Challengers lining up to take on Derby winner in Preakness

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mine That Bird’s last-to-first muddy dash to victory in the Kentucky Derby provided one of the sporting world’s biggest shockers so far this year.

As if following up that stunning performance weren’t enough, Mine That Bird will likely be without his pilot for the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore next Saturday.

Calvin Borel gave Mine That Bird a memorable rail-hugging ride that produced the second-biggest upset in the Derby’s 135-year history.

But Borel will be aboard Rachel Alexandra, the filly he rode to a dominating 201‚Ñ4-length victory in the Derby eve Kentucky Oaks, if she is entered in the Preakness.

That looks likely after Stonestreet Stable owner Jess Jackson said on Friday that he’s pointing the 3-year-old to take on the boys at Pimlico.

Rachel Alexandra isn’t nominated to the Triple Crown races. She could only get into the Preakness if fewer than 14 pre-nominated horses are entered and Jackson antes up $100,000 to supplement her.

As of Friday, there were nine horses confirmed for the Preakness, two probables and three possibles, including Rachel Alexandra.

Fillies rarely run in the Preakness, with 52 having tried it and just four winning, the last was Nellie Morse in 1924. The most recent filly to go against the boys was Excellent Meeting in 1999. She finished last after being pulled up by jockey Kent Desormeaux, who did the same thing with Big Brown in last year’s Belmont Stakes.

Rachel Alexandra is undefeated in five starts since Borel began riding her last fall.

“She’s a once-in-a-lifetime horse,” the jockey said.

Mine That Bird’s trainer understands.

“We hate losing Calvin, he’s the reason we’re here,” Bennie Woolley Jr. said. “But these things happen and we’ll move on.”

Woolley has already spoken to other jockeys about replacing Borel, but still plans to name him as his rider at Wednesday’s Preakness draw. Woolley will go to Plan B only after Jackson ponies up the $100,000 fee to enter Rachel Alexandra.

Mine That Bird is training for the Preakness at Churchill Downs, where he’s the star-in-residence since his stunning victory on the first Saturday in May.

“Everything has fallen into place since the Derby,” Woolley said. “He is doing good. He is eating good. He hasn’t lost any weight, not that he could afford to lose any.”

Mine That Bird is a small horse standing 15 hands high, less than the 17 hands of most of his rivals. His size allowed Borel to scoot the colt through a couple of tight openings in traffic during last week’s Derby.

If Mine That Bird isn’t exactly scaring away the competition, he’s still going to get the respect accorded the Kentucky Derby winner. The 3-year-old gelding is scheduled to travel to Baltimore on Tuesday, where the track has arranged a police escort for the final leg of the journey.

A year ago, Big Brown followed up his Derby victory with a win in the Preakness to set up a Triple Crown try in the Belmont Stakes.

Perhaps still incredulous at his 50-1 upset victory, few are suggesting Mine That Bird can win the Triple Crown. The role of spoiler, though, is clearly in his bloodlines. His father, Birdstone, won the 2004 Belmont, ending fan favorite Smarty Jones’ Triple bid.

The 134th Preakness will include Musket Man and Papa Clem, the third- and fourth-place Derby finishers.

Musket Man, the Illinois Derby winner, will be the last horse to get to Pimlico, with a scheduled arrival the morning of the race.

“We seem to be coming in under the radar, but we’re used to it,” trainer Derek Ryan said. “We knew we had a big horse coming into his first start.”

Trainer Gary Stute will take aim with Arkansas Derby winner Papa Clem. Stute’s father, Mel, won the 1986 Preakness with Snow Chief.

“You only get one chance with the Derby, Preakness and Belmont, and with my stable I don’t know if I’ll get too many more opportunities,” Stute said. “Most of my horses are claiming horses and most of them are used to running back in two weeks, so I’m kind of anxious to run this horse back in two weeks.”

Trainer Bob Baffert expects to decide early next week whether he will enter Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile.

Trainer Larry Jones also is mulling entering Friesan Fire, the Derby wagering favorite who finished next to last. The colt sustained cuts in his left front foot while getting bumped shortly after the start.

“He is healing up very quickly,” Jones said. “If he works well and the foot continues to do well, we plan on running.”

Other confirmed Preakness starters are General Quarters, 10th in the Derby; Flying Private, who was last; and newcomers Big Drama, Hull, Take the Points and Terrain.

“I think a fresh horse has an advantage going into the Preakness, that’s why we’ve seen so many spoils in the Triple Crown,” said David Fawkes, who trains Delta Jackpot winner Big Drama.

Besides Rachel Alexandra, other possible starters are Conservative, second in the Lexington Stakes; and Tone It Down, third in the Tesio Stakes.

It all adds up to a nearly full field of 14 for the 13‚Ñ16-mile race.

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