Parimutuels

Expect High Fly to fly high at Pimlico

By BRANT JAMES
Published May 21, 2005

Enough of the early speed horses are placed close enough to the rail to set up an interesting dash for the lead at the start of the race. That will include Hal's Image, High Limit (who was banged around early and finished 20th in the Kentucky Derby) and Scrappy T, a front-runner who has finished in the top three in all nine of his starts, including his past two, the Grade I Wood Memorial (third) and Grade III Withers (first).

The Preakness' shorter distance (1 3/16 miles to the Derby's 11/4) forces jockeys of stalkers and closers to keep the early speed in sight, and Jerry Bailey - who upset heavy favorite Fusaichi Pegasus with Red Bullet in the 2000 Preakness - will keep second-favorite High Fly within striking distance. Breaking from the second post should facilitate Bailey's effort to position the Florida Derby winner.

Afleet Alex (third in the Kentucky Derby) and Derby-winner Giacomo will have ground to make up, breaking from the 12th and 13th posts, respectively, but a 14-horse field will be easier to negotiate than the 20-colt clot in Kentucky.

The forecast in Baltimore is a 30 percent possibility of rain, and Afleet Alex has won twice on tracks listed as sloppy, most recently the Grade I, 7-furlong Hopeful Stakes in August at Saratoga.

High Fly assumed the Derby lead with a quarter-mile left at Churchill Downs but faded to 10th after contesting quick early fractions. This time, when Bailey urges him into the lead heading for home, he will have energy in reserve. Giacomo and Afleet Alex will have worked through the spent speed horses to mount a late charge, but the Derby winner will tire and yield to a late-running Noble Causeway, who will nip Afleet Alex for second as High Fly wins the Preakness.

[Last modified May 21, 2005, 01:03:17]