A small field of eight line up to take on
Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in Saturday's Preakness
Stakes. Run at Pimlico over 1900 meters, the Preakness is
the second leg of the Triple Crown.
MINT SLEWLEP: 3 c Slew City Slew - Cry Me
A River, by Gilded Time
Was fourth last time out in the Withers Stakes (Gr3) when
beaten by nearly two lengths by fellow Preakness contender
C P West (in 2nd place). He was well beaten in the Gotham
before that and has a lot to do here.
Mint Slewlep has won just twice to date and looks outclassed
here. He is drawn at one.
By one of the most underrated sires in North America, Mint
Slewlep's dam is a half-sister to stakes winner Frigidette
- the dam of graded winner Windsor Castle.
XCHANGER: 3 c Exchange Rate - Saragoza, by Crafty Prospector
An impressive winner of the Federico Tesio Stakes last time
out. Has battled when stepped up in class however. Xchanger
was a smart two-year-old who won the Sapling Stakes (formerly
a Gr1 race) beating the high-class colt Buffalo Man. His only
subsequent win came in the Federico Tesio, and he has been
well held against the likes of Scat Daddy,Teuflesberg and
leading Preakness fancy Curlin. The latter beat him by nearly
14 lengths in their only meeting.
By one of the more promising young sires in North America,
Xchanger's dam is now based in Venezuela.
CIRCULAR QUAY: 3 c Thunder Gulch - Circle
of Life, by Belong To Me
One of the best colts of his generation, Circular Quay was
a late inclusion to the Preakness. His three year-old campaign
has been a mixed bag so far. Following a disastrous trip in
the Risen Star, where he nearly came down, Circular Quay won
the Louisana Derby in smooth style next time out. Trainer
Todd Pletcher then sent him into the Kentucky Derby without
a further prep. He was sixth at Churchill Downs, again finishing
ten lengths off Street Sense. By a champion sire, his dam
was a Gr1 winner at two and is from the family of South African
sire Asaal.
CURLIN: 3 c Smart Strike - Sheriffs Deputy, by Deputy Minister
An outstanding racehorse. He won his first three starts in
scintillating style before running a creditable, an slightly
unlucky third at Churchill Downs. A magnificent winner of
the Arkansas Derby -by ten lengths -Curlin looks the colt
most likely to upset the favourite.
By one of Mr Prospector's best sire sons, his damsire Deputy
Minister has become a truly outstanding broodmare sire. Curlin
is bred like millionaire and young sire Tenpins - both being
sons of Smart Strike out of Deputy Minister mares.
KING OF THE ROXY: 3 c Littleexpectations
- Marrakesh, by Bold Forbes
Runner up in the Santa Derby last time out. He cost just $8,000
as a yearling but was later purchased by Team Valor after
he broke his maiden in impressive fashion. He won the Hutcheson
impressively earlier this season -giving Todd Pletcher his
fifth consecutive win in the Hutcheson! He was then not digraced
when second at Santa Anita Derby to Giacomo's half brother,
Tiago. The Santa Anita Derby form was not franked though with
both the winner and third place finishers running unplaced.
King of the Roxy, who defeated C P West in the Futurity at
two, is the best son of Littleexpectations, a stakes winning
brother to Valid Expectations. He comes from a fine female
line, which has produced the likes of Spanish Fern and Haafhd.
FLYING FIRST CLASS: 3 c Perfect Mandate -
Flying In Style, by Flying Sensation
The colt will be the last Preakness mount for Mark Guidry.
A brilliant winner last time out of the Derby trial, he is
also bidding to return his trainer, D Wayne Lukas, to the
classic spotlight. He was disappointing when well beaten,
as favourite, behind Curlin, in the Rebel Stakes and again
showed little in the Arkansas Derby. He has shown flashes
of brilliance however.
By a son of Gone West, he has won two of his five starts and
is a descendant of top broodmare Solidity.
HARD SPUN: 3 c Danzig -Turkish Tryst, by
Turkoman
Runner up in the Kentucky Derby after setting the pace. He
was comfortably held by Street Sense. The latter is well known
for having a distinct affinity for Churchill Downs and it
maybe possible that Pimlico will suit Hard Spun better. Prior
to his fine effort in the Derby, he proved his versatility
by winning the Lane's End Stakes on the Polytrack. Compared
with Smarty Jones after going through his juvenile season
unbeaten, Hard Spun bids to give his great sire his second
Preakness winner.
STREET SENSE: 3 c Street Cry- Bedazzle, by
Dixieland Band
The horse to win both the Breeders Cup Juvenile and Kentucky
Derby. He is looking to become the first since Affirmed to
win the Triple Crown and is clearly an outstanding racehorse,
although it is noticeable that his best performances have
come at Churchill Downs. His Derby win was breathtaking and
he should be able to win here without too much fuss. One of
a number of top horses sired by Street Cry in his first crop,
his dam is from the same family as leading sires Mr Greeley
and Danehill Dancer.
C P WEST: 3 c Came Home - Queen's Legend,
by Dynaformer
He was second in the Withers last time out - a race won by
last year's Preakness victor in 2006. Has ground to find with
King of the Roxy, and looks likely to finish in the money
at best.
The best horse produced by Came Home in his first crop, his
second dam is by former South African champion Hawaii.
SELECTION
1 Street Sense
2 Curlin
3 Hard Spun