Catch our Jeremy Plonk's weekly Triple Crown scouting report each Friday at DRF.com and daily updates. Visit Countdowntothecrown.com for daily updates.

Countdown 2013 Season Archives

January -- 4, 11, 18, 25     February -- 1, 8, 15, 22  March -- 1, 8, 15, 22, 29        April -- 5, 12, 19, 26

May -- 3, 10, 17

Special thanks to Mo Eggers and the ESPN Radio SportsCenter team for featuring Countdown to the Crown and Jeremy Plonk as its onsite analyst from Saturday's Preakness!

3 Things You Won't Read Anywhere Else

1. Something old, something new. Even if Calumet, Lukas and Stevens have 17 Preakness wins among them, this had a new feel to it with Oxbow. The "new" Calumet, Lukas' first Triple Crown win since 2000, and Stevens back after his 8-year retirement.

2. Surpises Inside. If you reached your hand inside the cereal box that is the Preakness infield, you learned like we've been telling you for a few years - it's not as debaucherous and uncivlilized as it once was and still is reported to be. The Wagering 101 tent bustled all day and we thank the thousands of visitors who came by and learned!

3. Orb Not Perfectly Rounded. With no visible excuses, Orb simply showed he was mortal in the Preakness after 5 straight wins. They may not make them like they used to, but he's still as close as it gets. Even the greats of the past lost races and ran back into form. Don't be shocked if he does so in the Belmont.

Upcoming & Featured Prep Races

ORB bounds home by daylight to win Derby 139.