PREAKNESS Trainer Tagg denies claims he's 'unraveling'

Those claims were made by opposing trainer Bobby Frankel.
By SHERRY ROSS
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
NEW YORK -- Trainer Barclay Tagg, who should have been basking in the glow of his gelding's Kentucky Derby win as he prepares for the second jewel of the Triple Crown, Saturday's Preakness, has instead had to cope with the allegations regarding jockey Jose Santos for the past three days.
Monday, he had another media brushfire on his hands. In a published report, trainer Bobby Frankel, whose Empire Maker and Peace Rules ran 2-3 behind Funny Cide in the Derby, said that Tagg was "unraveling."
When asked about Frankel's comment, Tagg said, "I would have thought Bobby would have too much class."
Frankel was quoted as saying, "He can't handle the pressure. That's why he's not going to win the Preakness."
Frankel, who knows a thing or two about snapping at reporters, didn't soften his stance much Monday morning.
"You just hear it from the press guys. I don't talk to him," Frankel said. "I can understand it. This is his first big horse, and you get nervous. Don't make a big deal of it. Worry about the horse. Don't worry about Barclay Tagg."
Facing media scrutiny
Tagg, 65, is facing intense media scrutiny for the first time; the hysteria over the Santos accusation was an entirely new experience. His horses come first (he has a string of about 25 stabled at Belmont), but when the work is accomplished, he usually has been accommodating with reporters. Tagg took exception to the characterization that he blew up at media members Sunday, when he told them he didn't have time to speak because he was in the middle of a hurried house move.
"I didn't yell at anybody," Tagg said, as he and assistant trainer Robin Smullen rushed off to Albany, where a ceremony honoring the New York-bred Funny Cide took place Monday afternoon. "If they said I did, it was a lie."
Funny Cide was scheduled for his final Preakness breeze today at Belmont. Tagg said he will keep the horse in New York and will not van down to Pimlico until the morning of the race.
Field growing
A few days after the Derby, it looked like a small field would gather for the $1 million Preakness at 13/16 miles, but the number has grown steadily.
New York Hero and Cherokee's Boy both worked today, with their connections making their final Preakness plans based on the results. In addition, Wayne Lukas told Pimlico officials he will ship Ten Cents a Shine, who was eighth in the Derby, along with stablemate Scrimshaw (11th) for the Preakness.
Scrimshaw will be coupled in the wagering with Senor Swinger, trained by five-time Preakness winner Bob Baffert, because both colts are owned by Bob and Beverly Lewis.
Senor Swinger, winner of the Crown Royal American on the turf at Churchill Downs in his last start, worked five furlongs in 1:002/5 Monday at Churchill Downs. It was the third-fastest of 30 works at the distance.
Another Preakness hopeful, the Neil Howard-trained Midway Road, breezed five furlongs in 1:011/5, also in Louisville.
The prospective field, in alphabetical order, for the 128th Preakness: Alysweep, with jockey Jorge Chavez; Champali, Jerry Bailey; Cherokee's Boy, Ryan Fogelsonger; Foufa's Warrior, Ramon Dominguez; Funny Cide, Jose Santos; Kissin Saint, Richard Migliore; Midway Road, Robbie Albarado; New York Hero, Javier Castellano; Peace Rules, Edgar Prado; Scrimshaw, Gary Stevens; Senor Swinger, Pat Day, and Ten Cents A Shine, Patrick Valenzuela.