MIKE WELSCH

EARLY VOTING EPICENTER SIMPLIFICATION CREATIVE MINISTER

Logically, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of viable options in this year’s Preakness field, but then again logic had little to do with the final outcome of this year’s Kentucky Derby, so there is that to consider. On paper, and off his Derby performance, Epicenter is obviously the most logical winner of this race, but at a price somewhere in the vicinity of even money, logic would dictate searching for a little better value.

The best alternative, it would seem, is the fresh, talented, and steadily improving EARLY VOTING. Although logically, staying

1 3/16 miles is a big question for the lightly raced colt, one will rely on trainer Chad Brown, an expert in such matters, to have him properly legged up for the task given the six weeks he’s had to freshen and prepare for this objective since his game effort in the Wood Memorial. The key will be an alert start, a quality he’s seemed to possess in earlier races, and the ability to relax long enough on the lead to have enough in reserve to seal the deal in the end.

EPICENTER is likely one of only two other members of the field, along with Armagnac, capable of forcing the issue from the outset, and it will be interesting to see if jockey Joel Rosario

fromnd opts to put the favorite in close pursuit of Early Voting right the start. The Derby runner-up has been a model of consistency throughout his career and surely a deserving favorite, although he must answer one question – whether he can come back with yet another peak performance on just two weeks’ rest.

SIMPLIFICATION was my choice at a huge price to upset the Derby. At the top of the stretch, he appeared to be in perfect position to do just that when seemingly poised to make a legitimate run at the leaders from off what had been a torrid pace. Unfortunately, the Fountain of Youth winner could not gain any ground through the final quarter-mile, perhaps a factor of the ground loss incurred getting into that position or the relatively grueling schedule he’d kept to that point. The Derby marked his fifth start in little over a four-month span to start the year. Wheeling back in only two weeks obviously raises concern of how much is still left in the tank, but he is deserving of one more chance.

CREATIVE MINISTER worked as well as any 3-year-old on the grounds at Gulfstream even before getting to the races. He would have won his debut with a cleaner trip and continues to flourish, coming off another improved showing on the Derby undercard. It’s asking a lot of him to step up to this level, especially off two weeks’ rest, but he has enough obvious talent not to rule out entirely if able to muster yet another forward move.