Horse Racing News by Marty McGee

Reading between the lines, Telling surely needed his last race at Keeneland.

The drought continues. For the 32nd straight year -- tacking on yet one more year in the ongoing record of Triple Crown futility -- there will be no sweep of racing's most coveted prize.

Comedero furthered his stature in the 3-year-old sprint ranks with a thoroughly dominating victory Saturday in the Grade 3, $100,000 Chick Lang Stakes going six furlongs at Pimlico.

It is remembered mostly as the race in which the filly was mugged, but the Preakness of 30 years ago also is known as the race that produced arguably the most iconic figure of racing's modern era.

Besides the 135th Preakness here Saturday, Pimlico also will run five other stakes on its 13-race card. Foremost among those undercard races is the $200,000 Dixie Stakes, a Grade 2 turf race at 1 1/8 miles.

Tidal Pool will be coming off a mere two-week layoff when Calvin Borel rides her as the favorite in the $175,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, the highlight of a 13-race Friday card at the Baltimore track.

Noble's Promise has been ruled out of the May 15 Preakness at Pimlico and will be pointed instead to a race at the Royal Ascot meet in England in June, trainer Ken McPeek said Friday.

General Quarters likely will be pointed to the Aug. 21 Arlington Million after making a sensational impression on grass, according to owner-trainer Tom McCarthy.

Advance wagering into the 136th Kentucky Derby suggests the race could produce the longest-priced favorite in Derby history, with Super Saver being the 7-1 choice after $340,544 was bet into the win pool Friday.

With the Breeders' Cup Sprint and Dirt Mile to be run later this year at Churchill Downs, it's little wonder that trainers with long-term prospects for those events are getting in a race over the track when they can.