The defection of Unbridled's Song from Saturday's Preakness prompted trainer Nick Zito to consider entering two more horses.
Yesterday, Zito said he might enter Diligence, ninth in the Derby, and Saratoga Dandy, whom he had been pointing toward Saturday's Sir Barton Stakes. Diligence is owned by George Steinbrenner.
"Diligence worked well yesterday [in New York], and he is ready to run," Zito said outside Pimlico's stakes barn. "He ran well in the Derby, but just didn't have much chance. He wants to be up close, and that didn't happen."
Cavonnier arrives today
The absence of Unbridled's Song almost certainly assures that Cavonnier, second in the Kentucky Derby by a nose, will be the Preakness betting favorite.
Cavonnier, who remained at Churchill Downs after the Derby, is scheduled to arrive at Pimlico about midday today.
After Cavonnier sped a half-mile in 48 seconds yesterday morning at Churchill Downs, trainer Bob Baffert said by telephone: "He's super-duper cherry mundo now. He looked so beautiful. I got so excited. He's coming up right. He's ready."
No rider for Victory Speech
Lukas still has not named a jockey for Victory Speech. By telephone from Churchill Downs, he said:
"I've got no jockey, no news to report at all."
Louis Quatorze in form
Zito's Louis Quatorze dragged his exercise rider Jamie Sanders through a five-eighths-mile workout at Pimlico yesterday in 59 4/5 seconds.
The track clocker recorded eighth-mile fractions of 12 2/5, 24, 35 and 47 2/5 seconds. The colt galloped out three-quarters of a mile in 1 minute, 13 1/5 seconds.
Secreto de Estado gets rider
A leading jockey in Panama, Cornelio Velasquez, will make his American debut aboard Secreto de Estado, 50-to-1 in the early track odds.
Pub Date: 5/15/96
The 121st Preakness
When, where: Saturday, 5: 32 p.m. post, Pimlico Race Course
Distance, purse: 1 3/16 miles, $500,000 added
Possible field:
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. ... .. ... .. .. .. ... .. Track
Horse .. .. .. .. .. Trainer .. .. Jockey .. .. odds .. .. Last race
Cavonnier . .. .. .. Baffert .. .. McCarron ... 8-5 ... .. 2nd, Derby
Prince of Thieves .. Lukas . .. .. Bailey .. .. 5-2 ... .. 3rd, Derby
Editor's Note ... .. Lukas . .. .. Stevens . .. 6-1 ... .. 6th, Derby
Tour's Big Red .. .. Alonso ... .. Bravo ... .. 8-1 ... .. 1st, Tesio
Skip Away . .. .. .. Hine .. .. .. Sellers . .. 8-1 ... .. 12th, Derby
Mixed Count .. .. .. Benshoff . .. Prado ... . 12-1 ... .. 3rd, Tesio
Louis Quatorze .. .. Zito .. .. .. Day .. .. . 15-1 ... .. 16th, Derby
Victory Speech .. .. Lukas . .. .. TBA .. .. . 15-1 ... .. 10th, Derby
Feather Box .. .. .. Cordero .. .. Migliore .. 50-1 ... .. 5th, Wood
Secreto de Estado .. Callejas . . C. Velasquez 50-1 ... .. 4th, Wood
