When California Chrome was dominating the 3-year-old ranks a few years back, co-owner Perry Martin dismissed the Triple Crown rules by advocating that if a horse didn't start in the Kentucky Derby, he shouldn't be allowed to contest the Preakness. He didn't think it was fair that the Derby winner was forced to come back in two weeks, while a bunch of rested horses could ship in to try to derail him. It never occurred to him that that was the beauty of the Triple Crown. It isn't for sissies.

    If Martin's idea had been implemented, five of the 10 entrants for Saturday's Preakness would be ineligible (Multiplier, Senior Investment, Cloud Computing, Conquest Mo Money and Term of Art). We would be faced with Always Dreaming facing Derby runner-up Lookin at Lee, fourth-place Classic Empire, seventh place Gunnevera and 11th place Hence. And, while it still might have been a competitive race in that instance, who needs it. It would have been a monumental bust for the fans, for TV and for the history of the race itself.

    Can anybody beat Always Dreaming, who is 4/5 on the morning line? Maybe. Lookin at Lee closed a ton in Louisville and he'll only have half the traffic to negotiate this time. If Classic Empire gets a good trip, who knows just how good he is? Maybe better than Always Dreaming. Gunnevera will also have less traffic to overcome with his late kick and Hence had all kinds of problems on Derby day so we can't really evaluate him.

    Of the newcomers, Conquest Mo Money might be the most interesting. First, he's the only one in the field who wasn't bred in Kentucky- he's a New Yorker. Second, his auction sheet is mind-boggling. Sold for $180,000 as a yearling at Saratoga in 2015, then for $8,500 at Keeneland November in 2016. What? And, with three victories and two seconds in five starts, including seconds in the Gr. III Sunland Derby and Gr. I Arkansas Derby, the son of Uncle Mo has earned $508,900.

    Multiplier, winner of the Illinois Derby, was purchased for $62,000 at Keeneland November, then was RNA'd twice, including at OBS April.  

    Term of Art, bred by Ocala's Mandy Pope, owner of Whisper Hill Farm, has started nine times and was seventh in the Santa Anita Derby in his last. He was a $220,000 purchase at Keeneland September in 2015. 

    Cloud Computing, a $200,000 Keeneland September product, finished third in the Gr. II Wood Memorial and second in the Gr. III Gotham. 

    Senior Investment has made eight starts, and won the Gr. III Stonestreet Lexington Stakes, but was seventh in the Louisiana Derby. He was a $95,000 purchase at Keeneland September. 

    Always Dreaming's effort in the Derby makes him look to be much the best. But looks can be deceiving.

    NEARING A MILESTONE - Three Rules will be trying to get closer to the million-dollar mark in the $200,000 Chick Lang Stakes in the seventh race on the Preakness program. The son of Northwest Stud's Gone Astray is back to where he shines - at six furlongs - after showing he's not a distance horse, at least not at this stage of his career. He drew the No. 1 post in a field of nine with Luis Saez and is 3-1 second choice on the morning line. Recruiting Ready is 8/5 with Horacio Karamanos.  

 

     

 

 

 

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