Ten May Face Monarchos

A field of 11 is possible for the Preakness at Pimlico a week from today, including Kentucky Derby winner Monarchos as well as Congaree and Point Given, the Bob Baffert-trained favorites that weren’t good enough last Saturday at Churchill Downs.

If he wins the Preakness, Monarchos will become the fourth horse in the last five years to claim the first two legs of the Triple Crown. Silver Charm, Real Quiet and Charismatic won the Derby and Preakness in 1997-99, before being beaten in the Belmont Stakes. Last year, Fusaichi Pegasus won the Derby, finished second in the Preakness and didn’t run in the Belmont. There hasn’t been a Triple Crown sweep since Affirmed became the 11th horse to execute the feat in 1978.

Others that might run in this year’s Preakness include A P Valentine, Bay Eagle, Dollar Bill, Griffinite, Marciano, Mr. John, Percy Hope and Richly Blended. Distilled was withdrawn from the race Friday after suffering a torn suspensory ligament in his left front ankle during a morning gallop at Belmont Park.

Point Given, winner of the Santa Anita Derby, was the 9-5 favorite in the Kentucky Derby, but he ran fifth as Monarchos completed the 1 1/4-mile trip in 1:59 4/5, missing by two-fifths of a second the record Secretariat set in 1973. Point Given’s stablemate, Congaree, won the Wood Memorial and was sent off the third choice at Churchill before finishing third after leading the race with a quarter-mile left.

Gary Stevens will retain the mount on Point Given, but Victor Espinoza will be replaced by Jerry Bailey on Congaree. Espinoza, riding in his first Derby, had Congaree on the lead turning for home, but the colt needed only 1:35 to run the opening mile, which tied for the second-fastest in Derby history. A tiring Congaree was beaten by 4 3/4 lengths.

Bailey twice turned down the opportunity to ride Congaree earlier this year. His Derby mount, Talk Is Money, didn’t finish the race and was eased through the stretch. Bailey has won the Preakness twice, with Hansel in 1991 and with Red Bullet last year.

Pat Day, who rode Dollar Bill, the second choice that ran 15th in the Derby, is listed as A P Valentine’s rider for the Preakness. Corey Nakatani, who rode A P Valentine to a seventh-place finish in the Derby, will be aboard Mr. John at Pimlico.

Monarchos, who was flown to Baltimore on Wednesday, galloped 1 3/4 miles Friday.

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Ben Rochelle, the ex-vaudeville and movie dancer who won the Preakness with Snow Chief, died Thursday of pneumonia. He was 91.

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Kentucky breeders have been unable to identify the reason hundreds of broodmares have either had stillborn foals in recent weeks or have aborted pregnancies that were scheduled to terminate next year. While almost 400 stillborns have been sent to the University of Kentucky for diagnosis, there is speculation that the dead fetuses may have been caused by mycotoxins that stem from fungi that are found in the pastures on the farms. As a precaution, breeders are digging up their land and closely mowing their pastures. According to a projection by the Kentucky Thoroughbred Assn., overall losses by the industry could reach $225 million.