Hall of Fame rider expects Preakness to be unlike Derby

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Louisville, KY (Sports Network) - Speed was the major factor in determining the result in this year's Kentucky Derby. An extremely fast pace being set by Palace Malice allowed the late closing Orb to rally through the stretch and win the Run for the Roses.

Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens sees a very different kind of race in Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Stevens, who rode Oxbow to a sixth- place result at Churchill Downs, is looking for a slower pace in the 1 3/16- mile Preakness.

"I do not think the pace will be the same," Stevens said while getting Oxbow ready for Saturday at Churchill Monday morning. "You may want to forgive some of the horses for their races in the Derby. I thought Goldencents would be with us on the lead and he was outside of us and getting all the kickback. At the five-eighths pole, I could see that Kevin (Krigger on Goldencents) was not comfortable and he could not go inside, because that is where I was, and he had two horses on his outside.

"I think you can throw that race out and I respect all of the opposition."

Stevens, who came out of retirement earlier this year, is a two-time winner of the Triple Crown's middle jewel. In 1997 he rode Silver Charm to wins in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, and won with Point Given in the 2001 renewal.