The pursuit of horse racing's most elusive prize resumes this Saturday in Baltimore.
Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome is the overwhelming favorite to take the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness. Other horses in recent years have won the first two races, only to fall short in the final race, the Belmont.
Kentucky Thoroughbred Center General Manager Jim Pendergest has been involved in the horse business for three decades. He wonders if trainers sometimes play it too safe.
"It seems like the horses that have won the Preakness and the Derby and then they're going to the Belmont, they don't get enough training. If you look back at what Secretariat did. Obviously, Secretariats don't come around very often, but they worked him three times between the Preakness and the Belmont, and worked him hard and had him fit. I mean he was supremely fit the day of the Belmont Stakes.” –Jim Pendergest
Pendergest anticipates a faster race than the Derby. He expects the speed horses in the Preakness to go out fast to see if California Chrome can keep up the pace.