Derby favorite Curlin will run in Preakness

Curlin will have another go at Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in the Preakness.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said yesterday that his third-place finisher in last week's Derby came out of the race in good shape and is set for the second leg of the Triple Crown on May 19.

"The only hesitation was waiting for him to go back to the track" after his first defeat, Asmussen said during a conference call. "I was curious where he would be mentally."

Curlin went for a 1-mile jog at Churchill Downs on Wednesday. Asmussen thought his lightly raced colt might be nervous on his first trip back to the track.

"He's not shown any indication of that," Asmussen said. "His appetite has stayed good."

Curlin won his first three starts by a combined 28 1/2 lengths, and went off as the 5-1 second choice in the Derby behind Street Sense.

Robby Albarado will again be aboard the colt.

Curlin finished 5 3/4 lengths behind runner-up Hard Spun and eight lengths back of Street Sense.

Hard Spun also returns for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, along with 17th-place finisher Teuflesberg.

Others Preakness probables include C P West, King of the Roxy, Xchanger, Flying First Class or Starbase (both trained by D. Wayne Lukas) and Mint Slewlep.

Chelokee, handled by Barbaro's trainer Michael Matz, is possible, but more likely to run on the Preakness undercard in the Barbaro Stakes. *