Gayego under consideration for Preakness, Harlem Rocker out

Horseracing Betting Lines

05/12/2008 - Baltimore, MD (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Arkansas Derby winner Gayego is now a possible starter for the 133rd Preakness Stakes on Saturday. Withers Stakes champ Harlem Rocker will not start in the $1 million race.

Trainer Paulo Lobo said Monday that Gayego is being considered for the second leg of racing's Triple Crown.

"I'm going to decide (Tuesday). We are going to have a meeting," Lobo said from Southern California. "I'm going to track him in the morning, then we'll make a decision."

Gayego finished 17th out of 20 in the Kentucky Derby which was won by Big Brown. Lobo feels his three-year-old never exerted himself in the race and is fresh.

"That's the reason we are thinking about (the Preakness)," Lobo stated. "He's very happy right now and he came back very sound."

Without Gayego, Big Brown would be the first Kentucky Derby champ since Citation in 1948 not to face any rivals from that race in the Preakness.

Canadian-bred three-year-old Harlem Rocker will not run on Saturday at Pimlico. Trainer Todd Pletcher announced Monday that the colt will start in the Queen's Plate on Sunday, June 22 at Woodbine in suburban Toronto

"I spoke to Mr. Stronach this morning and we've decided to take a conservative approach," Pletcher said. "We're going to point toward the Queen's Plate and we'll look for some bigger races down the road."

Harlem Rocker is owned by Frank Stronach and is undefeated in three lifetime races. He won the Withers Stakes in his last start at Aqueduct.

The current line-up for the Preakness includes Big Brown, Kent Desormeaux; Yankee Bravo, Alex Solis; Macho Again, Julien Leparoux; Tres Borrachos, Tyler Baze; Stevil, John Velazquez; Kentucky Bear, Jamie Theriot; Giant Moon, Ramon Dominguez; Riley Tucker, Edgar Prado; Behindatthebar, David Flores; Icabad Crane, Jeremy Rose; Racecar Rhapsody, Robby Albarado and Hey Byrn, C.C. Lopez.

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