California Chrome, the Kentucky Derby champion, will run the 139th Preakness Stakes out of the No. 3 post in Saturday's second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico.
Ten horses entered the 1 3/16-mile race, half a furlong shorter than the Kentucky Derby, and California Chrome is one of three that ran in the Run for the Roses. Joining California Chrome from the Derby field are Ride On Curlin (starting the Preakness in the No. 10 gate) and General A Rod (No. 2 gate). Neither horse challenged California Chrome at Churchill Downs, where he helped set the pace early and pulled away at the top of the stretch for an easy win as the 5-2 favorite.
The last horse to win the Preakness Stakes out of the No. 3 post is Prairie Bayou, the 1993 champion.
The Preakness is a more manageable race than its Triple Crown predecessor — it's shorter than the Derby and has almost half the amount of horses on the track — and that may favor California Chrome, which still seemed in complete control in the Derby win among a packed, hectic field.
Among other entrants is Ria Antonia, the filly that finished sixth place in the Kentucky Oaks. She will take off from the No. 6 gate.
The full gate order for the 2014 Preakness Stakes is below.
1. Dynamic Impact
2. General A Rod
3. California Chrome
4. Ring Weekend
5. Bayern
6. Ria Antonia
7. Kid Cruz
8. Social Inclusion
9. Pablo Del Monte
10. Ride On Curlin
The race is Saturday at 6:20 p.m. ET on NBC.