The Triple Crown trail moves to Pimlico for the 126th running of the Preakness and as in the Kentucky Derby, there appears to be plenty of early speed in the lineup. There probably won't be the suicidal fractions we saw in Louisville (a Derby record of :44 4/5 for the half mile), but the closers shouldn't be at any disadvantage with RICHLY BLENDED,CONGAREE,MR. JOHN,PERCY HOPE and GRIFFINITE all possibly prompting the pace from the outset.<P>A wet track is possible at post time. Showers are expected Saturday morning,it could rain throughout the afternoon. If the precipitation stops sometime early in the day, track management will do everything it can to get a fast track by the 6:04 p.m. (EDT) post time, but the early forecast doesn't look good.<P>The track condition shouldn't bother POINT GIVEN. For whatever reason, the massive chestnut was flat on Derby day. He was probably too close to the early pace and is more likely to settle farther back before offering his run this time. But don't forget how brilliant Point Given was in his first two starts this year. He entered the Derby off a career best 109 BRIS Speed rating in the Santa Anita Derby, a tremendous showing that came over a wet-fast track he relished. He might get a similar type of track Saturday. His strong workouts at Churchill prior to the Derby were well-documented, and Point Given showed no signs of regressing when posting a :59 4/5 move on Monday. The Bob Baffert-trained colt is talented enough to run past rivals in the stretch, and we believe he'll show what he's made of with a Preakness victory.<P>The Preakness should set up for MONARCHOS, who is attempting to become the 29th horse to win the first two jewels of the Triple Crown. The Derby winner will have to bounce back in a short time against a strong group, and he's never strung together two straight big efforts in stakes races. On the plus side, trainer John Ward Jr. didn't push the gray colt too hard before the Derby. Also, Monarchos' BRIS Speed ratings didn't dramatically increase in the Derby (110 at Churchill; 108 from both the Wood [G2] and Florida Derby. He's trained well at Pimlico and should be ready for another top performance. With the expected pace scenario, it would be no surprise to see Monarchos wearing the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans.<P>DOLLAR BILL has seemingly had more excuses than Elizabeth Taylor has had husbands. He was taken up sharply at the three-eighths pole in the Derby when Jamaican Rum cut in front of him, and while we don't believe Dollar Bill was going to challenge anyway, we'll never know. After making him the second choice in the Derby, the favorite in the Blue Grass S. and the favorite in the Louisiana Derby , the public should finally back off this colt. This might be the time to jump aboard because the Sustained-running Dollar Bill should get a perfect pace scenario up front and may finally get a chance to run his best race. Horses who disappoint in the Derby often return with a big showing at Pimlico, and Dollar Bill is one of the most talented members of his crop. He also captured the Kentucky Jockey Club S. last fall over a sloppy track. Give Dollar Bill one more chance to prove himself and use him in all of your exotics.<P>Congaree ran a winning race in the Derby, sitting just off the pace before surging to a clear lead at the top of the stretch. But he had to run too fast early and got tired in the final furlong. Foundation was a concern entering the Derby because Congaree had only four career starts and didn't make his seasonal debut (and second lifetime start) until February 28. While he outran the seasoning issue in the Derby, it might possibly catch up with him in Baltimore. The Baffert trainee is possibly the most talented three-year-old in the Preakness and should be sitting in perfect position to grab the lead whenever Jerry Bailey wants. But the chestnut will offer no value with the jockey switch and might go favored. And we also believe the pace will be hot once again. Congaree is a legitimate win threat, and recommend using him in some gimmicks. <P>BAY EAGLE ships from Delaware for trainer Graham Motion and could possibly run late for part. The dark bay earned a 109 BRIS Late Pace rating when capturing the nine-furlong Private Terms S. two races back at Pimlico, and the Sustained runner didn't have much of a chance last out in the Lexington S. over the speed-favoring Keeneland track. Bay Eagle is a little light from a speed figure perspective, but he's shown nice improvement since breaking his maiden five starts back and owns the right running style.<P>MARCIANO is a locally based gray sophomore with a strong late run. His Late Pace figures have been improving (108 and 103 from his last two starts), and he drew clear for a sharp victory last out in the Federico Tesio S. His pedigree is a little suspect for 1 3/16 miles, but distance hasn't been a problem so far for the Tim Ritchey charge. <P>A P VALENTINE didn't have a clean trip in the Derby and is one of the late runners in the field Saturday. The Grade 1 winner displayed excellent form when winning the Champagne S. last October, but he's never run back to that effort and missed a couple targets earlier this year. A P Valentine may have been better served skipping the Preakness for the Belmont S. but he could prove us wrong.<P>Mr. John is a good-looking colt from the stable of Elliott Walden, who has finished second in the Preakness with his last two starters. However, Mr. John likes to run early and must stretch out in distance. He's proven to be a very honest performer, never finishing out of the top three from five career starts, but we think this class hike might be too much for the Early/Presser. <P>Richly Blended exits a strong wire-to-wire victory in the Withers S. and will show speed from the gate in the Preakness. Trainer Ben Perkins Jr. said the colt was a little wound up when suffering his only career loss, a third-place finish in the Wood, but that was Richly Blended's only career attempt past a mile. There appears to be too much other early speed in the field for Richly Blended to save something for the finish.<P>Griffinite will probably find the added ground and class hike too taxing. Percy Hope earned only a 94 speed rating when capturing the Lone Star Derby most recently and doesn't like wet tracks. <P>1st-POINT GIVEN <BR>2nd-MONARCHOS <BR>3rd-DOLLAR BILL <P>