BALTIMORE — Running on the outside has been very good to Big Brown. Now the Kentucky Derby winner gets to try things from the middle.
He was installed as the 1-2 early favorite for Saturday’s Preakness, and a victory could set up a run for the Triple Crown three weeks later in the Belmont Stakes.
A field of 13 3-year-olds was entered Wednesday, with Big Brown drawing the No. 7 post for the 1 3/16th-mile race at Pimlico.
Big Brown won the Derby from the No. 20 far outside post and he won the Florida Derby from the No. 12 post. Now, he’ll test himself under Kent Desormeaux from nearly the middle of the pack.
“He gets to save some ground for the first time,” co-owner Michael Iavarone said. “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. We’ll find out.”
Eleven winners have come from the No. 7 post, the last being Silver Charm in 1997. Silver Charm also won the Kentucky Derby, but was outdueled in the stretch run of the Belmont by Touch Gold to lose his Triple Crown bid.
Big Brown is 4-0 in his career, having won by a combined total of more than 33 lengths. The colt will try to join Majestic Prince (1969), Triple Crown winner Seattle Slew (1977) and Smarty Jones (2004) as undefeated Derby winners who also won the Preakness. Six of the past 11 Derby winners have gone on to take the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Gayego was made the 8-1 second choice and will break from the No. 12 post under Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith. The Arkansas Derby winner is the only Derby starter to take on Big Brown again. Gayego finished 17th, beaten by 36 3/4 lengths.
