At Preakness, Big Brown Could Be Undone by 'Bounce'

"Rick is training a certain way to keep some energy in there," Zito said. "He's obviously concerned about the bounce. He's doing what he thinks he can do to save energy. Why would he train him hard?"

Dutrow would like nothing more in the Preakness than for Big Brown to find another modest pace to track -- similar to the one Bob Black Jack set in Kentucky -- and for jockey Kent Desormeaux to sail by easily and into the winner's circle, especially because the 1 1/2 -mile Belmont Stakes looms three weeks away with a potential Triple Crown on the line.

"I've been dreaming [about a Triple Crown], but we've got to get this done before we get to Belmont," Dutrow said. "We're going after this thing with everything we've got. If Kent's on an easy lead at the eighth pole, I know he'll save something for the next race, but if he's got to get down on his belly because someone's making him run, he will."

Big Brown has proven to be the fastest horse in the field, although Arkansas Derby winner Gayego, a troubled 17th at Churchill Downs, and Tres Borrachos, third in Arkansas, possess abundant speed.

Tres Borrachos, who cost just $7,000 at auction, is the most likely to go right to the front when the gate opens, with Big Brown, Gayego and Kentucky Bear stalking and the others falling in behind.

"He runs well on the dirt, and he improves every race," Tres Borrachos' trainer Beau Greely said. "He's put on weight [since the Arkansas Derby on April 12], muscled out and toned up a little bit. Seeing him do it while going back and forth to California has been like watching one of your kids grow."

Dutrow, meantime, has felt the butterflies in his stomach grow. Throughout the past week, he has said he wished the days would dwindle as quickly as possible, and he has tried to occupy his mind by talking to assistants in New York and watching TV. Asked if he was uptight, he offered a typically clipped answer.

"I think so, but no one can tell," he said.