Richly Blended Definite For Preakness; Two Withdrawn

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The pace for the 126th Preakness Stakes just got a bit faster with the announcement that Gotham and Withers winner Richly Blended definitely will run. The son of Rizzi has won four of his five career starts, all on the front end. His only defeat came in the Wood Memorial, when he finished third to Congaree and Monarchos. Jockey Rick Wilson said the colt's saddled slipped in the race.

"I spoke to Mr. (Raymond) Dweck, and we decided to go," trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said. "He came out of Withers in good shape, and it's a big purse. He got some benefit out of the Wood, and came back with an easy victory (in the Withers), while the others had a hard race in between. And it looks like none of the speed horses from the Derby are running"

Perkins said Richly Blended just jogged Tuesday and Wednesday. He'll likely ship to Baltimore on Tuesday, along with stakes winners Delaware Township and Stormy Pick, who will compete in supporting stakes Preakness Week.

The Preakness field lost two prospective starters when the connections of Buckle Down Ben and Songandaprayer said their respective colts would not compete. Buckle Down Ben's trainer D. Wayne Lukas told Pimlico stakes coordinator David Rollinson the colt's owners have decided to wait for the Belmont Stakes. Songandaprayer set the fastest half-mile and six-furlong fractions in Kentucky Derby history before fading to a 13th-place finish. He'll be kept at shorter distances.

Mr. John, runner-up to Keats in the Lexington before being disqualified, breezed five furlongs in 1:01 2/5 at Churchill Downs for trainer Elliott Walden.

The 11 prospective starters are Monarchos, Congaree, Point Given, A P Valentine, Richly Blended, Mr. John, Marciano, Distilled, Percy Hope, Griffinite, and Bay Eagle. Dollar Bill is considered a possibility by trainer Dallas Stewart.

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