Hats off to Barbaro. Nothing phony about that victory in my opinion.

Here's two interesting running lines from today's race:

BROTHER DEREK worked his way in six wide by the first turn, moved out wider when the field bunched nearing the end of the backstretch where he was steadied twice, fanned out nine abreast when making a run into the upper stretch, but came up empty while finishing evenly with JAZIL for fourth.

SWEETNORTHERNSAINT, steadied when bumped at the start by A.P. WARRIOR and forced out on PRIVATE VOW, was steadied again under the wire the first time in tight quarters, worked his way between foes around the first turn, angled inside on the backstretch, boldly came through close quarters along the rail at the five-sixteenths pole, but faltered when straightened for the drive.

I would give these two guys another shot in the Preakness. They both have the preferred running style. I would imagine Baffert sends in one or two as well. I also read that Bernardini might be joining the fray.

Barbaro is the deserving favorite, but the Preakness will still be an interesting race.