Trainer Rick Dutrow Jr. will return to very familiar ground when he saddles Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) winner Big Brown in the Preakness Stakes (G1) on May 14 at Pimlico Race Course.

Dutrow informed Pimlico officials on Sunday morning that he indeed would run the unbeaten Derby winner in the second leg of Thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown.

The Boundary colt is expected to arrive in Baltimore on the Wednesday before the race and take up residence in stall 40 of the stakes barn.

Dutrow’s father, Dickie Dutrow, competed against veteran conditioners King Leatherbury, Bud Delp, and John Tammaro for training supremacy in Maryland in the 1970’s. The elder Dutrow captured four training titles at Pimlico during that decade.

Dutrow’s older brother, Tony, also was a top Maryland trainer before moving his stable to Philadelphia Park several years ago.

“I like our chances because we have the best horse,” said Dutrow Jr., who was born in Hagerstown, Maryland. “I am going to see a bunch of friends but I am going there with a horse that can win the race.”

Racing Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux also has ties to Maryland and Pimlico. The 38-year-old won five riding titles at Pimlico from 1987-’89 and captured the Preakness aboard Real Quiet in 1998.
 
The only Derby finisher expected to come back to challenge Big Brown at this point is Recapturetheglory, who finished fifth in the Derby despite trouble in the paddock. Trainer and co-owner Louie Roussel indicated a final decision would be made on Monday.

“We are getting in the car and either driving eight to ten hours to Baltimore or New Orleans,” said Roussel, who trained Risen Star to victory in the 1988 Preakness.

Eight new shooters are possible for the Preakness, including Behindatthebar, El Gato Malo, Harlem Rocker, Kentucky Bear, Stevil, Tres Borrachos, and Yankee Bravo.

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters. Thirteen of the last 16 years have produced double-digit starters.