LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro can expect to see some of the same rivals and a few new ones in Baltimore for the Preakness in two weeks.

The winner's garland hung on the wall across from Barbaro's stall Sunday, with visitors plucking souvenir red roses from it as the colt gazed out at the crowd.

Trainer Michael Matz was all smiles, knowing his plan to race Barbaro in the Derby off a five-week break had been right on the money. Needles was the last to succeed after the same amount of time off in 1956.

Now undefeated in six career races, Barbaro came out of the 20-horse Derby chaos in great shape. He won by 6Z\x lengths — the largest margin since 1946 Triple Crown winner Assault won by eight lengths.

"We'll try to keep him at this level for the next two races and hopefully he'll become a famous horse," Matz said. "All we can do is try our best and hopefully he'll help us out."

The day-after-Derby air was filled with Triple Crown talk.

"We have to think that way," Matz said. "It would be great for the sport. It would be great for everybody."

It's been 28 years since Affirmed swept the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. Four other horses in the past five years have won the first two legs only to lose the 1½-mile Belmont, most recently Smarty Jones in 2004.

Trainer Steve Asmussen would like to see a Triple Crown champion.

"It's impossible not to imagine he might be good enough to do the unthinkable," said Asmussen, who will keep his Derby horses Storm Treasure (11th) and Private Vow (15th) at home.

"I don't want to mention it, wouldn't want to jinx him. I remember watching Smarty get beat. When one's that good, you don't want to see him lose."

Besides Barbaro, other Derby runners aiming for the May 20 Preakness are beaten favorite Sweetnorthernsaint, fourth-place Brother Derek and Lawyer Ron, who was 12th.

Jazil, who tied with Brother Derek, is possible for the 1 3-16-mile race at Pimlico. Sweetnorthernsaint finished seventh at 5-1 odds.

New horses expected for the second leg of the Triple Crown include Gotham winner Like Now, Withers winner Bernardini and Simon Pure, who finished fourth in the Arkansas Derby for D. Wayne Lukas.