Preakness Profiles: Ten Cents a Shine

STRENGTHS: Two things stick out when looking at Ten Cents a Shine and his chances in Saturday's Preakness. First, he's trained by D. Wayne Lukas, who has won the Preakness with Codex, Tank's Prospect, Tabasco Cat, Timber Country, and Charismatic. Lukas isn't afraid to send an off-the-board Derby finisher to Baltimore. Of his five Preakness winners, Tank's Prospect and Tabasco Cat were up the track in Louisville. Second, this colt's come-from-behind running style is often successful here due to the usual quick pace in the Preakness. Without a full field, he won't have to worry about traffic problems when launching his rally. Though he made excellent progress from 16th early in the Kentucky Derby, having to race so wide hurt his chances. Another bullet work, similar to those he turned in prior to the Kentucky Derby, leading to this race points to him sitting on a big effort.

WEAKNESSES: His lack of success in stakes company, aside from a second-place finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes last year, will dissuade many backers. Also the length of the stretch at Pimlico is shorter than Churchill, the track he has trained and performed best on.

STRATEGY: His come-from-the-clouds running style, though one-dimensional, works for him, and changing that probably won't lead to his best. With Funny Cide, Peace Rules, Cherokee's Boy, and New York Hero in the lineup, expect the pace to be swift, setting things up nicely for someone to come along and pick up the pieces.

VALUE: Lots of value as you can expect him to be 20-1 or more following three consecutive eighth-place finishes.