LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Giacomo’s stunning Kentucky Derby victory at 50-1 odds hasn’t scared the competition away. The colt can expect to see some of the same rivals and a few new ones in Baltimore in two weeks for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Jockey Mike Smith was still smiling Sunday, a day after riding Giacomo to the second-biggest upset in Derby history. They defeated 72-1 long shot Closing Argument by a half-length.

“I got up this morning, said my prayers and I said, “Is this really true? Did I really win it?”‘ he said outside Giacomo’s barn at Churchill Downs.

Typical of his low-key nature, winning trainer John Shirreffs had already returned to Southern California, leaving others to keep buzzing about his colt’s stunning rally from 18th place to first.

If all goes well, Giacomo is expected to ship to Pimlico for the May 21 Preakness.

Asked if Giacomo could win that race, Smith said, “Without a doubt. I believe in him a lot.”

Count Bobby Frankel among the skeptics.

“You wouldn’t think he’s a Triple Crown horse. You got to like the horses who didn’t fire in the Derby to win the Preakness,” he said, referring to 5-2 favorite Bellamy Road and Afleet Alex.

Frankel’s horse High Limit finished last; he was badly cut and bled, but not seriously enough to rule him out of the Preakness.

Nick Zito’s best finish among his five entries was seventh by Bellamy Road, owned by New York Yankees boss George Steinbrenner. Zito was clearly subdued Sunday, but resolved to try again in two weeks.

“We’ll send something there. I don’t know what,” he said.

Also expected for the 1 3-16th-mile Preakness is third-place Afleet Alex, who will ship to Baltimore on Wednesday.

“It’s a little shorter race, it’s in our backyard and if he runs with the same courage, they will have to outrun him like they do most times. We have a heck of a shot,” trainer Tim Ritchey said. “He is walking around the barn bucking and squealing this morning, so obviously he came out of the race well.”

Closing Argument is likely to challenge Giacomo again, too.

“We don’t like to run back in two weeks, but this is not a normal situation, so we will probably be in Baltimore,” trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. “He came out of the race great and looks super.”

Also possible for the Preakness are: Don’t Get Mad (fourth in the Derby), Wilko (sixth) and Going Wild (18th). Trainer Todd Pletcher’s duo of Flower Alley (ninth) and Coin Silver (12th) were on the list of maybes.

The likely newcomers are Scrappy T, Malibu Moonshine and Hal’s Image.

Unlikely to race in Baltimore are: Buzzards Bay (fifth), Greeley’s Galaxy (11th), Greater Good (13th), Spanish Chestnut (16th), Sort It Out (17th) and Bandini (19th).

The Preakness is limited to 14 starters, but there has not been a full field since 1992.

D. Wayne Lukas, who trains Going Wild, said this year’s Derby was “the most bizarre of all.”

While giving Giacomo a chance of winning the Preakness, Lukas agreed with Frankel that Giacomo won’t sweep the Derby, Preakness and Belmont Stakes.

“You can chisel this in stone: There will not be a Triple Crown winner,” he said. “We got too many good horses that will upset the apple cart. The Preakness will be just as unpredictable. With all respect to the horse, (Giacomo) is beatable. He was beatable all spring.”

Giacomo had one victory in seven previous races before winning the Kentucky Derby.

AP-ES-05-08-05 1522EDT