Today’s Preakness Is Derby Revisited

Missed the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, you say? Don’t worry, a rerun of the Derby is on tap today at Pimlico Race Course when 11 3-year-olds go to the post in the 120th Preakness Stakes.

The field is smaller - there were 19 starters in the Derby - but in many ways the Preakness Stakes figures to be strikingly similar to the Derby.

And when all is said and done there’s a chance the same trainer who was in the Churchill Downs winner’s circle will be in the Pimlico winner’s circle, too.

“I think we’re the barn to beat,” said D. Wayne Lukas, who seeks a record-tying fourth Triple Crown win in a row. “Either one of my horses can win and it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

Lukas will send Thunder Gulch, the upset winner in the Derby, and Timber Country in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes. Filly Serena’s Song, who set the hot early pace in the Derby before fading to 16th, ran Friday in the Grade II Black Eyed Susan, winning easily.

The early pace in today’s 13/16-mile second leg of the Triple Crown figures to be just as hot, if not hotter, than the pace set by Serena’s Song in the Derby.

Nick Zito said he expects Star Standard to be every bit as fast in today’s race.

“I don’t care if it means my horse has to run the first quarter (mile) in 21 seconds, we’re going to the lead,” said Zito, who has two Derby wins but none in any other Triple Crown race.

Roy Frazier said Texas-bred Itron will be away quickly, too, from his No. 1 post. “If it takes 21 seconds to keep up in the first quarter,” Frazier said, “well, that’s what we’ll do.”

And if Itron doesn’t want to run with Star Standard there’s always Mystery Storm. Trainer Larry Robideaux said he doesn’t want his horse to run the first quarter-mile in 21 seconds, “but it won’t hurt us to go 46 seconds for a half-mile, and 1:09 and change or 1:10 (for 6 furlongs).

That’s the kind of pace that left the early leaders staggering through the stretch at Churchill Downs in the Derby while Thunder Gulch, Tejano Run and Timber Country rallied to finish 1-2-3.

Lukas said he likes his chances with Thunder Gulch and Timber Country. If one of them comes through, Lukas can join Lucien Lauren as the only trainers to win four straight Triple Crown races. Lauren won the 1972 Belmont Stakes with Riva Ridge and then swept the 1973 Triple Crown with Secretariat.

Lukas wants five in a row.