If you loved the 141st Kentucky Derby, then sit back and enjoy the encore in Baltimore.
When last seen, American Pharoah, Firing Line and Dortmund were busy dominating the Run for the Roses from start to finish.
In the early stages, it was Dortmund on the lead along the inside, with Firing Line chasing just outside him and favored American Pharoah stalking outside them in third.
After that, the Derby was pretty much a private party for that trio. Firing Line took a brief lead on the final turn, only to have American Pharoah inch ahead by the top of the stretch and then hold him at bay during a gritty stretch run.
At the wire, it was the Bob Baffert-trained American Pharoah by a length over Firing Line with Dortmund, who is also trained by Baffert, another two lengths behind in third.
On Saturday, the scene will shift to Pimlico for the $1.5 million Preakness, a race that figures to mirror the Derby in a number of ways -- including the outcome.
Only eight horses turned out for the second jewel in the Triple Crown, and without question the gems are the three horses who were the first three across the wire at Churchill Downs. American Pharoah, Firing Line and Dortmund have all moved on to Pimlico, marking the first time since 2009 that all of the horses in the Derby trifecta opted to run in the Preakness.
Their heroics from two weeks ago is cause enough to make them the stars of the shows, but unlike 2009, when the superstar filly Rachael Alexandra beat the boys in the Preakness, there's no one else in the small field who deserves to share top billing with them.
The other five starters include the horses that were fifth and 13th in the Derby, a winner of a Grade 3 stakes at Keeneland in his last start, the horse who won a $100,000 Preakness prep at Pimlico, and a recent maiden winner who seems hopelessly overmatched.
That's not much star power, and a clear indication that the past will be revisited on Saturday.
American Pharoah, Firing Line and Dortmund are a cut above the others in the field and in all likelihood the final furlong will belong to them, much as did in Louisville.
The morning line lists Zayat Stables' American Pharoah as an odds-on 4-5 favorite, even though the post position draw created a complication for him.
In the Derby, Dortmund had post seven, Firing Line nine and American Pharoah 15 and the combination of those draws and the natural speed each horses possesses accounted for the way the race developed. Perched on the outside, jockey Victor Espinoza was able to let American Pharoah cruise along while Firing Line pressed Dortmund.
The reigning 2-year-old champ will have to work harder than he did in the Derby, but he should also be primed for a stronger effort than the one he registered on the first Saturday in May.
American Pharoah came into the Derby off a mere two races in the previous seven months, and both of them were romps over weak fields. The Derby marked the first time since a loss in his career debut that he was actually tested -- and he passed that exam.
Now, after getting an "A" in the Derby, don't be surprised if he gets an "A-plus" on Saturday.
A race like the Derby could easily fatigue a horse. But if American Pharoah is as good as his press clippings, he'll respond like a champion and move forward. He'll not only win the Preakness, my thought is that he'll win it with more room to spare at the wire -- even from the rail.
While no one has won the Preakness from the rail since 1994, the stat is not as dire as it might seem. In the 20 races that span includes, only once did a favorite draw the rail. That was Orb, who finished fifth as a 3-5 favorite in 2013. Orb, as it turned out, never won another race after the Derby, so it's unlikely that his post position played a huge role in his flop at Pimlico.
Beyond that, most of the horses that drew the rail had no business winning the race. A total of 15 of those 20 horses were sent off at odds of 15-1 or more and eight were 39-1 or more.
The draw should help Firing Line's chances as Dortmund figures to be the one racing alongside American Pharoah in the early stages. He could work out a great trip, but until he proves he can win a stretch duel and not just settle for being second-best, like he was twice to Dortmund and once to American Pharoah, he gets the nod to complete the exacta.
Dortmund, who suffered his first defeat in the Derby, will face the same fate at Pimlico. He'll be involved in the early pace and pay for it in the final furlong and wind up third.
If you want some variety, how about penciling in Mr. Z, who was a troubled 13th in the Derby, for fourth?
At the top, you'd be wise to let history be your guide to the pari-mutuel windows. It will be American Pharaoh, Firing Line and Dortmund. 1-2-3. Again.
Welcome to "The Encore in Baltimore."