Big Brown to face 11 rivals in Preakness

Big Brown with Kent Desormeax in the irons has won the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby.

The withdrawal of Recapturetheglory from the Preakness Stakes means Big Brown will not face any of his Kentucky Derby rivals in his bid to claim the second leg of the triple crown.

The Preakness website confirmed there were now 12 confirmed runners for Saturday's race after co-owner Ronnie Lamarque announced Recapturetheglory, who finished fifth in the Derby, was out of the running due to a fever.

The last time the Preakness was run without a Derby runner was 60 years ago when Citation won on his way to claiming the triple crown of the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

Big Brown is scheduled to work at Churchill Downs each morning before being transported to the Pimlico track in Baltimore on Wednesday afternoon along with Preakness starters Macho Again, Racecar Rhapsody and Tres Borrachos.

Other confirmed starters for Maryland's signature race are Behindatthebar, Giant Moon, Hey Byrn, Icabad Crane, Riley Tucker, Stevil and Yankee Bravo.

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters with the last full field just three years ago. Thirteen of the last 16 years have produced double-digit starters.

A deal for the future breeding rights of Big Brown is expected to be in place before the Preakness.