A Week Before the Preakness, A Week After the Derby

Here we are, seven days after the Kentucky Derby and seven days before the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Maryland.  I'm running way behind on my reporting.  The complete order of finish for the Kentucky Derby, the full field of twenty horses, was as follows:  1 - Nyquist;  2 - Exaggerator; 3 - Gun Runner; 4 - Mohaymen; 5 - Suddenbreakingnews; 6 - Destin; 7 - Brody's Cause; 8 - Mo Tom; 9 - Lani; 10 - Mor Spirit; 11 - My Man Sam; 12 - Tom's Ready; 13 - Creator; 14 - Outwork; 15 - Danzing Candy; 16 - Trojan Nation; 17 - Oscar Nominated; 18 - Majesto; 19 - Whitmore; and 20 - Shagaf.  Shagaf had an excuse for finishing last in the Kentucky Derby; he just underwent surgery to remove bone chips in both his left knee and left ankle.  The colt will not run again until 2017.
  Barring illness and/or injury, it looks like a field of 12 (possibly 13) for next Saturday's Preakness at Old Hilltop.  From the Kentucky Derby, Nyquist, Exaggerator and Gun Runner, the top three finishers will carry on.  Lani, the Japanese owned and trained colt, who won the UAE Derby will also continue the Triple Crown trail.  The two colts who were on the Kentucky Derby stand-by roster will also run in the Preakness: Laoban and Cherry Wine.  Other expected entries are Fellowship, Dazzling Gem, Uncle Lino, Collected, Stradivari, and Awesome Speed.
  The owner and trainer of Abiding Star have also expressed interest in running for the Black-eyed Susans.  However, Abiding Star is stabled at Parx Racing, and that facility has been under quarantine for EHV since 1 April.  Abiding Star has never shown any symptoms of the disease, and Pimlico is ready to accept him, as soon as quarantine is lifted, which is expected on May 16 or 17.
  So four colts who raced in the Kentucky Derby will meet with eight or nine colts who did not race 1 and 1/4 miles next Saturday.  Then it's on to the Belmont Stakes three weeks later...  Will Nyquist win the Preakness next week?  Will he be a Triple Crown winner on June 11?  He will have to continue racing well, and have great racing luck to do so.  Great bloodlines, great training, great jockeys, good racing luck, and a great heart and will to win are needed to win America's Triple Crown.