Preakness field starts to take shape

Many of the Derby horses to skip race

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — It’s part of the Kentucky Derby’s rite of passage, the excitement that builds for the Preakness the moment the winner crosses the finish line at Churchill Downs.

Is Always Dreaming good enough to win the Preakness? Sure.

Is he a Triple Crown horse? Probably not, but it’s too early to tell.

Saturday’s Kentucky Derby was not a good indication of the ability of many of the horses because the surface, which Equibase ridiculously labeled as wet fast, compromised the run of a lot of starters.

Normally when a jockey or trainer says a horse didn’t like the surface it’s code for “we don’t know why they didn’t run.” However, in this case, it’s true. But you can’t take anything away from Always Dreaming, who had a great trip over a field of closers.

“Always Dreaming came out of it in wonderful fashion, just excellent,” winning trainer Todd Pletcher said Sunday morning. “He ate very well last night and he’s got some spring in his step this morning.”

There won’t be a lot of familiar horses at the Preakness in two weeks.

If Always Dreaming didn’t win the Derby, it’s a certainty he wouldn’t be in the Preakness because Pletcher loathes bringing back horses that quickly.

Lookin at Lee, the second-place finisher for Steve Asmussen, is looking at the slightly shorter 1 3/16th mile race.

“The Preakness is definitely a possibility for Lee,” Asmussen said.

Classic Empire, who finished fourth, is a maybe for the Preakness. He came back to the barn with some small cuts and a swollen right eye that was about threequarters shut. If the eye gets better he will likely go to Baltimore.

“A lot of it is just going to be how quickly his eye can come around,” trainer Mark Casse said.

The connections of Gunnevera and Girvin haven’t made a decision yet on their next race.

“(Jockey) Mike (Smith) said I should run (Girvin) back in the Preakness or Belmont,” trainer Joe Sharp said.

Irish War Cry, the second favorite, will be skipping the Preakness.

One of the fresh horses being considered for the Preakness is New Mexico-based Conquest Mo Money, who was second in the Arkansas Derby.