BALTIMORE, May 17 (UPI) -- Big Brown won the 133rd Preakness Stakes in Baltimore Saturday and is one victory away from becoming the first horse since 1978 to capture the Triple Crown.

Big Brown passed Gayego and Riley Tucker at the top of the stretch and pulled away to remain unbeaten in five career races. Macho Again was second and Icabad Crane was third.

Big Brown, ridden by Kent Desormeaux, will have a chance to take the Triple Crown if he can win the Belmont Stakes in New York in three weeks. There have been 12 Triple Crown winners, with the last being Affirmed in 1978.

Big Brown's five straight career victories have been by a total of 39 lengths.

Rounding out the order of finish was Racecar Rhapsody, Stevil, Kentucky Bear, Hey Byrn, Giant Moon, Tres Borrachos, Yankee Bravo, Gayego and Riley Tucker. Behindatthebar was scratched Friday morning with a bruised front foot.

The Preakness win was worth $650,000 to increase the 3-year-old's earnings to more than $2.7 million. It was announced Saturday that Big Brown will stand at stud at Three Chimneys Farm in Kentucky when he is retired after this year.

Big Brown is the first horse since Smarty Jones in 2004 to win the first two races of the Triple Crwon.

Howell in third-round lead at AT&T Classic

DULUTH, Ga., May 17 (UPI) -- Charles Howell III' title='Charles Howell III' class='tpstyle'>Charles Howell III posted a 5-under 67 Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after three rounds of the PGA's AT&T Classic at Duluth, Ga.

Howell, a 28-year-old two-time winner on the PGA Tour, completed 54 holes at 13-under-par 203. He has held three previous 54-hole leads, but has lost all three events.

Kenny Perry, who began the round three shots behind second-round leader Jonathan Byrd, had his second straight 3-under 69 to move into second at 12-under 204.

Byrd had a 73 Saturday to drop into a tie for third at 11-under 205 where he was joined by David Toms (69) and Ryan Palmer (70).

Ryuji Imada, a playoff loser in last year's Classic, vaulted into contention with a 66 Saturday. He shares sixth place at 206 with Heath Slocum (69), one shot ahead of Justin Bolli (68).

Federer, Nadal win Hamburg semifinals

HAMBURG, Germany, May 17 (UPI) -- Favorites Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal won their semifinal matches Saturday at the $2.955 million Masters Series in Hamburg, Germany.

Federer, the top seed, blew by Italian Andreas Seppi 6-3 6-1 in the day's opening match.

The second-seeded Nadal had a more difficult task in the second semifinal, downing reigning Australian Open titlist Novak Djokovic of Serbia 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. The Nadal-Djokovic battle took just over three hours.

In an epic final game, Nadal missed four match points and saved four break points before closing it out on his fifth match point when Djokovic's drop shot failed to go over the net.

"I am looking forward to playing in Roger's home," Nadal said sarcastically. "He has won here four times, he loves it here, and it will be a very tough match."

Nadal beat Federer 7-5, 7-5 last month in the final at the Masters Series event in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Ochoa has two-shot lead at Sybase Classic

CLIFTON, N.J., May 17 (UPI) -- Two-time defending champion Lorena Ochoa had a 5-under 67 Saturday and took a two-shot lead after two rounds of the LPGA's Sybase Classic at Clifton, N.J.

Ochoa finished 36 holes at 9-under 135 and is in position to win the tournament for a third straight time Sunday. Friday's play was washed out by rain so the tournament will be decided in the third round Sunday.

Sophie Gustafson shot a 68 to move into a share of second place at 7-under 137. She was tied with Teresa Lu (69).

Na Yeon Choi and H.J. Choi both shot 68 and are tied for fourth at minus-six. Annika Sorenstam, one of three first-round leaders, turned in a 73 that dropped her into a share of seventh at 140.

"I thought it was very windy. It was gusting at times," said Sorenstam. "It was tough to figure out if it was downwind or into the wind because a lot of holes it was cross."

Sharapova out in Rome with calf injury

ROME, May 17 (UPI) -- Maria Sharapova missed her scheduled semifinal match at the $1.34 million Italian Open in Rome Saturday because of a strained left calf.

The event's second seed was to face defending champion and fourth-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia.

"I think it was in the beginning of the second set yesterday, I started to feel it," Sharapova told reporters.

The Russian needed nearly three hours Friday to beat No. 9 seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland 6-7 (3-7), 7-5, 6-2 in a quarterfinal match.

Sharapova joined fifth-seeded Serena Williams (back) on the sidelines in the past two days with an injury.

Jankovic qualified for Sunday's title match in the walkover and will face unseeded Alize Cornet of France, a surprise 3-6 6-4 6-3 winner against sixth-seeded Anna Chakvetadze of Russia.

Jankovic beat Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5 6-1 in last year's final.