Zito hasn't lost confidence in Dialed In; King Congie arrives from Belmont

DIALED IN (Mineshaft) finished eighth as the favorite in the Kentucky Derby

(G1), but trainer Nick Zito hasn't lost a bit of confidence in his

three-year-old colt.

"I still think -- and not because I have him -- that he's still the best

three-year-old. That's my opinion," the Hall of Fame trainer said. "We'll see what

happens with Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux [Brz]), and there are so many other

good horses in the race."

Dialed In trailed the 19-horse field during a particularly slow early pace

before closing to eighth under jockey Julien Leparoux, beaten 7 1/2 lengths by

Animal Kingdom.

"I still want Julien to let him run his race. That's his style," Zito

explained. "He's a wonderful horse. What really has he done wrong? In the Derby,

he still came home with his run, which has been documented. Why should he do

anything different?"

Dialed In showed solid energy Friday morning at Pimlico while galloping 1 1/2

miles under exercise rider Stacy Prior.

The Robert LaPenta-owned colt, who captured the Holy Bull (G3) and Florida

Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park, is eligible to win a $5.5 million bonus for his

connections with a victory in the Preakness, courtesy of MI Developments'

Preakness 5.5 incentive program. Zito said he hasn't felt any added pressure.

"The race is first, the money is next," Zito noted. "Is the money going to be

a big factor if we win? Is it going to help a lot of things? Of course, it is.

It'll help some good causes, too. Hey, we're all on record, including Mr.

LaPenta. It's not like that money is just going to go in the bank. Of course,

you don't get any interest anymore anyway. We're going to give it to the right

people, I guess, if it happens."

When asked his opinion of bonuses, Zito said he thought they were good, as

long as 50 percent of the bonus is donated to charity.

KING CONGIE (Badge of Silver) galloped 1 1/4 miles at Belmont Park Friday

morning before leaving on a van bound for Pimlico at 9 a.m. (EDT). A neck third in the

Blue Grass (G1) last out, the dark bay colt will make his Triple Crown debut in

the Preakness for trainer Tom Albertrani, who won the 2006 Preakness with

eventual champion three-year-old Bernardini.

"I feel very confident," Albertrani said. "The horse is training very well. I

was a little more confident with Bernardini, but I like the way my horse is

training, so I think he'll run a good race."

Albertrani saddled Blue Grass winner Brilliant Speed (Dynaformer) for a respectable seventh-place finish in

the Kentucky Derby and came away impressed with Animal Kingdom's victory in his

dirt debut.

"He's a horse that's been on the improve with every race," Albertrani said of

the likely Preakness favorite. "He was in the same position as we were and had

to show he was able to take his form to the dirt, and he managed to do it. Off

his last couple of races, (Animal Kingdom) looks like the horse we have to come

and beat."