate by 3 ½ lengths.

After chasing pacesetting Coaltown six lengths back after a half-mile, Citation vaulted to the lead with ease. In the Preakness, Big Cy went wire to wire and scored with ease by 5 ½ lengths with nary another Derby runner in the field.

That was the first of three Triple Crown races to be televised on a Saturday afternoon by CBS. In fact, CBS also broadcast the others: the Derby in ‘52 and the Belmont in ‘60.

There have been two Derby starters in the Preakness five times since ‘23, with the latest in ‘80 when Genuine Risk, second of three fillies to triumph at Churchill, finished second and Jaklin Klugman ran fourth behind victor Codex.

It appears only one Derby runner will take a shot at impressive winner Big Brown in the 133rd Preakness on May 17.

The connections made the announcement Wednesday that fifth-place finisher Recapturetheglory will run. Trainer Louie Roussel III who co-owns the horse with Ronnie Lamarque indicated both were leaning toward giving
the Illinois Derby winner at least 30 days off after two tough races.”

Recapturetheglory returned to Churchill Downs, jogged a mile and galloped another mile. “I wanted to wait until he went back to the track,” Roussel said. “My assistant (Lara Van Deren) said he’s doing well.”

Roussel and Lamarque teamed 20 years ago to capture the Preakness with Risen Star, who ran third to Winning Colors in the Derby.

So far, a half-dozen new runners are committed and several others might take on Big Brown.

Some Derby also-rans are being pointed toward the Belmont: Denis of Cork, who ran third; Tale of Ekati, fourth; and Anak Nakal, seventh.

Some will go in others races like Big Truck, 18th, and Adriano, 19th, both in grass stakes.

Others will be rested: Colonel John, sixth; Cowboy Cal, ninth; Smooth Air, 11th; Visionaire, 12th; and Monba, 20th.

The field is limited to 14 horses, but that’s only happened twice since the ’90s during which Pine Bluff avenged his ‘92 Derby loss and Charismatic continued on the road to the Triple Crown in ‘99.

Behindatthebar, who skipped the Derby despite having enough graded earnings to race, will show up at Pimlico. “We decided to wait for the Preakness because he had run in California 16 before (winning on April 19) the Lexington,” trainer Todd Pletcher said.

He also may send out Harlem Rocker, winner of the Withers Stakes on April 26 at Aqueduct, and will decide after the horse breezes on the weekend.

New runners committed to go: Kentucky Bear, third in the Blue Grass; Tres Borrachos, third in the Arkansas Derby; Stevil, fourth in the Blue Grass; Giant Moon, fourth in the Wood Memorial; and Yankee Bravo, fourth in the Santa Anita Derby.

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Greg Melikov, a native Chicagoan and retired South Florida newspaperman who resides in Greater San Antonio, has been handicapping and writing about thoroughbreds for decades. His articles and columns appear globally in print and online, including on his own site: www.horsingaround.info. He became a racing fan at 13 when he saw 1948 Triple Crown winner Citation whip 20 older horses at old Arlington Park. He can be contacted at gmelikov@satx.rr.com.

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1 Comment

  1. So far, only 9 horses have committed. Anyone playing the last 2 game?

    http://www.last2left.com/whatsinplay/preakness-horse-race-2008

    Comment by Jim on May 8, 2008

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