Maryland, My Maryland

The oft-overlooked Preakness Stakes will take us one step closer to proving whether Barbaro is the freak that some of us believe he is or whether he is just another nice racehorse who was not great enough win the Triple Crown.

The field has drawn a mere 8 entrants and, subsequently, the ire of some horseracing purists who long for the days of pure competition. Only three of the 20 horses who entered the Kentucky Derby have chosen to "run back" on only two weeks rest and challenge Barbaro. Granted, the two challengers, Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint, are without question the two horses most capable of beating Michael Matz's undefeated colt, but this was the fewest returners since Spectacular Bid won the Derby in 1979.

In truth, the decision by top trainers such as Bob Baffert or Todd Pletcher to run amounts to nothing more than financial. It simply makes little sense to risk the health of these talented horses running them in races in which they have little chance to win.

I've reviewed the tapes of Affirmed, Seattle Slew and, yes, even the vaunted Secretariat. Those horses ran in small Preakness and Belmont stakes for the very same reaseon. Fear.

Barbaro sits at Even money on the morning line, but he will likely be bet down as low as 3-5. And, frankly, this horse deserves odds on status.

I go on the record here saying Barbaro becomes the first horse since 1978's Affirmed to win the Triple Crown.

Preakness 131

Affirmed stands at Jonabell Farm before his death in 2001.