Lukas ready to invade Pimlico

This year's 132nd running of the Preakness S. (G1) likely will include a

starter trained by D. Wayne Lukas, a five-time winner of the middle jewel of the

Triple Crown. The Hall of Fame conditioner is deciding whether to start FLYING

FIRST CLASS (Perfect Mandate) or STARBASE (Tale of the Cat) in the 1 3/16-mile

classic. It would mark the 22nd time in the last 28 years that Lukas has saddled

a Preakness starter.

"We're still not sure which one, although I think we are leaning toward

Flying First Class," Lukas said from Churchill Downs Tuesday morning.

Flying First Class and Starbase both worked five furlongs at Churchill Downs

on Tuesday. Flying First Class blazed the distance in a bullet :58 3/5, easily

the fastest of 36 works at the distance. Starbase was timed in 1:01 3/5.

Flying First Class rolled to a 3 3/4-length victory in the Derby Trial S. at

Churchill Downs on April 28. One week earlier, Starbase finished second, beaten 3 1/2

lengths, in the Lexington S. (G2) at Keeneland.

Lukas confirmed he will be sending five horses, including his pony, to the

Preakness stakes barn next Wednesday. The Preakness weekend includes 14

stakes races on Friday and Saturday.

Lukas has saddled a record 31 Preakness starters, winning Maryland's marquee

event with Codex (1980), Tank's Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber

Country (1995) and Charismatic (1999).

Hall of Fame trainer Nick Zito, who has saddled 17 Preakness starters, is

expected to enter Withers S. (G3) runner-up C P WEST (Came Home), who breezed four

furlongs in :48 2/5 at Belmont Park on Monday. Zito has been represented in the

Preakness in 14 of the last 17 years.

"He went well," Zito said. "We'll work him again next Monday before making

the final decision on the Preakness, but I am leaning towards another Preakness

runner."

Trainer and co-owner Jamie Sanders, a longtime assistant to Zito, announced

Tuesday that TEUFLESBERG (Johannesburg) would make his 17th career start in the

Preakness. Teuflesberg forced the early pace before fading to 17th in the Run

for the Roses. Stewart Elliott, who won the Preakness aboard Smarty Jones in

2004, retains the mount.

"We think Pimlico is more suitable to his style and it will be fun to be up

in the stakes barn with Nick," Sanders said. "We will go back to the track

tomorrow. He is not happy unless he is out of his stall. I have never been

around a horse like him."

Kentucky Derby (G1) hero STREET SENSE (Street Cry [Ire]) is scheduled to gallop

on Wednesday and Thursday at Churchill Downs, according to trainer Carl Nafzger.

The Derby winner is expected to arrive at Old Hilltop next Wednesday. Calvin

Borel will have the riding assignment.

"We'll know by Sunday exactly how we will train leading up to the Preakness,"

Nafzger said.

Hard Spun has arrived at Delaware Park to prepare for the Preakness (Patrick Tyrrell/Horsephotos.com) Trainer Larry Jones said that Derby runner-up HARD SPUN (Danzig) arrived safely at Delaware Park Monday evening and was feeling so fresh Tuesday morning that he snapped at jockey Mario Pino during a visit. "I worked a couple of horses for Larry this morning and went by to see Hard Spun in his stall and he bit me in the finger," Pino said. "I was by myself at the time but someone at the other end of the barn yelled 'he thinks you are Calvin Borel' which was pretty funny." Pino, Maryland's all-time winningest rider, recalled the Kentucky Derby experience. "It is something I will never forget. It was electric," Pino said. "We got a perfect trip and at the top of the stretch I thought we were going to win because I still had plenty of horse and nobody was coming at us. So I crept to the rail because Larry told me about 10 times not to let Calvin up the rail. Hard Spun switched to his right lead but Street Sense just ran by us. Those are two super horses, with class written all over them, and the Preakness should be fun." Jones said Hard Spun would return to the track Wednesday morning. "We will not breeze between now and the Preakness," Jones said. "We'll probably just gallop him into the race." Federico Tesio S. winner XCHANGER (Exchange Rate) galloped 1 3/4 miles at the Fair Hill Training Center on Tuesday. The Mark Shuman-trained colt worked six furlongs in 1:13 at Fair Hill on Derby Day. Shuman is hoping to have the riding services of Ramon Dominguez, who rode Xchanger to a 4 3/4-length victory in the April 21 Tesio. However, Dominguez has also ridden possible Preakness starter CHELOKEE (Cherokee Run), who is trained by Michael Matz. "I'm really happy with the way he came out of his work," Shuman said. "I'm still trying to get Ramon Dominguez, but we have to see what Chelokee is doing. His agent (Steve Rushing) hasn't given me a yes or no. I might have to talk to Mr. Matz and go from there. I'd like to have a rider set in the next couple days. I would love to have Ramon ride my horse. I think it's going to be a rider's race and he certainly knows his way around Pimlico." The only other confirmed starter is the Todd Pletcher-trained KING OF THE ROXY (Littleexpectations), who finished second in the April 7 Santa Anita Derby (G1). Others considering the Preakness are the third- and fifth-place finishers from the Derby, CURLIN (Smart Strike) and SEDGEFIELD (Smart Strike).