Only two of the seventeen three-year-olds vanquished in the Kentucky Derby on May 3^rd by California Chrome (by Lucky Pulpit) have chosen to cross swords again with that fleet-footed runner in the second leg of the US Triple Crown, the 139th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland. The race, which is scheduled to be flagged off at 6:18 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, May 17^th (3:48 a.m. on Sunday, May 18^th, in India), has drawn a field of 10 contestants.

One of the pair of optimistic challengers exiting the Kentucky Derby is Ride On Curlin (by Curlin), trained by Billy Gowan, who finished on from a distant position in that race to check in seventh, almost seven lengths behind California Chrome. Drawn widest of all here, the 10-1 chance will probably be dropped back early by Joel Rosario and try and make his run at a slightly earlier stage in the proceedings. Incidentally, his sire had won this race back in 2007.

The other is the Mike Maker-trained General A Rod (by Roman Ruler), 11^th at Churchill Downs, who has 8-1/2 lengths to make up. Javier Castellano will guide the Kentucky-bred, who is drawn 2 and is expected to start at 15 to 1. Like Ride On Curlin, he suffered a slightly troubled trip last time out but there is nothing to suggest that California Chrome has anything to fear from either of these two rivals and in hindsight it may well turn out that the closest they ever got to that formidable performer was in a stall on the flight from Lexington to Baltimore!

Which brings us to the odds-on favourite, California Chrome, who is attempting to extend his winning sequence to six, having trounced all comers by a combined total of some 26 lengths in his last five victories, all of which have come with Victor Espinoza aboard. The eye-catching colt is so fit that his experienced trainer has chosen not to subject him to a searching workout in the relatively short (two weeks) gap between the two events.

Nor is Art Sherman concerned at the prospect that a trio of front-running rivals, flashing early speed, might inconvenience his ward. "We're just letting him be a horse," he said, adding: "I'd like to see speed up front, because he likes to have a target. If he's running about fourth early and is fourth down the backstretch and has a clear path, you're going to see Chrome perform."

"CC" is drawn 4, a spot that is ideally suited to his running style. Incidentally, no California-bred has triumphed in the 1-3/16 mile Preakness since Snow Chief in 1986, but that all seems poised to change. One fly in the ointment is the fact that California Chrome coughed on Thursday morning, though nothing more than a minor throat blister was found after he was scoped and blood-tested. His team feels a glycerine wash will take care of the problem.

That brings us to a bunch of fresh opponents, seven in number, which includes a filly with the initials "R.A." who has Calvin Borel on board. It may be recalled that just such a combination had achieved success here in 2009. However Ria Antonia (by Rockport Harbor) is no Rachel Alexandra! Sixth in the Kentucky Oaks a day before the Kentucky Derby, the Tom Amoss-trainee is the least fancied runner at 30 to 1, and with good reason – she has yet to show the level of form that can win a race of this nature.  

Perhaps the strongest threat to California Chrome will come from the interesting Social Inclusion (by Pioneerof The Nile), and the market has assessed his chance at 5 to 1. The subject of a mammoth $8,000,000 offer from outside the USA after his runaway win in an allowance race on only his second lifetime start, the bay showed he "belonged" in superior company when third in the Wood Memorial Stakes in April when last seen, even though drawn wide.

That his trainer, Manny Azpurua, is 85 years of age adds to the romance of the sport. The only rider that Social Inclusion has ever known is Luis Contreras, who made his name at Woodbine in suburban Toronto. One can expect the colt, who has worked brilliantly, to be leading early – whether he will be able to last out is a question that will need a horse race to determine the answer.

Owner Ron Sanchez displayed a commendable attitude when he said: "I wanted to keep a piece of the horse and retain a breeding right, and to keep him with Manny, but I couldn't get the deal done," adding "Manny is..…loyal and is a legend in Venezuela, where he won 3,500 races. There is no reason to take the horse away from him, no matter how much money they offer."

Bob Baffert-schooled runners are often dangerous when being shipped East from their West Coast base. His lightly-raced ward, Bayern (by Offlee Wild), whose career record is officially 2-from-4, is another of the more promising runners here. Owned by Kaleem Shah – nephew of Western India-based trainer Syed Shah – the quality bay had scored a narrow victory in the Derby Trial Stakes at Churchill Downs at the end of April, but was disqualified on that occasion for interference. With his record, he must hold a chance here although his early "toe" suggests he may not be able to hang on despite the efforts of Rosie Napravnik. The colt, who drops blinkers, is drawn 5 and is available at 10 to 1.

Fifth in the betting is the 12 to 1 Dynamic Impact (by Tiznow), trained by the Canadian-based Mark Casse for his longtime patron, John Oxley. Miguel Mena takes the reins on the colt who took five starts to break his maiden but then showed significant improvement to annex the Illinois Derby last time out. He could be on the upgrade but does not really appeal.

One runner that is familiar with the track is Kid Cruz (by Lemon Drop Kid), who is coming off a win in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico on April 19^th, and has the enviable record of 3 wins and a runner-up finish from 5 career starts. Trained by Linda Rice, he is drawn seven, has the Maryland-based Julian Pimentel in the irons and will start around 20 to 1, a price which in all likelihood will provide some value to his supporters.

When the Coolmore partners invest in a horse, one can be sure it is for a good reason. Last year breeder-cum-trainer Wesley Ward found himself in the fortunate position of possessing a talented home-bred in the shape of Pablo Del Monte (by Giant's Causeway) and when the chestnut scored a couple of facile victories at Keeneland at 2, he sold a 75% stake to the Irish-based operation. They have yet to see their colours carried to victory by the colt, but a third-placed effort in the Blue Grass Stakes last time out suggests he could well be a threat here. If the "morning line" odds of 20 to 1 are to be believed, punters do not quite share the same degree of enthusiasm in the Florida-bred, who is to be ridden by Jeffrey Sanchez.

Sire of the moment in North America, the Gainesway Farm stalwart, Tapit, is represented here by his son, Ring Weekend, who has been most consistent of late. Winner of the Tampa Bay Derby for trainer H. Graham Motion, he comes in off a runner-up effort in the Calder Derby. While he is undoubtedly stepping up in class, he has also shown improved form with maturity so might be able to cope. Alan Garcia partners the gelding, who will break from stall 4 at an expected price of 20 to 1.

So who will take home the Woodlawn Vase and have his or her silks painted on the weathervane as is traditional at Pimlico? No serious reason can be advanced for suggesting that it will be any runner other than California Chrome, who has looked exceptional so far. Social Inclusion is likely to test him more than any other rival.

Image Source - Preakness.com