BALTIMORE — Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver was made the early 5-2 favorite yesterday for the Preakness Stakes, and he'll break from the starting gate next to beaten Derby favorite Lookin At Lucky.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Calvin Borel, Super Saver drew the No. 8 post in the field of 12 — two short of the maximum — for Saturday's 1 3/16-mile race at Pimlico.

"Eight is perfect," Pletcher said. "It will give Calvin an opportunity to survey things. He'll be able to see who's doing what.

"He's tactical enough that I think he's probably going to land in the first tier. We're not committed to anything. We're just going to let our horse run his race."

Last year, Borel rode favored filly Rachel Alexandra to victory over the boys from the No. 13 post on the far outside.

Seventy favorites have won in the 134-year history of the Preakness, including the last two years. Besides 9-5 Rachel Alexandra last year, Big Brown was the 1-5 favorite when he won in 2008.

After winning the Derby by 2 1/2 lengths on a muddy track with a patented rail-hugging ride, Borel predicted Super Saver would become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978.

"I hope he's right," Pletcher said. "I love the fact that Calvin has a lot of confidence in him. Some of that is because he believes in the horse and he likes the way he's been working. I want a guy up there who's confident."

Lookin At Lucky was the 3-1 second choice of Pimlico oddsmaker Frank Carulli. He'll start next to Super Saver in the No. 7 post after starting the Derby on the rail and finishing sixth. He'll be ridden by Martin Garcia in the Preakness, with Garrett Gomez switching to 10-1 Dublin.

Paddy O'Prado, the third-place Derby finisher, is the third choice at 9-2.

The field, from the rail out: Aikenite (20-1), Schoolyard Dreams (15-1), Pleasant Prince (20-1), Northern Giant (30-1), Yawanna Twist (30-1), Jackson Bend (12-1), Lookin At Lucky (3-1), Super Saver (5-2), Caracortado (10-1), Paddy O'Prado (9-2), First Dude (20-1) and Dublin (10-1).