Preakness 140 Field

American Pharoah and Firing Line will face-off yet again in Preakness 140 (Jamie Newell/Horsephotos.com)

Kentucky Derby (G1) winner American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) drew the No.
1 post position and was installed as the 4-5 morning-line favorite for
Saturday’s 140th running of the
Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.

The Zayat Stables’ homebred colt headlines an eight-horse field entered
Wednesday for the $1.5 million middle jewel of the Triple Crown. The Bob
Baffert trainee is scheduled to be joined in the starting gate Saturday by stablemate Dortmund (Big Brown), who was rated second in the morning-line at 7-2
after drawing post 2. 

“I can’t believe I drew the 1-2 of all draws,” Baffert said. “I’m just glad I
didn’t draw that for the Derby. Sometimes you’ve got to give a little. It’s a
short field, eight horses. He still has to break well. If he’s the best horse,
we’ll find out.”

Baffert was asked if the task is easier from the rail in a small field.

“I don’t like the inside. I never like the one-hole,” the Hall of Fame
conditioner and five-time Preakness winner said. “Sometimes they don’t break as
well. (Dortmund’s) drawn the one-hole before at Santa Anita. When I was watching
the draw and all these numbers were coming up, I go, ‘This is not looking good.’
It’s the luck of draw.

“We’re there. I don’t love it, but they’ll be easy to watch.”

Dortmund will attempt to turn the tables on his stablemate in the Preakness (Rickelle Nelson/Horsephotos.com)

“I think (the inside posts), it’s going to force their hand a little, and
then with Mr. Z. drawn to the outside, I don’t think it’s any secret, Wayne
wanted his horse up close in the Derby. New owners, new connections now. It’s
really going to force their hand down inside, and I’ll have options.

“(Firing Line’s) sat before. I sat in the Bob Lewis, and I was second to
Dortmund the first time. He’ll sit about any trip. I wasn’t overly concerned
about the draw. I told (owner) Mr. (Arnold) Zetcher just prior to it, I’d love
the outside, but if we don’t, I’ll be fine with where we’re at. But with the way
everybody else drew, with those three being down inside, it gives me a lot of
options.”

Lukas, a six-time Preakness winner, discussed tactics for Mr. Z after the
draw.

“We’re going to probably be forwardly placed,” the Hall of Famer said. “We’ve
got a horse on the outside of us, a couple of them, that haven’t got a lot of
speed, so I think we’ll be OK from there. It’s a good spot. I was very pleased
with it.

“He didn’t get any chance to run in the Derby. I think he’ll run a good race.
He didn’t get a lot out of the Derby and he’s training well. We’ll give him a
shot. I’ve been lucky here before.”