As Usual, Weather Forecast Breakfast Topic

There's often more talk of weather than there are alibis during an annual morning gathering held the week of the Xpressbet.com Preakness Stakes (gr. I) at Pimlico Race Course.

Such was the case at the May 19 Alibi Breakfast, no doubt because the weather forecast for Preakness Day May 21 isn't encouraging. There's a 90% chance of rain in Baltimore, but according to some forecasters, the expected amount of precipitation has been cut from an inch to a half-inch.

And, as noted at the breakfast, forecasts can change quickly.

"Hopefully in a couple of days it will get down to a 0% chance of rain," Maryland Jockey Club president and general manager Sal Sinatra said.

In his invocation, the Rev. William Lori, archbishop of the Baltimore diocese, as usual displayed his sense of humor.

"I'm sure the prayer I offered last year was a key factor in American Pharoah  's success," he said. "With Creator not in the field, I'll have to look around (for another selection). But I ask you to prove all forecasts wrong and give us a good day."

Rain probably will have far more impact on Pimlico's on-track business than it will on many of the contenders in the Preakness.

Doug O'Neill, who trains undefeated Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) winner Nyquist for Reddam Racing, indicated the weather forecast isn't going to keep him up at night.

"We might be up late for other reasons, but not because of the weather," he said. "Versatility is this horse's strength."

Trainer Dale Romans, who will saddle Cherry Wine for Pacella Racing, Frank  Jones Jr., and Frank Shoop, said he wouldn't mind a wet track. Cherry Wine broke his maiden by almost 10 lengths in his only wet-track dirt race but has raced well on fast surfaces.

"We did a lot of things wrong early on with him," Romans said. "We finally figured him out. I don't know if he's up to this caliber but we'll find out Saturday."

Keith Desormeaux isn't worried about the rain, either. Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners, and Rocker O Ranch's Exaggerator hasn't been worse than second in three wet-track starts and won the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I) by 6 1/4 lengths on a track rated sloppy before his second-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.

"His No. 1 physical attribute is his ability to recover," Desormeaux said. "After the Derby he was fully recovered in 24 hours. I know that sounds like a little bull, but this is the Alibi Breakfast."