The connections of Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner War Emblem won first choice of post position Wednesday for the 127th renewal of the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes (gr. I) to be run Saturday at Pimlico and with it chose gate 8 for the son of Our Emblem.
"We wanted the six, seven or eight, or outside," Baffert said. "We won't change our tactics. He likes to bounce out of there and we want to let him run his race."
Oddsmaker Frank Carulli made Edmund Gann's Medaglia d'Oro the 5-2 favorite. The Derby fourth-place finisher will break from post five under Jerry Bailey.
"He is one of the few excuse horses from the Derby," Carulli said. "I think the public will migrate to Medaglia d'Oro."
The first seven spots picked filled gate three through nine. The connections of Booklet chose post position 10 with the next choice.
"Booklet should be able to establish a front-running position and let Pat Day use his talents to get the horse to relax," trainer John Ward said.
The field for the Preakness will consist of:
1--U S S Tinosa, Kent Desormeaux, 15-1
2--Magic Weisner, no rider named, 40-1
3--Straight Gin, Robby Albarado, 30-1
4--Crimson Hero, Chris McCarron, 20-1
5--Medaglia d'Oro, Jerry Bailey, 5-2
6--Harlan's Holiday, Edgar Prado, 9-2
7--Easyfromthegitgo, Donnie Meche, 15-1
8--War Emblem, Victor Espinoza, 3-1
9--Table Limit, Gary Stevens, 30-1
10--Booklet, Pat Day, 10-1
11--Menacing Dennis, Mario Pino, 50-1
12--Proud Citizen, Mike Smith, 6-1
13--Equality, Ramon Dominguez, 20-1
