Preakness Field Attempts To Keep Lukas From No. 7
Jockey Angel Cordero Jr. gave D. Wayne Lukas his first Preakness victory 16 years ago. Today, trainer Cordero will try to snap Lukas’ streak of six wins in Triple Crown races.
Cordero admits his chances of winning with Feather Box are slim.
Asked how he felt about Feather Box, winner of one of three starts this year, being made a 50-1 shot in the early line, Cordero laughed and said, “I’m happy, I thought he was going to be 100-1.”
He also said, “You can’t win the lottery if you don’t buy a ticket.”
Cavonnier, second by a nose in the Kentucky Derby, is the best bet for beating Lukas, who will saddle three Derby starters in the Preakness. Missing from Team Lukas, however, will be Derby winner Grindstone, retired to stud last week because of a bone chip in the right front knee.
Cavonnier, the Santa Anita Derby winner, was the 9-5 early choice, while Lukas’ Prince of Thieves, third in the Derby, was next at 7-2 and his Editor’s Note, sixth in the Derby, was the co-third choice with Skip Away, 12th in the Derby.
Lukas’ other starter, Victory Speech, 10th in the Derby, was a long shot. The other Derby starters to contest the 1-3/16-mile Preakness at Pimlico are Skip Away, 12th; In Contention, 15th, and Louis Quatorze, 16th.
Joining Feather Box in making their debuts in Triple Crown competition will be Tour’s Big Red, Mixed Count, Allied Forces and Secreto de Estado.
Team Lukas flew in from Louisville on Thursday, while Skip Away vanned in from Monmouth Park in New Jersey.
Asked about his chances of extending his Triple Crown winning streak, Lukas said, “The hill gets a little steeper.”
The trainer, however, said he feels good about his chances. He seems particularly high on Prince of Thieves.
xxxx The Preakness Stakes can be seen at 1:30 today on ABC.