BALTIMORE, Maryland (AFP) — Undefeated Kentucky Derby winner Big Brown will face at least 11 rivals and possibly an undefeated 12th when he goes for the second jewel of US horse racing's Triple Crown here next Saturday.
A total of 12 horses have been entered for the 133rd Preakness with unbeaten colt Harlem Rocker, the Withers stakes winner trained by Todd Pletcher, potentially joining the lineup for the 1 3/16ths of a mile race by Monday.
Big Brown improved his career record to 4-0 with a 4 3/4-length victory last week in the 134th Kentucky Derby, becoming the first Derby winner from the outside post since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929.
Now the colt will try to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978 by capturing the shortest of the showdowns here at Pimlico and then the Belmont Stakes three weeks later.
The Preakness field is set to include only one horse other than Big Brown from the 20-horse Derby lineup, that being fifth-place finisher Recapturetheglory.
Among the others are three winners of Derby tuneups - Lexington Stakes winner Behindatthebar, Holy Bull Stakes winner Hey Byrn and Icabad Crane, which won here at last month's Tesio Stakes.
Others in the money at tuneups include Kentucky Bear, third at the Blue Grass Stakes; Riley Tucker, third at the Lexington Stakes, and Tres Borrachos, third at the Arkansas Derby.
Also expected at the gate next weekend at Pimlico are Giant Moon, Racecar Rhapsody, Stevil and Yankee Bravo.
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