Preakness: Social Inclusion arrives

Social Inclusion arrived in Baltimore on Thursday morning after a van ride of almost 19 hours from south Florida. The Preakness will mark the fourth career start for Social Inclusion, who won his first two races before finishing third in the Wood Memorial.

Manny Azpurua, 85, the trainer of Social Inclusion, would become the oldest trainer to win the Preakness if his colt prevails. Art Sherman, 77, became the oldest trainer to win the Derby with California Chrome’s victory.

• It is looking increasingly unlikely that Danza, the third-place finisher in the Derby, will come back in the Preakness, though trainer Todd Pletcher didn’t officially rule him out Thursday.

If Danza does indeed bow out, though, then the only runners from the 19-horse Derby who would come back in the Preakness would be California Chrome and Ride On Curlin, who finished seventh. The last time as few as two Derby runners were in the Preakness was in 2008, when Derby winner Big Brown and Gayego (17th in that Derby) were part of a 12-horse Preakness field.

– additional reporting by David Grening