Orb Sets Sights on Preakness

The second leg of horse racing's Triple Crown leaves the starting gate this afternoon in Maryland and the trainer for Kentucky Derby winner Orb says he thinks his horse is ready.

If he can defeat eight rivals in the 1 3-16-mile Preakness, at Pimlico, it would set up a Triple Crown try in the Belmont Stakes in three weeks.

Orb, the even-money favorite today, extended his winning streak to five with a thrilling victory in the Derby two weeks ago, when jockey Joel Rosario patiently guided the colt from 17th to first in the final half mile over a sloppy track.

In the Preakness, Orb will break from the No. 1 post, a spot that has seen only one winner -- Tabasco Cat in 1994 -- since 1961.

The latest forecast calls for a 50 percent chance of rain with temperatures reaching the low 70s.

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