Preakness: Morning activity picks up following Wednesday arrivals

BALTIMORE – The Wednesday arrivals of nine Preakness horses led to considerably more activity around the Pimlico stakes barn Thursday morning, as those horses all had their first looks at the track when sent through routine jogs, gallops, and gate schoolings.

PREAKNESS STAKES 2011: Contenders, odds, video, and news updates

Eight horses arrived here Wednesday afternoon following two charter flights from Kentucky: Astrology, Flashpoint, Shackleford, Sway Away, Midnight Interlude, Dance City, Dialed In, and Mr. Commons. A ninth horse, Mucho Macho Man, arrived earlier in the day after vanning south from New York.

Meanwhile, Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom remains at the Fair Hill training center some 60 miles north of here with trainer Graham Motion, who said he will have the colt shipped here early Saturday morning.

Isn’t He Perfect, probably the longest shot in the race, was scheduled to arrive Thursday by van from New York, while King Congie is scheduled to van from New York sometime Friday or early Saturday.

Two Preakness horses, Norman Asbjornson and Concealed Identity, are stabled about an hour away at the Bowie training center.

A field of 14 3-year-olds will race Saturday in the 136th Preakness, with post time set for 6:18 p.m. Eastern. NBC Sports will televise. The weather forecast calls for clearing skies and a high temperature of 80.

VIDEO: More horses arrive at Pimlico | Past Preakness replays »