2008 Preakness Betting Preview

[Shame About Ray]

Preakness Betting - Big Brown Scares Away All But One Derby Also-ran

Can you recall the last Preakness that lacked a single runner from the Kentucky Derby to challenge the winner in the second leg of the Triple Crown?

Better ask your grandpa because I was 13 when my favorite horse romped in a wire-to-wire victory by 5 ½ lengths at Pimlico. Citation, en route to the 1948 Triple Crown, defeated his Calumet Farm stablemate by 3 ½ lengths.

After chasing pacesetting Coaltown six lengths back after a half-mile, Citation vaulted to the lead with ease. In the Preakness, Big Cy went wire to wire and scored with ease by 5 ½ lengths with nary another Derby runner in the field.

That was the first of three Triple Crown races to be televised on a Saturday afternoon by CBS. In fact, CBS also broadcast the others: the Derby in ’52 and the Belmont in ’60.

There have been two Derby starters in the Preakness five times since ’23, with the latest in ’80 when Genuine Risk, second of three fillies to triumph at Churchill, finished second and Jaklin Klugman ran fourth behind victor Codex.

It appears only one Derby runner will take a shot at impressive winner Big Brown in the 133rd Preakness on May 17.

The connections made the announcement Wednesday that fifth-place finisher Recapturetheglory will run. Trainer Louie Roussel III who co-owns the horse with Ronnie Lamarque indicated both were leaning toward giving
the Illinois Derby winner at least 30 days off after two tough races.”

Recapturetheglory returned to Churchill Downs, jogged a mile and galloped another mile. “I wanted to wait until he went back to the track,” Roussel said. “My assistant (Lara Van Deren) said he’s doing well.”

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