Eight rivals for Barbaro in Preakness

The unbeaten Barbaro will leave from the No 6 post position tomorrow, the same post 2004 Kentucky Derby winner Smarty Jones left from before winning the second leg of the US thoroughbred Triple Crown.

The post has produced 15 Preakness winners since 1909, the most from any starting gate.

Barbaro’s Derby rivals were the next two betting choices.

Brother Derek, the Derby morning-line favourite who finished in a dead-heat for fourth. He was made the 3-1 second pick and will leave from the No 5 post, just inside Barbaro.

Sweetnorthernsaint, seventh in the Derby, was listed at 4-1 by Pimlico odds-maker Frank Carulli. The Illinois Derby winner drew the No 7 post. The six other three-year-olds in the field are new shooters, with Withers Stakes winner Bernardini, 8-1, leaving from the No 8 post.

Like Now, the Gotham Stakes winner, was listed at 12-1, followed by Greeley’s Legacy at 20-1, Diabolical and Hemingway’s Key, both at 30-1, and Platinum Couple at 50-1.

If all nine start, it would be the smallest field since Red Bullet upset Kentukcy Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus in an eight-horse field.

Barbaro, who has won all six of his races, is just the second unbeaten Derby winner since Seattle Slew in 1977.

Victory in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness would set the stage in the Belmont Stakes for the colt trained by Michael Matz to attempt to become the first American Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

(AP)