Three Derby runners return for Saturday's wide-open Preakness Stakes

Incredibolt, who is entered in Saturday's Preakness Stakes, made up significant ground in the stretch run in the Kentucky Derby, rallying to finish sixth, beaten by just 4 lengths after encountering his fair share of traffic. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI

May 12 (UPI) -- After some last minute maneuvering, 14 3-year-olds are set for Saturday's 151st running of the Preakness Stakes, middle jewel of the Triple Crown, including three who contested the first leg -- the Kentucky Derby.

With Derby winner Golden Tempo sitting it out to prepare for the Belmont Stakes, only Ocelli, Incredibolt and Robusta move along from the Derby to the Preakness. And none of them is the favorite.

That honor, at generous odds of 9-2, goes to Iron Honor. The Nyquist colt, trained by Chad Brown, won his first two starts, including the Grade II Gotham in February, but then finished seventh in the Grade II Wood Memorial, missing the Run for the Roses. He drew the No. 9 gate for the 14-horse Preakness.

Posted at 5-1 on the morning line are Incredibolt, Chip Honcho and Taj Mahal.

Incredibolt made up significant ground in the stretch run in the Kentucky Derby, rallying to finish sixth, beaten by just 4 lengths after encountering his fair share of traffic. The Riley Mott trainee earned his way into the Derby with a victory in the Virginia Derby at Colonial Downs.

Taj Mahal is the top local hope, handled by trainer Brittany Russell and ridden by her husband, Sheldon Russell. The Florida-bred Nyquist colt is undefeated after three starts, all at Laurel Park, including the Miracle Wood and the Federico Tesio. He drew the dreaded No. 1 gate.

Chip Honcho, last seen fifth in the Grade II Louisiana Derby, drew much better, landing stall No. 6.

The morning line has Ocelli at 6-1, exiting gate No. 2. On the plus side, the Connect colt finished third in the Kentucky Derby, making up almost as much ground as the last-to-first winner and beaten only 1 length.

On the flip side, he has yet to win a race and finished sixth in the Virginia Derby and third in the Wood Memorial. The shorter stretch at Laurel also might not play to his late-running style.

The final makeup of the Preakness field came into focus only hours before the draw, as Arkansas Derby runner-up Silent Tactic withdrew. Trainer Mark Casse said the bruised foot that caused him to scratch out of the Derby field hadn't healed enough to get him into the Preakness.