The drama of the post-position draw for the 128th Preakness was established before the selections even began at the ESPN Zone last night.
It happened earlier in the day in the Pimlico Race Course press box when the connections of Kentucky Derby-winner Funny Cide were tabbed to pick their gate last among the 10 entries during the pull of pills determining the order of selection.
Left with no options, Funny Cide will break from the No. 9 spot, two gates outside Peace Rules, the Derby's third-place finisher and second choice in the Preakness' morning-line odds.
"Fortunately, he's got enough tactical speed that he should have the opportunity to get decent position," was the immediate reaction of Jack Knowlton, one of Funny Cide's owners. "Obviously, picking last is not what you wish for. We picked second at the Derby.
"But it's certainly something you can live with here better than in Kentucky. The post position is a lot more important there."
Trainer Barclay Tagg, a veteran of countless Pimlico races, would have preferred a better starting spot, but he took the situation philosophically.
"A lot of things in a race are more important than the post position," he said. "You can have the best post, the best jockey, the best everything and you still have to have a good trip and a little luck."
Funny Cide avoided the extreme outside only because trainer Bob Baffert - picking third in the order - chose No. 10 for Senor Swinger. Baffert won two recent Preaknesses with Real Quiet and Point Given from the widest starting position.
"I don't think there's really a bad post in the race," Baffert said. "This will give him [Senor Swinger] a chance to get settled early and he can only get hit from one side."
Maryland-based trainer Gary Capuano provided the only other mild surprise when he selected the rail for Cherokee's Boy with the sixth choice.
"If you get any kind of a trip, the rail's the place to be at Pimlico," said Capuano, who trained Captain Bodgit up to some memorable Triple Crown battles with Silver Charm and Free House six years ago.
"If I had had the first pick, I probably would have gone to 3, 4 or 5."
Capuano knows his horse is unlikely to take an easy lead from the inside with Peace Rules and Funny Cide and New York Hero far away from him, but took No. 1 over No. 2 in an effort to conserve as much ground as possible.
"You sure don't want the big speed horses inside of you," he said.
Traditionally known for a bias to inside horses and sharp turns, Pimlico has shed some of that reputation in recent years.
Veteran horsemen such as Lukas know that "if you can't handle the turns at Pimlico, you're going to be in big trouble. I have not had a lot of luck with outside horses there."
The stock of Ten Cents A Shine, a Lukas trainee, continued to rise when Jerry Bailey, perhaps the world's best jockey, replaced Pat Valenzuela in the saddle.
"When the best rider in the world suddenly and unexpectedly becomes available, you have to get him on there," said owner Kenneth Ramsey.
Race facts
What:128th Preakness, second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown series
Where:Pimlico Race Course
When:Saturday, post time 6:12 p.m.
Distance:1 3/16 miles
Purse:$1 million
