Preakness 140 Field

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."

"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."