PREAKNESS 2011: 16 Fight For 14 Spots In The Starting Gate

The second leg of the Triple Crown, the 2011 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, is less than a week away. Unlike the 20-horse field in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness is limited to 14 starters with 16 horses currently in contention for those spots. Below is a list of the 14 preferred horses for the Preakness, along with the two colts that are currently on the outside looking in. 

Only six starters from the Kentucky Derby are possible for the second leg of the Triple Crown meaning at least 10 colts in the starting gate will be "new shooters".

Animal Kingdom
Astrology
Concealed Identity
Dance City
Dialed In
Flashpoint
King Congie
Midnight Interlude
Mr. Commons
Mucho Macho Man
Nehro (ruled out; possible for Belmont)
Norman Asbjornson
Shackleford
Sway Away

Isn't He Perfect
Saratoga Red

We'll have to wait an see what happens next Saturday afternoon, but I would think the inclusion of Astrology, Dance City and Flashpoint will ensure a bit more pace on the front-end than we saw at Churchill Downs.

The connections of Flashpoint tried to rate him in the Florida Derby and it didn't work out at all; he needs to be up front to run his best.  Astrology doesn't appear to be a "need to lead" colt but he's shown a good deal of pace in the early stages of his past couple of efforts.  Dance City has never raced further than a head back at the six furlong mark in any of his four career starts and would appear to be another colt that will need to be up front to run his best race.