PREAKNESS STAKES AT A GLANCE
A look at the 10 3-year-olds entered in today’s 123rd running of the Preakness Stakes. The horses, each carrying 126 pounds, are listed in post-position order with the opening odds listed under the horse’s name:
1) SPARTAN CAT
* Odds: 12-1
* Jockey: Rick Wilson
* Trainer: Dick Dutrow
* Owner: Marathon Farm
* Record: 12 starts, 3-6-0 (1-2-3)
* Earnings: $106,320
COMMENT: Comes off the pace. Finished fifth in Federico Stakes on April 18 in last start. A hometown favorite, stabled in Maryland.
2)BLACK CASH
* Odds: 12-1
* Jockey: Shane Sellers
* Trainer: Patrick Byrne
* Owner: Frank Stronach
* Record: 5 starts, 2-0-3
* Earnings: $144,900
COMMENT: Finished third in the Derby Trial in his first start since Oct. 11. Last victory was in the Grade III Grey Breeders’ Cup at Woodbine. Runs close to pace. Sellers finished sixth aboard Parade Ground in the Kentucky Derby.
3) CLASSIC CAT
* Odds: 8-1
* Jockey: Robby Albarado
* Trainer: David Cross
* Owner: Gary M. Garber
* Record: 8 starts, 2-2-2
* Earnings: $304,580
COMMENT: Won the Lexington Stakes. Has a quarter crack on his right rear hoof and is wearing an egg bar shoe. Was a distant fifth in Santa Anita Derby. Comes off the pace.
4) CAPE TOWN
* Odds: 4-1
* Jockey: Jerry Bailey
* Trainer: Wayne Lukas
* Owner: Overbrook Farm
* Record: 11 starts, 5-1-1
* Earnings: $795,817
COMMENT: Coming off a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby after running third in the Blue Grass Stakes. Won the Florida Derby when Lil’s Lad was disqualified. Has five wins in 11 career starts. Bailey won the 1991 Preakness aboard Hansel.
5) BASIC TRAINEE
* Odds: 58-1
* Jockey: Cornelio Velasquez
* Trainer: Jorge Romero
* Owner: Luis Gambotto & Enrique Ocejo.
* Record: 10 starts, 3-2-1
* Earnings: $146,591
COMMENT: Coming off a last-place finish (73 lengths) in the Kentucky Derby after finishing fourth in the Wood Memorial on April 11. Has been in the money in six of 10 lifetime starts. Won the OBS championship on March 23 by 4 1/2 lengths. Finished fifth in the Whirlaway on Feb. 14 at Aqueduct. Has weakened after a mile.
6) BAQUERO
* Odds: 15-1
* Jockey: Pat Day
* Trainer: Wayne Lukas
* Owner: Robert & Beverly Lewis
* Record: 11 starts, 2-4-4
* Earnings: $101,459
COMMENT: Has finished in the money in 10 of 11 career starts. Is a speed horse, never having run more than seven furlongs. Has two victories at Keeneland before running second in a six-furlong race at Churchill Downs. Day has won the Preakness five times, including three in a row from 1994-96. Runs on the front. Making stakes debut.
7) HOT WELLS
* Odds: 15-1
* Jockey: Edgar Prado
* Trainer: Tom Amoss
* Owner: 8, So What’s Nu Stable
* Record: 11 starts, 3-3-1
* Earnings: $119,590
COMMENT: Completed the transition from maiden claimer to stakes winner when he came from 14 lengths behind in the Southwest at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 28. Finished fourth Arkansas Derby 3 1/4 lengths behind Victory Gallop. Is a closer.
8) SILVER’S PROSPECT
* Odds: 58-1
* Jockey: Frank Douglas
* Trainer: Jean Rofe
* Owner: Robert Sowder
* Record: 7 starts, 3-0-0
* Earnings: $46,995
COMMENT: Has never run more than seven furlongs. Finished fifth in the Woodlawn on May 2 on a muddy track at Pimlico. Can run close to pace.
9) VICTORY GALLOP
* Odds: 5-2
* Jockey: Gary Stevens
* Trainer: Elliott Walden
* Owner: Prestonwood Farm Inc.
* Record: 8 starts, 5-2-0
* Earnings: $669,880
COMMENT: Rallied six wide entering stretch in the Kentucky Derby for a second-place finish. Won the Arkansas Derby by a head over Hanuman Highway on April 11 and the Rebel Stakes by a head over Robinwould on March 21. Comes off the pace. Stevens, who won the Preakness last year aboard Silver Charm, is picking up the mount in place of Alex Solis.
10) REAL QUIET
* Odds: 2-1
* Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
* Trainer: Bob Baffert
* Owner: Mike Pegram
* Record: 13 starts, 3-2-5
* Earnings: $1,319,923
COMMENT: Won the Kentucky Derby by half a length over Victory Gallop. Closed to finish second, a head behind Artax, in the San Felipe and 2 1/4 lengths behind Indian Charlie in the Santa Anita Derby. Finished eighth in Golden Gate Derby to open the 1998 campaign. Desormeaux has won riding titles at Pimlico. Comes off the pace. Has never won two in a row.