The challengers keep lining up. You can add Icabad Crane, the Graham Motion colt who last won the Frederico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico on April 19. On the down side you can scratch the fifth placed finishe from the Kentucky Derby, Recapturetheglory, who is out with a fever and will miss the Preakness. Recapturetheglory was the only horse returning from the Derby to face Big Brown, who instead will face an entire field of fresh faces.
I happened to be at Pimlico the day that Icabad Crane won the Tesio and got a good look at him. Rumors were swirling even then that he would be entered into the Preakness. I thought he looked good, but he’ll face a whole new caliber a competition than he saw in the Tesio.
Jeremy Rose usually gets the mount, so you can be confident in the fact that both horse and rider are fond of the course. In the Tesio he ran down the front running Mint Lane on a day where speed holding was pretty well. Speed usually holds at Pimlico in my opinion, and it goes without saying that Mint Lane is not on the same level as Big Brown. He is the type of horse that would appear could benefit if Big Brown were to get some contention up front.
Icabad Crane wins the Federico Tesio at Pimlico 4/19/08
You can never count Graham Motion out at Pimlico though, that much I know for certain.
No Mint Lane isn’t even close although he did run a decent 2nd behind Casino Drive in the Peter Pan. I posted my figs for those 2 at the above link for anyone interested. Icabad Crane has a good shot at hitting the board.