BALTIMORE – Art Sherman, trainer for Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome, didn't totally take it in stride Wednesday when his horse was made a big 3-5 favorite on the morning betting line to win Saturday's 139th running of the Preakness Stakes.
"Oh man, 3-5, it makes you want to choke," said Sherman, 77, shortly after his horse drew the No. 3 starting post in the 10-horse race and the morning line was set by the Maryland Jockey Club.
"But I wouldn't want to be in anybody else's position. Hey listen, when you lead a 3-5 favorite in the Preakness, you must have deserved to be that."
In the May 3 Kentucky Derby, California Chrome went off as a 5-2 favorite and became the first California-bred horse to win the Derby since Decidedly in 1962.
The Preakness will be the next test in California Chrome's bid to become the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978. Since Affirmed, a dozen horses have won the first two legs on the Triple Crown, only to lose at the Belmont Stakes in New York. This year's Belmont is set for June 7.
Beyond California Chrome, only two other horses from the 19-horse Derby field are entered in the Preakness: Ride On Curlin (seventh in the Derby) and General A Rod (11th).
Ride on Curlin, 10-1 odds, drew the No. 10 Preakness post on the outside. General A Rod, 15-1, drew the No. 2 post.
Steve Coburn, co-owner of California Chrome, said before the Derby that it was a "done deal" his horse would win. After the Derby, Coburn said he believed California Chrome was headed for the Triple Crown.
PREAKNESS STAKES: Social Inclusion, Bayern to add speed to race
"The big test will be the Belmont," Coburn said after the Preakness draw.
He also said he was not surprised at being the 3-5 favorite.
"We thought he'd go off 3-5," said Coburn. "It might be less than that come Preakness day. We heard rumors out there that's what it might be. But you know, it's like this every year. The horse that wins the Kentucky Derby going into the Preakness, 99 percent of the time, is a favorite."
The Preakness has been won by the favorite 70 times in 138 past races. Sherman knows that's no guarantee.
"I've been in the game a long time," he said. "I've seen a lot of crazy things happen. I'm kind of a fatalist. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be."
The No. 2 choice on the betting line, Social Inclusion, drew the No. 8 post. He was third in the Wood Memorial. He is trained by 85-year-old Manny Azpurua.
"I love my horse. I think he's one of the best horses I've ever trained," said Azpurua. "I expect so much of him, and maybe Saturday he can demonstrate what kind of horse he really is."
Joining Ride On Curlin at 10-1 odds was Bayern, who will start from the No. 5 post. Bayern will be ridden by Rosie Napravnik, whose third-place finish at last year's Preakness on Mylute was the best Preakness finish for a woman jockey. Bayern is trained by Bob Baffert, a five-time winner of the Preakness.
Ria Antonia, the only filly in the Preakness field, opened as the biggest long shot at 30-1. She'll start from the No. 6 post. The last filly in the Preakness was Rachel Alexandra, who won the race in 2009.
"My filly has a lot of natural speed, and we're going to tell (jockey) Calvin Borel not to take her too far off the pace," said Ron Paolucci, owner of Ria Antonia. "We've always wanted to run this race. She's a very big filly and very sound."
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