Derby Winners Also Triumphs in the Preakness

By GREG MELIKOV
Six Kentucky Derby winners in the past nine years have captured the Preakness, four by 1 ½ lengths or more.

That’s a good omen for Barbaro, who crushed the opposition winning the 132nd Kentucky Derby while ending a 50-year losing streak by 3-year-olds resting five weeks or longer after their final prep.

Needles was off six weeks before his triumph at Churchill Downs in 1956. Both had won the Florida Derby. However, Needles was edged by Fabius in the Preakness.

Barbaro likely will face 14 fewer horses than he defeated at Louisville when he won by 6 ½ lengths, the largest margin since 1946 when Triple Crown champ Assault scored by eight lengths at the 1 ½ miles.

Only two Derby also-rans will try him in the 131 st Preakness: Brother Derek, who rallied from 10th after a mile to dead-heat for fourth with Jazil, and Sweetnorthernsaint, who pressed the pace in third until the stretch when he tired
and finished seventh

The Preakness has had fewer than 10 starters just once in the last 15 years when eight ran in 2000. Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, who scared away all by seven challengers, was upset at 1-5 by Red Bullet, who skipped America’s Race.

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Preakness Stakes, Pimlico, Triple Crown Horse Racing, 2006 Preakness Stakes