Monday, May 09, 2005

Giacomo Won't Win Triple Crown!

Jockey Mike Smith is covered in the blanket of roses as he sits atop Giacomo after winning the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, Saturday, May 7, 2005, in Louisville, Ky. At right is trainer John Shirreffs. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

Lukas said the 131st Derby was ``the most bizarre of all.''

While giving Giacomo a chance of winning the Preakness on May 21, Lukas agreed with Frankel that the colt won't sweep the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

``You can chisel this in stone: There will not be a Triple Crown winner,'' Lukas said Sunday. ``We got too many good horses that will upset the apple cart. The Preakness will be just as unpredictable. With all respect to the horse, (Giacomo) is beatable. He was beatable all spring.''

Giacomo, who went off at 50-1 odds, had one victory in seven previous races before winning Saturday in the second-biggest upset in race history.

``You wouldn't think he's a Triple Crown horse. You got to like the horses who didn't fire in the Derby to win the Preakness,'' Frankel said, referring to 5-2 favorite Bellamy Road and Afleet Alex.

Frankel's horse, High Limit, finished last; he was badly cut and bled, but not injured seriously enough to rule him out of the Preakness.

Giacomo can expect to see some of the same rivals and a few new ones in Baltimore in two weeks.

Nick Zito's best finish among his five entries was seventh by Bellamy Road, owned by New York Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. Zito was clearly subdued Sunday, but resolved to try again in two weeks.

``We'll send something there. I don't know what,'' he said.

Also expected for the 1 3-16th-mile Preakness is third-place Afleet Alex, who will ship to Baltimore on Wednesday.

``It's a little shorter race, it's in our backyard and if he runs with the same courage, they will have to outrun him like they do most times. We have a heck of a shot,'' trainer Tim Ritchey said. ``He came out of the race well.''

Closing Argument is likely to challenge Giacomo again, too.

``We don't like to run back in two weeks, but this is not a normal situation, so we will probably be in Baltimore,'' trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. ``He came out of the race great and looks super.''

Also possible for the Preakness are: Don't Get Mad (fourth in the Derby), Wilko (sixth) and Going Wild (18th). Trainer Todd Pletcher's duo of Flower Alley (ninth) and Coin Silver (12th) were on the list of maybes.

The likely newcomers are Scrappy T, Malibu Moonshine and Hal's Image.

Unlikely to race in Baltimore are: Buzzards Bay (fifth), Greeley's Galaxy (11th), Greater Good (13th), Spanish Chestnut (16th), Sort It Out (17th) and Bandini (19th).

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters, but there has not been a full field since 1992.

Asked if Giacomo could win that race, jockey Mike Smith said, ``Without a doubt. I believe in him a lot.''

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