Preakness winner a maybe for Belmont

Preakness winner Bernardini is not definitely set for the Belmont Stakes in three weeks, but trainer Tom Albertrani expects a decision in a few days.
Albertrani, though, has a certain Belmont starter in Deputy Glitters, who finished eighth in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness.
Bernardini was the surprise winner of the Preakness, beating Sweetnorthernsaint by 5¼ lengths, the race overshadowed by the serious injury at the start to Barbaro. The Derby winner broke three bones in his right rear leg and was in surgery Sunday fighting for his life.
Bernardini, with three wins in four starts, was back at Belmont Park, and Albertrani will discuss the colt’s plans with Dubai’s Sheik Mohammed, who operates Darley Stud.
“I was still very excited because of the way Bernardini won the race, but I know how it feels to go through an ordeal like that,” Albertrani said, referring to Barbaro’s breakdown. “I feel bad for the connections of Barbaro. That’s something you never want to see.”
The field for the 1½-mile Belmont began taking shape, with as many as 13 3-year-olds possible for the 1½-mile race.
A few Derby starters will be back for the Triple Crown finale after skipping the Preakness, including second- and third-place finishers Bluegrass Cat and Steppenwolfer. Jazil, who finished in a dead heat for fourth with Brother Derek, also is set to run.
Trainer Bob Baffert plans to send Bob and John to the race, and might send Point Determined. Bob and John was 17th in the Derby and Point Determined was ninth.
From the Preakness, Sweetnorthernsaint is a possible, and trainer Nick Zito said third-place finisher Hemingway’s Key will run. Todd Pletcher, who trains Bluegrass Cat, could have two other starters in Peter Pan Stakes winner Sunriver and Sir Barton winner High Cotton. Other possibles are Oh So Awesome and Lewis Michael.
Brother Derek had another poor race in the Preakness, finishing fourth just as he did in the Derby. Trainer Dan Hendricks said his colt was headed back to California and won’t be back for the Belmont.
Hendricks said Barbaro’s injury put the Triple Crown into perspective.
“The horse getting hurt made it anticlimactic how we ran,” Hendricks said. “It’s a game of highs and lows. You never know what you’re going to get. All you can do is enjoy it when it’s good and you’ve got to make it through when it’s not.”
Zito was encouraged by Hemingway’s Key’s effort — his first finish in the top three in five starts this year.
“If everything is good, yes,” Zito said about running in the Belmont. “If he has a couple good weeks, why not? He had a lot of energy, that horse; he’s wild. He rebounded nicely yesterday. That was exactly what I wanted to see.”
Sweetnorthernsaint came out of the Preakness with a minor hoof injury, but trainer Michael Trombetta said the Belmont was still possible.
“I’m going to wait 10 days or so before I really start giving it a hard thought,” he said.
The Belmont will be run without a Triple Crown attempt for the second straight year. Last year, Giacomo won the Derby and Afleet Alex came back and took the Preakness and Belmont.Source: msnbc.msn.com