Published: May 14, 2008 07:09 am         

Gayego gets another shot at Big Brown in Preakness

BALTIMORE (AP) — Gayego is a go for another shot at Big Brown.

Gayego is the first Kentucky Derby rival coming back for more at the Preakness, the only one of 19 horses beaten by Big Brown in the Derby to seek a rematch Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. Gayego finished 17th in the Derby two weeks ago as part of an also-ran field that was overmatched and outclassed by undefeated Big Brown.

Big Brown sure didn’t scare off Gayego.

Gayego had a sluggish start, had to be steadied in traffic and never got into the race. Trainer Paul Lobo said the Kentucky-bred colt didn’t overexert himself at the Derby and had been sharp in workouts. Gayego galloped 1 1/4 miles at Hollywood Park on Tuesday morning before he was shipped.

“He came back very well,” Lobo said on Tuesday. “He’s been eating everything. He’s feeling happy.”

Gayego is set to arrive on Wednesday at Pimlico following a cross-country flight with Yankee Bravo. His arrival means Big Brown will see at least one familiar nose across the track. Before Gayego committed, the Preakness nearly went off without a single Derby competitor other than the winner for the first time in 60 years.

If Gayego and Big Brown run on Saturday, the race will mark the sixth time since Kentucky Derby horses began running in the Preakness in 1918 that only two Derby starters moved on to the Preakness. The last time was in 1980 when Codex and Derby-winning filly Genuine Risk competed.

Gayego’s addition expands to 13 the prospective field for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.

Confirmed starters prior to Wednesday’s post position draw are Big Brown, Behindatthebar, Gayego, Giant Moon, Hey Byrn, Icabad Crane, Kentucky Bear, Macho Again, Racecar Rhapsody, Riley Tucker, Stevil, Tres Borrachos and Yankee Bravo.

Big Brown, the likely odds-on favorite, is slated to arrive late Wednesday afternoon.

Kentucky Bear had been the lone Preakness entrant in the barn until Hey Byrn joined him on Tuesday morning. This will be the fourth career race for Kentucky Bear, who finished third his last time out in the Blue Grass Stakes.

Exercise trainer Cassie Garcia and assistant trainer Sherri Wickett have been with Kentucky Bear since the horse was brought to Pimlico on May 7. Garcia took Kentucky Bear on a gallop twice around the Pimlico track on Tuesday.

“Ever since the Blue Grass, he’s improved more and more,” Garcia said. “He’s matured, he’s put on weight, he’s put on muscle. He just looks great.”

Kentucky Bear trainer Reade Baker said the colt has gained between 50 and 75 pounds since the Blue Grass.

Kentucky Bear did not qualify for the Derby, but Garcia hopes that works to his advantage.

“It was a little disappointing, but it might be a blessing in the end because he’ll have a little more time to get ready. He’s not going to be too tired,” she said. “We kind of knew because he was a little bit down on the list and it probably would have taken a couple miracles to get in. But it didn’t really bother me that much. It might have been a little much for him the first time out.”