By RICHARD ROSENBLATT
AP Racing Writer
NEW YORK - Curlin will have another go at Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense in the Preakness.
Trainer Steve Asmussen said Thursday that his third-place finisher in last week's Derby came out of the race in good shape and is set for the second leg of the Triple Crown on May 19.
"The only hesitation was waiting for him to go back to the track" after his first defeat, Asmussen said during a conference call. "I was curious where he would be mentally."
Curlin went for a one-mile jog at Churchill Downs on Wednesday. Asmussen thought his lightly raced colt might be nervous on his first trip back to the track.
"He's not shown any indication of that," Asmussen said. "His appetite has stayed good. He's a very big, strong horse and we're very pleased how he came out of race physically. He was very relaxed going to the track, and I just wanted to make sure it was still him."
Curlin won his first three starts by a combined 28 ½ lengths, and went off as the 5-1 second choice in the Derby behind Street Sense after being installed as the morning line favorite for the 1 ¼-mile Classic just days before. Robby Albarado will again be aboard the colt.
Curlin finished 5 ¾ lengths behind runner-up Hard Spun and eight lengths back of Street Sense.
"I don't think Curlin could have come out in any better shape," Asmussen said. "And I think he is capable at this level."
Hard Spun also returns for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, along with 17th-place finisher Teuflesberg.
Others Preakness probables include C P West, King of the Roxy, Florida-bred Xchanger, Flying First Class or Florida-bred Starbase (both trained by D. Wayne Lukas) and Mint Slewlep. There is a slight chance both Flying First Class and Starbase could run.
Chelokee, handled by Barbaro's trainer Michael Matz, is possible but more likely to run on the Preakness undercard in the Barbaro Stakes. The race, formerly known as the Sir Barton, was renamed after Derby winner Barbaro was euthanized in January following complications from his breakdown at the start of last year's Preakness.
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