A field of nine 3-year-olds was entered Wednesday, with Street Sense drawing the No. 8 post position for the 1 3-16th-mile race at Pimlico Race Course.

Street Sense is coming off a 2 1/4-length win in the Derby two weeks ago thanks to jockey Calvin Borel's brilliant, rail-hugging trip against 19 rivals.

There won't be as much traffic to navigate this time. Should Street Sense win, a Triple Crown bid might be the perfect remedy for racing a year after Derby winner Barbaro's ill-fated breakdown in the Preakness.

Street Sense, a son of Street Cry, seems poised to dispatch a field that includes Derby runner-up Hard Spun, third-place finisher Curlin and Circular Quay, who finished sixth.

Also entered were C P West, Flying First Class, Mint Slewlep, Xchanger and King of the Roxy.

Hard Spun, who will be ridden by Maryland's top rider Mario Pino, was the second choice at 5-2. The colt trained by Larry Jones drew the No. 7 post — the same post that Street Sense came from to win the Derby.

"It was a good number for the Derby, so hopefully it will work for the Preakness," Jones said.

Curlin, beaten for the first time in the Derby after three overpowering victories, was the third choice at 7-2, and leaves from the No. 4 post. Circular Quay, the Louisiana Derby winner, was 8-1.

Street Sense arrived at Pimlico on Wednesday, a day after his final tuneup at Churchill Downs.

"He's here and he's doing good," trainer Carl Nafzger said.

Todd Pletcher, who trains Circular Quay and King of the Roxy, is 0-for-26 in Triple Crown races. The three-time Eclipse Award winner sent out a record-tying five starters in the Derby, with Circular Quay his best finisher. Pletcher is 0-for-19 in the Derby, but just 0-for-1 in the Preakness — Impeachment was third in 2000.

"Clearly, Street Sense is the horse to beat," Pletcher said. "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 as he is at Churchill Downs."

Street Sense has excelled at Churchill, winning the Derby and the Breeders' Cup Juvenile there. Can he take to the tight turns at Pimlico, and then the 1 1/2 miles of the Belmont?

"A good race horse, and he's a good race horse, should be able to handle Pimlico and Belmont," Street Sense owner James Tafel said. "I don't see any reason why not."

Street Sense has won four of eight starts with earnings of $2,958,200.

Affirmed, in 1978, was the 12th and last Triple Crown winner.