Preakness Stakes 2011

11.16 Pimlico

Preakness Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo) (Dirt) (3yo) Winner £384,615

Fast 1m1f110y Number Of Runners: 14

Pick: Dialed In (each/way)

Astrology: Winless in two starts in 2011, having run second to Twice the Appeal in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby on March 27 on his seasonal debut, and again to Adios Charlie in the Grade 2 Jerome at Aqueduct on April 23; Good prep for this, registering a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 93 latest but this is much harder.

Norman Absojon: Kicked year off with allowance victory at Parx Racing on January 15, and then finished second to Grade 3 winner Stay Thirsty in Gotham Stakes; Winner didn’t do much for the form when well beaten in Kentucky Derby and well beaten when fourth in the Wood Memorial.

King Congie: Has been different horse this year, winning pair of Grade 3 turf races before career best when third and closing all the time in Bluegrass Stakes, only just failing to catch Brilliant Speed; Winner ran good race in Kentucky Derby but held on that form and switch back to dirt a problem.

Flashpoint: Brilliant in winning back-to-back starts to open the year going gate-to-wire to win by 6 ¼ lengths at Aqueduct, before then sprinting clear to a 7 ¼-length victory in 1:22 for seven furlongs in the Hutcheson Stakes; Not quite up to winning the Florida Derby, when he was taken on for the lead and presumably outstayed over this trip; Form of that race well represented since and unlikely to be reversing that form here.

Schalkeford: Ran Dialed In to a head off a very strong gallop (which he set) in the Florida Derby, and underlined that effort when fourth in Kentucky Derby, although off much slower gallop and convincingly beaten by winner at line, so questions to answer.

Sway Away: Ran into The Factor in back-to-back starts to open this year, finishing second and sixth, respectively, in the San Vicente at Santa Anita and the Rebel at Oaklawn Park; had a rough trip in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, yet held short lead at the top of the stretch and wound up fourth, beaten 3 ¼ lengths; Unlikely to do any better here.

Midnight Interlude: Only had the 5 runs (unraced as juvenile) but making big progress, wiring field at Sanita Anita before quickening well despite modest pace in Sanita Anita Derby, winning with relative comfort despite having to be switched wide, before lacklustre Kentucky Derby effort; Needs to prove that all wrong.

Dance City: Third in Arkansas Derby last time on just fourth start of career, and while he seemed to lack answers at finish, he raced up with overly strong pace and winner was second in Kentucky Derby (fifth won Grade 2 next time out); Good chance of improving again if held up early and can do well.

Mucho Macho Man: Overdid it in speed duel with 4 others when fourth behind Dialed In (well beaten) in Holly Bull Stakes first time up; Able to show true worth when game winner of Risen Star Stakes, and while doubts over some of that form (closely matched) needs considering on that; Seemed to have no answer to Pants On Fire and Nehro latest but did lose a shoe early, and Kentucky Derby third gives him a great chance.

Dialed In: Exploded onto classic scene, turning many with impressive last-to-first run in Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream, atoning for odds on Allowance defeat (beaten by older horse, slow fractions) with dramatic win in Florida Derby at same track since; Allowed to drop way too far back early on and they didn’t go fast enough for him in Kentucky Derby, so eighth in that race as good an effort as any (final half in 47.00 off slowest opening 6 furlongs in 64 years) & can go close here with more active ride.

Animal Kingdom: Had been progressing fast before winning the Kentucky Derby, quickening well of a notably slowly run renewal; Some see that as reason to distrust form, but he made up a lot of ground and was a clear 2& ¾ lengths up at the line; This only sixth start and had been rested for 6 weeks off the back of that, so should be well prepared for this; Fast pace should suit just fine.

Isn’t He Perfect: Coming off a pair of fifth-place finishes, most recently in the one-mile Grade 2 Jerome Handicap at Aqueduct on April 23 over a sloppy, racetrack; All form not good enough.

Concealed Identity: Benefit of an overly strong pace when in Pimlico’s local Preakness prep, the $75,000 Federico Tesio Stakes; Times (despite a strong gallop) suggest he won’t be good enough and unlikely to be another Smarty Jones.

Mr Commons: Doubled up in a maiden (won by 5 lengths, wire – to – wire) before scrambling home in allowance race; Well behind Midnight Interude in Sanita Anita Derby and winner didn’t do form any favours in the Kentucky Derby.

VERDICT: The Kentucky Derby was run at an unusually slow early gallop this year but with Schalkeford & Flashpoint in the field they shouldn’t hang around this time. Much of the support will be for Animal Kingdom, who must hold strong claims of getting the second leg of the Triple Crown in the bag, but the party pooper may be DIALED IN, who was too far back to make an impact in the Kentucky Derby off a slow pace and should be better this time round if staying with the leaders early. Mucho Macho Man can go well, and the best of those who didn’t run at Churchill Downs could be Dance City.