Can Giacomo Repeat?

The stage is set for what could be the most improbable run in Triple Crown history.

Giacomo pulled off the second-biggest upset in Kentucky Derby history and now heads to Baltimore for next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

The gutsy gray colt’s victory at 50-1 odds did nothing to scare off his rivals, though, and Giacomo probably won’t even be the favorite in an expected full field of 14 horses for the 1 3/16th-mile race at Pimlico Race Course.

But if the 3-year-old son of Holy Bull comes away with another shocking win, then it’s on to the Belmont Stakes three weeks later for a Triple Crown attempt.

Sound familiar? It should.

The past three Derby winners -- Smarty Jones, Funny Cide and War Emblem -- and six of the last eight went on to take the Preakness but fell short in the Belmont, leaving thoroughbred racing still looking for its first Triple Crown champion since Affirmed in 1978.

If Giacomo gets a Triple try, it would be the most unlikely of all.

In 1999, Charismatic became the Derby winner with the longest odds to win the Preakness and enter the Belmont with a Triple Crown on the line. Charismatic won at 31-1 odds, then took the Preakness at 8-1 odds before finishing third in the Belmont.

Donerail produced the biggest upset in Derby history in 1913, winning at 91-1. But Donerail didn’t run in the Preakness, held 10 days after the Derby.

Gallahadion won the 1940 Derby at 35-1 odds, but was third in the Preakness.

Trainer Bobby Frankel says it’s hard to imagine Giacomo winning.

“But who knows? When you least expect it,” he said. “After the Derby, anybody that’s put in the starting gate has a chance.”

Warns trainer Bob Baffert, a three-time Derby winner and 0 for 3 in Triple tries: “Don’t count out Giacomo. That’s a very good horse.”

Then there’s Giacomo’s owner, A&M; Records founder Jerry Moss.

“We think he’s still progressing,” Moss said. “He had to surmount tremendous obstacles to win the race [Derby], and we think maybe the best is yet to come.”