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Fusaichi Pegasus Tries for Second Jewel in Triple Crown

On Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland, Fusaichi Pegasus will try to take another step toward racing immortality. The Kentucky Derby winner will try to add the 125th edition of the Preakness Stakes to his racing dossier and along with it, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

Most are betting he does it. As a matter of fact, he will be the heaviest favorite to attempt it in 20 years. That, by the way, was about the same span over which a Derby favorite last visited the coveted winners circle at Churchill Downs.

Spectacular Bid was the last horse to win the Kentucky Derby as the favorite and then capture the Preakness Stakes as the betting choice in 1979. Although five additional favorites have won at Baltimore since, none went off as the favorite in their Derby. And, only two -- Pleasant Colony in 1981 and Alysheba in 1987 -- convinced the betting public they should be favored after their Derby victories.

In each of the last three years, the Derby runner-up went off as the Preakness favorite. In 1997 it was Captain Bodgit over Silver Charm; in '98 it was Victory Gallop over Real Quiet; last year, Menifee garnered more betting money than Charismatic. But none turned the trick on the track.

This year there will be no such scenario because Derby runner-up Aptitude will not be in the Preakness field. He lies in wait for another shot at the Derby winner in the Belmont Stakes June 10.

Although the Derby runner-up will be missing, there will be four Derby refugees to try Fusaichi Pegasus again. They are: Impeachment, High Yield, Captain Steve and Hal's Hope. But most experts agree that if there is a serious challenge to the Derby champ at Ol' Hilltop, it will come from the new shooters led by Red Bullet, with Snuck In and Hugh Hefner rounding out the trio of fresh faces.

However, even those who passed the Derby in favor of the shorter Preakness may have to buck some recent history.

Not since Deputed Testamony won the 1 3/16-mile run in 1983 has a horse skipped the Derby and won the Preakness Stakes. During the last 16 years, 71 non-Derby starters have contested the middle jewel of the Triple Crown and only eight have managed to finish in the money, accounting for four seconds and four thirds.

In the end, history, new challengers, the shorter distance, the longer span between races and the different scenery may not matter. Fusaichi Pegasus may very well transcend it all.

Fusaichi Pegasus touched down in Baltimore on Wednesday and arrived at Pimlico for his date with destiny without incident. That may be the most anxious moment the Derby winner will have before he rolls into New York as the fourth consecutive horse seeking a Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes.

Here is the field for the Grade I, $1 million Preakness Stakes, in post position order with the morning line odds and jockeys:

* 1 -- Hugh Hefner (Victor Espinoza) 20-1: This son of Bertrando finished second in the recent Snow Chief Stakes at Hollywood Park April 30. He is a speedster and will certainly contest the early running, breaking from the inside post. Although he has a lifetime record of two wins and two seconds from six starts, he will be facing a caliber much tougher than the California-breds he competed against in the Golden State. He will ensure a swift pace.

* 2 -- Snuck In (Cash Asmussen) 12-1: This Florida bred was on track for the Kentucky Derby when trainer Steve Asmussen decided he would pass the Louisville logjam for the Baltimore bustle. He won his first pair of outings this year before a solid runner-up effort in the April 15 Arkansas Derby. He has been in the quinella in 8 of 9 lifetime starts with five victories. The brother team of jockey and trainer makes this a family affair -- and Steve is winning at a 27 percent clip right now. This one should be sitting in a stalker's position.

* 3 -- Impeachment (Craig Perret) 8-1: Came from 19th and last place, closed over 15 lengths and rallied along the rail to finish third in the Kentucky Derby. He was also third in his previous start -- the Arkansas Derby -- and runner-up in the Tampa Bay Derby three races back on March 19. He was the best finisher of the four Todd Pletcher-trained Derby starters and will certainly need a hot pace for his closing kick. He can make the trifecta again.

* 4 -- Red Bullet (Jerry Bailey) 9-2: He is the "X" factor here. This son of 1990 Kentucky Derby winner Unbridled skipped the Derby in favor of freshening up for the Preakness Stakes. His only defeat came in the April 15 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct race track when he was second to Fusaichi Pegasus. He had previously reeled off three career victories that included the Grade III Gotham Stakes. He has been training exceptionally well and registered an eye-opening bullet five-furlong drill of 58:4 over the Pimlico surface last Saturday in final preparation for the Fu-Peg rematch. Whether passing the Derby, the presence of Jerry Bailey or the diligent tutoring of trainer Joe Orseno is enough will be answered on the track. He should be the major threat to the Derby champ. A "cold" exacta punch could yield another visit to the cashier's window.

* 5 -- High Yield (Pat Day) 10-1: Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas had no excuses or explanations for the 15th-place finish his consistent runner had in the Derby. Hoping that a dislike for the Churchill Downs track or an off day is the cause, the five-time Preakness-winning trainer reports that his horse has trained well at Pimlico since the Derby. The son of Storm Cat has finished in the quinella in 4-of-5 starts this year -- only missing in the Derby -- with a pair of Grade I victories in the Blue Grass Stakes and Fountain of Youth. Jockey Pat Day also boasts five Preakness victories. If everything is right, you'll know as soon as they open the starting gate and see this guy in the front line passing the stands for the first time.

* 6 -- Captain Steve (Robbie Albarado) 8-1: Trainer Bob Baffert was persuaded to try the Derby winner again after a solid workout Monday at Churchill Downs. A bullet drill of 58:1 punched his ticket to Baltimore. Battling for the lead at the top of the homestretch in the Derby, this guy was cut off by Wheelaway with 3/16ths to go. Although the interference was not enough to cost a position -- as he was fading and finished eighth --it might have contributed to the 14-length loss. With three thirds in four starts this year, he would have to return to his juvenile form of 4-for-8 to make impact here. If he scores the upset, at least you'll get an un-Baffert-like payoff.

* 7 -- Fusaichi Pegasus (Kent Desormeaux) 3-5: What more can we say? After stubbing his toe in his juvenile debut while a close second on Dec. 15, he has been flawless in performance. His Kentucky Derby time of 2:01 flat -- the sixth fastest in Derby history -- is insignificant compared to the ease with which he accomplished the feat. He has disposed of his critics as easily as his competition. And although there is no such thing as a sure thing, the only one who could beat Fusaichi Pegasus is Fusaichi Pegasus. He should be in quest of the Triple Crown by 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Trainer Neil Drysdale is a consummate conditioner and Desormeaux only needs to hang on.

* 8 -- Hal's Hope (Roger Velez) 20-1: This guy was responsible for taking this year's Derby field to the 6-furlong marker in the second-fastest fractional time (1:09:1) in Derby history. So it was no surprise when he faded to 16th by the time they crossed the finish line. He won the Grade I Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes earlier this year in gate-to-wire fashion and should make the running again from the outside post here. Although Pimlico is a speed-favoring oval, it would be hard to believe that he could steal this renewal with Hugh Hefner and High Yield in tow. He could turn out to be the best friend of Impeachment. Makes statement for seniors with 88-year-old owner-trainer Hal Rose.

We stay with Fusaichi Peagasus as the pick with Red Bullet and Impeachment to fill out the trifecta.

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