LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- All of a sudden, the Preakness is going to be one heck of a horse race.
A full field of 14 horses, including the Kentucky Derby winner, Lil E. Tee, as well as six other Derby starters, are expected to compete in the Pimlico Race Course classic May 16.
They will face a large array of newcomers, such as the well-regarded Canadian colt and Derby Trial winner, Alydeed, who bypassed the Louisville race in favor of the Preakness.
Another possibility is A.P. Indy, the Derby's early second choice, who was scratched the morning of the race.
The long shadow that was cast over the middle jewel of the Triple Crown dissipated Saturday just as quickly as Arazi's stamina in the stretch of the Kentucky Derby.
If Arazi had won the Derby, his owners said they had considered bypassing the Preakness and going to the Epsom Derby in England. But the French-based colt turned out to be the biggest flop in the history of the race. He finished eighth, beaten 8 1/4 lengths, and was flown to Paris last night.
Lynn Whiting, trainer of Lil E. Tee, said his Derby winner probably would arrive at Pimlico on May 11 or 12.
Whiting, who trained on the Maryland circuit for eight winters, said: "I know a lot of people in Maryland. I think my horse can handle the Pimlico track. Speed and position is a factor there. But I still don't want to put a lot of [early] run in his mind."
Shelley Riley, owner-trainer of Derby runner-up Casual Lies, will be at Pimlico earlier. She was dressed for the Preakness yesterday, wearinga blouse covered with black-eyed Susans.
"I'm thinking of shipping my colt to Baltimore this Wednesday or Thursday," whispered Riley, who lost her voice rooting for her horse in the Derby.
Lil E. Tee and Casual Lies came out of the Derby in good shape. Lil E. Tee was nickering for his breakfast yesterday. Riley said Casual Lies was dragging her around the shed row and was bucking and squealing.
"He's incredibly tough," she said.
In addition to the top two Derby finishers, Dance Floor, Conte di Savoya and Pine Bluff, who were third, fourth and fifth, respectively, are also Preakness-bound.
Technology, 10th in the Derby, and Pistols And Roses, 16th, also are expected to run in the Preakness. Sonny Hine, trainer of Technology, attributed his colt's poor showing in the Derby to a bad start. George Gianos, trainer of Pistols And Roses, said his horse didn't care for the track surface.
In addition to Alydeed, three other non-Derby horses -- Speakerphone, Agincourt and Dash For Dotty -- are considered definite Preakness starters.
Considered possible starters are Treekster, Careful Gesture, D.J. Cat and two D. Wayne Lukas-trained horses, Big Sur and Hickman Creek.
Big Sur runs in the Withers Stakes at Belmont Park on Wednesday. Hickman Creek will work tomorrow or Wednesday, and then Lukas said he will determine if the colt will come to Baltimore.
Other potential Preakness starters also could surface from the Withers.
Neil Drysdale, trainer of A.P. Indy, was busily working on the horse yesterday with renowned veterinarian Alex Harthill. They were trying to determine if the horse has a bruise or whether it will develop into an abscess. Drysdale said he will know by Wednesday if A.P. Indy will make the Preakness.
Fourteen horses can compete in the Preakness. If more are under consideration, the top 14 are selected by their total career earnings.
Where they're headed
0$ Plans for Kentucky Derby horses:
Horse.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Finish Next
Lil E. Tee.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 1 Preakness
Casual Lies.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .2 Preakness
Dance Floor.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .3 Preakness
Conte di Savoya.. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Preakness
Pine Bluff.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 5 Preakness
Al Sabin.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .6 Belmont Stakes
Dr Devious.. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 7 Grass racing
Arazi.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .8 French Derby
My Luck Runs North.. .. .. .. .. 9 Undetermined
Technology.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .10 Preakness
West by West.. .. .. .. .. .. . 11 Rest at Belmont Park
Devil His Due.. .. .. .. .. .. .12 Rest at Belmont Park
Thyer.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 Ireland
Ecstatic Ride.. .. .. .. .. .. .14 Keeneland Race Course
Sir Pinder.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .15 Calder Race Course
Pistols And Roses.. .. .. .. .. 16 Preakness
Snappy Landing.. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Garden State Park
Disposal.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Pillar Stud, Lexington
A.P. Indy.. .. . .. .. .. .. ..Scratched Decision by Wednesday
