Curlin Will Run at Preakness Stakes 132

Kentucky Derby 133 3rd finisher, Curlin, will have another go at Street Sense in the Preakness Stakes on May 19 at Pimlico Race Course, in a chance to stop the latter’s quest for a Triple Crown victory.

Trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday that Curlin came out of the race in good shape and is set for the second leg of the Triple Crown on May 19.

“The only hesitation was waiting for him to go back to the track” after his first defeat, Asmussen said during a conference call. “I was curious where he would be mentally.”

The colt went for a one-mile jog at Churchill Downs on Wednesday. But Asmussen thought this lightly raced horse might be nervous on his first trip back to the track. Curlin has never raced a a 2-year-old and came to the Derby undefeated in all his 3-year-old races.

“He’s not shown any indication of that,” Asmussen said. “His appetite has stayed good. He’s a very big, strong horse and we’re very pleased how he came out of race physically. He was very relaxed going to the track, and I just wanted to make sure it was still him.”

Derby runner-up Hard Spun also returns for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, along with 17th-place finisher Teuflesberg. Others Preakness probables include C P West, King of the Roxy, Xchanger, Flying First Class or Starbase (both trained by D. Wayne Lukas) and Mint Slewlep. See Preakness contenders’ profiles >>

Chelokee, handled by Barbaro’s trainer Michael Matz, is possible but more likely to run on the Preakness undercard in the Barbaro Stakes. The race, formerly known as the Sir Barton, was renamed after Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized in January following complications from his breakdown at the start of last year’s Preakness.

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"Curlin Will Run at Preakness Stakes 132" was posted on 10 May 2007 8:29 PM under Horses, Preakness Stakes, Race Tracks, Trainers, Triple Crown

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