Baffert expects another stretch duel at Preakness (Reuters)

(Reuters) – American Pharoah trainer Bob Baffert expects another challenging race for his Triple Crown hopeful against stablemate Dortmund and Firing Line in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes in Baltimore. American Pharoah, the 4-5 odds-on Preakness favorite, won for the fifth time in a row with a Kentucky Derby triumph two weeks ago that stirred hopes of a possible first Triple Crown sweep since Affirmed in 1978. “American Pharoah hadn’t had a hard race,” Baffert noted on Thursday.