BALTIMORE - Pat Valenzuela guided his horse to an easy victory Saturday, although it wasn't the race he wanted to win.

Valenzuela was scheduled to ride in the Preakness until being replaced on Ten Cents a Shine by Jerry Bailey, who became available when the handlers of Empire Maker decided to skip the race.

Bailey, a multiple winner of the Eclipse Award, had run in the Preakness 12 times before Saturday, winning twice.

Bounced from the Preakness, Valenzuela did the next best thing: He won on the undercard.

Valenzuela rode Carib Lady to victory in the Grade III Gallorette Handicap, defeating Affirmed Dancer by a neck in 1 1-16th miles on the turf at Pimlico.

``It's unfortunate that I had to be put in a spot where I don't get to ride in the Preakness. It's one of the biggest races in the history of racing,'' Valenzuela said. ``But Jerry Bailey is a great jockey, Wayne Lukas is a great trainer and Mr. (Ken) Ramsey is a great owner. I wish them all the best.''

Valenzuela is no stranger to the Preakness. He's run in the race three times, winning in 1989 with Sunday Silence.

``I know the feeling of what it's like to ride in it and win it,'' he said. ``I'll get another chance one day.''

Powerfully cold
It wasn't long ago that the Preakness was marred by a power outage caused by too many area residents running their air conditioners on a surprisingly sweltering day.

That wasn't an issue at Pimlico on Saturday, when the temperature hovered around 50 degrees and the sun remained hidden behind a thick layer of dark clouds.

The cold weather took a bit of the edge off the party in the infield, but at least the track remained fully operational. In 1998, a power outage caused by the extensive use of air conditioners in the area closed betting windows, stopped the elevators and darkened stairwells at the track.

Pimlico was also fortunate Saturday in that the rain that pelted the area overnight let up early in the morning. The first race was run on a sloppy track, but by 2 o'clock the surface had improved to good.