ESPN Horse Racing

BALTIMORE - As the lone horse in the stakes barn at Pimlico Race Course, Afleet Alex has been training for the Preakness in virtual solitude.

The third-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby twice ran at a leisurely pace Monday morning, then received a bath before being led back into a deserted barn.

About the only thing missing was a couple of mints on his pillow.

"It's almost like a little vacation. Stress-wise, it's got to help him," trainer Tim Ritchey said. "It's like a private barn right now; he can get accustomed to the environment in a laid-back surrounding."

Whether that translates to a victory Saturday is anyone's guess.

"I think it's an advantage. I'm the only one here, so obviously I'm the only one that thinks that way," Ritchey said.

Since arriving at Pimlico on Wednesday, Afleet Alex has breezed through his workouts. The horse ran two miles Monday at 6 a.m., then returned at 8:30 for a one-mile jog and a two-mile gallop.

"He had his ears up and looked like he was enjoying himself," Ritchey said. "I think he's a very happy horse, I think he's fit. We just need to have a little more luck than we had in the Derby."

At the Derby, Afleet Alex spent much of his energy weaving around and between the other 19 horses before taking third. Ritchey expects an easier time of it Saturday, in part because the field is restricted to no more than 14 entrants.

"I don't think you'll have the pace you had in the Derby. I think in this race the riders will be very aware of how fast they're going," he said. "You're not going to have that suicide pace. But anytime you have a full field, there's always traffic problems. Hopefully we'll avoid them."

The Preakness hasn't had 14 starters since 1992, but this race could end that streak. Nick Zito said Monday he will bring Noble Causeway (14th at the Derby) and Sun King (15th), and is considering starting High Fly (10th).

After Noble Causeway and Sun King performed well over five furlongs Monday, Zito said, "I'm very happy with both of them, so they're a go."

A decision on High Fly is expected Tuesday. If High Fly is entered as the 14th horse in the field, Golden Man would be dropped because of lack of earnings.

Early indications are that Afleet Alex will the morning line favorite in the Preakness. Besides finishing third behind two long shots at the Derby, the colt has a trainer who lives in Maryland and a jockey, Jeremy Rose, who has long been a regular on the Maryland circuit.

"I think we have a home-field advantage. I've won a lot of races here, Jeremy has won a lot of races here, so he knows the track probably better than any of the other riders here," Ritchey said. "Not that I wasn't comfortable at Churchill Downs, but this is home."

Right now, it's a quiet home for Afleet Alex. The barn will become a lot busier Wednesday, however, when Derby winner Giacomo arrives with several other entrants.

Watch the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 21 at 5 p.m. ET on NBC

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press