If the running of the Kentucky Derby is taken as a guideline, this evening's Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the American triple crown, could be special indeed.

Street Sense, winner of the run for the roses, is favourite tonight, with Hard Spun next in the betting having finished second in one of the most famous races in the world. Now it's round two, and they are even drawn next to each other.

"Hopefully, it's not going to be an Affirmed-Alydar relationship," said Larry Jones, who trains Hard Spun. Affirmed won the triple crown in 1978, with Alydar finishing second in all three races, a fate Mario Pino, Hard Spun's rider, hopes to avoid this year. "I don't want to be the Alydar in this," he said.

Pino and Jones were proud to finish second in Kentucky, but being a runner-up three times would not do. "Maybe it will be more like Sunday Silence-Easy Goer, where we get one of them," said Jones, referring the 1989 triple crown showdown. Sunday Silence won the Kentucky Derby, then edged Easy Goer in the Preakness before Easy Goer topped his rival in the Belmont.

Street Sense will be in stall No.8 with Hard Spun next door in seven in a nine-horse field. "I've always liked the eight post," said Carl Nafzger, trainer of Street Sense. "It's outside. You get a good look at the field and you've got a straight run into the first turn."

In Kentucky, Hard Spun broke in front and held the lead for much of the race until Street Sense roared from behind to win. Now, even though Street Sense is in position to become the first horse since Affirmed to win the triple crown, Nafzger's eyes sparkled when asked if he saw a budding rivalry developing between his horse and Hard Spun. "I hope so," said the trainer. "Larry and I have been friends for a long time. We want to win, but if Larry wins it, I'll be the first one to congratulate him."

Todd Pletcher, who trains Circular Quay and King of the Roxy, called Street Sense "the horse to beat. I think what we all have to hope for, those of us who are running against him, is that he's not as good away from Churchill Downs."

There is one thing in favour of Hard Spun, in that no rider has won more races in Maryland state than Pino, who hopes home-track advantage will enable him to earn his first triple-crown win.

Certainly the jockey is aware of how fortunate he is to have the ride on Hard Spun. "Picking up Hard Spun was a gift from God," said the 45-year-old. "This situation is really awesome. I'm in my home town with my home fans cheering me on. This is special. My neighbours and friends are all into it now.

"They don't know anything about horseracing but they're coming to the Preakness. Any time you have that support, it gives you a warm feeling. You can't take that away."

Pino believes he can use his experience at the Pimlico track to his advantage. "If you're walking through your home, you're going to know where every little turn is," said Pino, who has won nearly 2000 races at the Baltimore course.

"A racetrack is a circle but there are qualities here that are different from Churchill. Calvin Borel rode at Churchill with the utmost confidence. It made a difference in the Derby. I think I'll have that advantage here.

There are more speed horses in the Preakness than in the Kentucky Derby, giving Jones reason to wonder if Hard Spun will be able to beat the field to the first turn. "If they want to give me the lead, I'll take it. However, I don't see that happening," said Jones. "If they want to get in front of us, go for it. If they want to be behind us, catch us if you can."