BALTIMORE, May 16 (UPI) -- War Emblem, the Kentucky Derby winner, has drawn a favorable eighth post, and Medaglia d'Oro was named the morning-line favorite Wednesday in the draw for Saturday's 127th Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
War Emblem won the Kentucky Derby as a 20-1 long shot but now is drawing far more attention and has been installed as the 3-1 second choice for the race, which covers 1 3/16 miles.
Medaglia d'Oro, who finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby after getting off to a terrible start, drew the fifth post and was installed as the 5-2 favorite.
The field was one short of the 14-horse limit, and just four of the 18 horses that competed in the Kentucky Derby also will race in the second leg of the Triple Crown.
War Emblem led from gate to wire at the Derby to give trainer Bob Baffert his third victory in the last six Kentucky Derbys.
Baffert will seek his fourth Preakness victory in six years Saturday. He won from the outside 11th post last year with Point Given. He also won with Silver Charm in 1997 and Real Quiet in 1998.
