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War Emblem draws eighth post for Preakness Associated Press BALTIMORE -- War Emblem's victory in the Kentucky Derby was not enough to earn him the favorite's role for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.
Medaglia d'Oro, who gets a new rider in Jerry Bailey, was fourth in the Derby but was bumped at the start. Laffit Pincay Jr. was aboard the colt in the Derby. "He is one of the few excuse horses from the Derby," Carulli said. "I think the public will migrate to Medaglia d'Oro." War Emblem, the first wire-to-wire Derby winner since Winning Colors in 1988, will leave from the No. 8 post Saturday. Baffert chose the gate with the first choice in the post position draw for the $1 million race. "We wanted the six, seven or eight, or outside," Baffert said. "We won't change our tactics. He likes to bounce out of there and we want to let him run his race." Medaglia d'Oro, trained by Bobby Frankel, will leave from the No. 5 post. Harlan's Holiday, seventh as the beaten Derby favorite, was the third choice at 9-2, followed by Derby runner-up Proud Citizen at 6-1. The four Derby horses in the field were the top four betting choices. The nine non-Derby runners were at odds ranging from 10-1 for Booklet to 50-1 for Menacing Dennis. In nine of the last 11 years, the Derby winner was not the Preakness favorite. The last Derby winner favored in the Preakness was Fusaichi Pegasus in 2000. Proud Citizen, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, will leave from the No. 12 post, while the other Lukas entry, Table Limit, starts from the nine hole at odds of 30-1. Booklet, the front-runner set to battle War Emblem from the start, will leave from the No. 10 post -- two spots outside of the Derby winner. "Booklet should be able to establish a front-running position and let Pat Day use his talents to get the horse to relax," trainer John Ward said. If all 13 start, the winner earns $650,000, with $200,000 for second, $100,000 for third and $50,000 for fourth. Post time is 6:09 p.m. ET. |
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