YOUR GUIDE TO THE PREAKNESS STAKES

When:

Tomorrow, 6:15 p.m. post time (12th race)

Where:

Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore

TV:

NBC10, coverage begins at 5 p.m.

Distance:

1 3/16 miles

Purse:

$1 million, with $650,000 to the winner

Weather:

Mid-60s, with 60 percent chance of rain

Up next:

Belmont Stakes, Saturday, June 9

Dick Jerardi

4 - Curlin

8 - Street Sense

3 - Circular Quay

7 - Hard Spun

Stan Hochman
4 - Curlin
2 - Xchanger
7 - Hard Spun
8 - Street Sense

Ed Barkowitz
4 - Curlin
8 - Street Sense
1 - Mint Slewlep
3 - Circular Quay


THE FIELD

Morning line:

30-1

Owner:

Marshall Dowell

Trainer:

Robbie Bailes

Jockey:

Alan Garcia

Sire:

Slew City Slew (Seattle Slew)

Dam:

Cry Me a River (Gilded Time)

Last three:

Withers Stakes (4th), Allowance (1st), Gotham Stakes (5th).

Noteworthy:

His grandsire is Seattle Slew, the 1977 Triple Crown winner ... The combination of Dowell and Bailes finished second to Afleet Alex in the 2005 Preakness with Scrappy T.

Jerardi's breakdown:

Should find an allowance race somewhere. Hopelessly overmatched. Be lucky to beat more than a horse or two.

Morning line:

15-1

Owner:

Joseph Masone, Mark Shuman and Domenico Zannino

Trainer:

Mark Shuman

Jockey:

Ramon Dominguez

Sire:

Exchange Rate (Danzig)

Dam:

Saragoza (Crafty Prospector)

Last three:

Federico Tesio Stakes (1st), Rebel Stakes (7th), Southwest Stakes (5th).

Noteworthy:

Horse's only win of the year came at Pimlico in the Tesio. That set him up for a run in the Derby, but his connections decided days before the race to instead target the Preakness ... Co-owner Masone works for DuPont in Wilmington.

Jerardi's breakdown:

Has won nearly $300,000, but never beaten a top horse. Could be part of what might be a hot pace, if sent from the inside post. Dominating winner of the Tesio at Pimlico.

Morning line:

8-1

Owner:

Michael & Doreen Tabor

Trainer:

Todd Pletcher

Jockey:

John Velazquez

Sire:

Thunder Gulch (Gulch)

Dam:

Circle of Life (Belong to Me)

Last three:

Kentucky Derby (6th), Louisiana Derby (1st), Risen Star (5th).

Noteworthy:

Pletcher is 0-for-26 in Triple Crown races, including the five he sent out in the Kentucky Derby. Circular Quay was the highest finisher of the five.

Jerardi's breakdown:

Much better than Derby finish would indicate. Was wide and never really had a clear run. Might not have been ready for best after an 8-week layoff.

Morning line:

7-2

Owner:

Jess Jackson, Padua Stable, George Bolton & Midnight Cry Stable

Trainer:

Steve Asmussen

Jockey:

Robby Albarado

Sire:

Smart Strike (Mr. Prospector)

Dam:

Sherriff's Deputy (Deputy Minister)

Last three:

Kentucky Derby (3rd), Arkansas Derby (1st), Rebel (1st).

Noteworthy:

Albarado sustained skull fractures in two separate falls 17 months apart in 1998 and 1999. He has ridden all three of Curlin's starts since Asmussen took over training from Helen Pitts.

Jerardi's breakdown:

Showed his talent in his first three races and his toughness in the Derby. Should be much closer to the pace in smaller field. Was ridden too confidently in Kentucky when not asked for any speed early in the race.

Morning line:

12-1

Owner:

Team Valor

Trainer:

Todd Pletcher

Jockey:

Garrett Gomez

Sire:

Littleexpectations (Valid Appeal)

Dam:

Marrakesh (Bold Forbes)

Last three:

Santa Anita Derby (2nd), Hutcheson Stakes (1st), Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2006, 8th).

Noteworthy:

Gomez was the nation's leading jockey in Earnings

last year with nearly $27 million and had 261 wins. He has never ridden this horse in a race.

Jerardi's breakdown:

Made a winning move in the Santa Anita Derby before getting caught at the finish by Tiago. This is a pretty talented horse that could make an impact somewhere in the race.

Morning line:

20-1

Owner:

Buddy Johnston

Trainer:

D. Wayne Lukas

Jockey:

Mark Guidry

Sire:

Perfect Mandate (Gone West)

Dam:

Flying in Style (Flying Sensation)

Last three: Derby Trial (1st), Arkansas Derby (6th), Rebel Stakes (8th).
Noteworthy: Lukas has guided 13 Triple Crown winners, the first coming with Codex at the 1980 Preakness. He also won the Preakness with Tank's Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat ('94), Timber Country ('95) and Charismatic ('99).
Jerardi's breakdown: Will be flying through first few fractions. Serious speed ensures a quick pace, but unlikely to carry that speed all the way.

Morning line:

5-2

Owner:

Fox Hill Farms Inc.

Trainer:

J. Larry Jones

Jockey:

Mario Pino

Sire:

Danzig (Northern Dancer)

Dam:

Turkish Tryst (Turkoman)

Last three:

Kentucky Derby (2nd), Lane's End (1st), Southwest (4th).

Noteworthy:

Pino is Maryland's all-time winningest jockey, but this will be only his third starter in the Preakness. The 45-year-old rode his first horse at Pimlico in 1979.

Jerardi's breakdown:

Tractable speed makes him dangerous in any race. Ran a winning race in the Derby, but will certainly have company near the top this time. --

Morning line:

7-5

Owner:

James B. Tafel LLC

Trainer:

Carl Nafzger

Jockey:

Calvin Borel

Sire:

Street Cry (Machiavellian)

Dam:

Bedazzle (Dixieland Band)

Last three:

Kentucky Derby (1st), Blue Grass (2nd), Tampa Bay Derby (1st).

Noteworthy:

Has hit the board in all eight

Career starts with wins in three of his last four races.

Jerardi's breakdown:

Kentucky Derby winner has never run a poor race and saves his best for the big moments. Almost certainly won't get the Derby dream trip again, but might not need a great trip anyway.

Morning line:

20-1

Owner:

Bob LaPenta

Trainer:

Nick Zito

Jockey:

Edgar Prado

Sire:

Came Home (Gone West)

Dam:

Queen's Legend (Dynaformer)

Last three:

Withers Stakes (2nd); Allowance (2nd); Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2006, 6th).

Noteworthy:

Zito's lone Preakness win was with Louis Quatorze in 1996. He has won the Derby twice, with Strike the Gold in 1991 and Go for Gin in 1994. Strike the Gold was sixth in the Preakness and Go for Gin was second.

Jerardi's breakdown:

Blown away by Street Sense in the Breeders' Cup. Has shown some ability, but hard to imagine he's going to get close this time.