Derby winner American Pharoah likely at even money for Preakness

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – If the top three finishers from the Kentucky Derby run back as expected in the May 16 Preakness Stakes, they will dominate the prerace wagering regardless of what other horses might be entered in the second jewel of the Triple Crown at Pimlico in Baltimore.

Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle said Tuesday from Maryland that he expects to make Derby winner American Pharoah the heavy favorite at “about even-money” and “Dortmund slightly lower than Firing Line,” with both in the 3-1 range.

“If Competitive Edge goes, the favorites will drift up just a bit,” said Feustle, a veteran chartcaller in his second year setting the line.

The status of Competitive Edge, the unbeaten winner of the Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard last Saturday at Churchill Downs, will be decided as the week unfolds prior to Preakness entries being taken and drawn May 13. He and two other Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-olds – Materiality and Carpe Diem – are considered possible for the 1 3/16-mile race. Feustle said Competitive Edge would be an obvious fourth choice if he is the lone Pletcher representative.

As of Tuesday, only two other horses – Bodhisattva and Divining Rod, both new to the Triple Crown series – are listed as definite for the 140th Preakness by Pimlico officials, although at least two more are under serious consideration: Danzig Moon and Mr. Z, the respective fifth- and 13th-place finishers in the Derby.

Trainer D. Wayne Lukas told Churchill publicity staff he had not yet had a chance to discuss running Mr. Z in the Preakness with Ahmed Zayat, who also owns American Pharoah, but said: “My vote would be to go.”

Meanwhile, the Derby top three all had a third straight day of walking their respective shed rows Tuesday at Churchill, where they are scheduled to remain until being flown to Baltimore on the morning of May 13. Firing Line was expected to be back on the track Wednesday, while Baffert’s pair were scheduled to return to the track Thursday.

:: Preakness: Contenders and news

International Star sidelined

International Star, scratched on the morning of the Derby with a sore left front foot, has been diagnosed with a tiny chip in his left front ankle and will be sidelined indefinitely, owner Ken Ramsey said Tuesday morning.

“This is a very depressing moment,” said Ramsey. “He was jogging unsound again this morning, and after we had extensive X-rays taken, a tiny chip about two millimeters in diameter was discovered. He’ll have surgery, then 60 to 90 days off, then 30 more days’ stall rest. Best-case scenario would be a late-fall campaign.”

Trained by Mike Maker, International Star won three straight Derby preps at Fair Grounds this year, ending with the March 28 Louisiana Derby. The New York-bred colt was 24-1 in advance wagering when he was withdrawn early Saturday.

Threats from within

If, as expected, trainer Bob Baffert opts to run Dortmund and thereby jeopardize the Triple Crown bid of American Pharoah, such a move certainly is not unprecedented in Preakness history.

In fact, it was 20 years ago that D. Wayne Lukas did exactly the same thing when he sent out Timber Country to defeat his Derby winner, Thunder Gulch, in the 1995 Preakness.

Thunder Gulch ran third, beaten just a length in the Preakness, then came back to win the Belmont Stakes. Timber Country was third in the Derby but was forced to miss the Belmont when he came down with an illness the day before the race.