Freak filly Rachel Alexandra's Preakness Stakes hopes appear to have survived a day of drama and intrigue.Sunday started with owners of two fancied colts suggesting they would gang up to prevent the glamour filly running in the second leg of the three-year-old Triple Crown in Baltimore on Saturday.The Preakness has a maximum of 14 runners and, irrespective of subsequent results, original Triple Crown nominees take precedence.After her stunning 20 length Kentucky Oaks win, Rachel Alexandra was so

Freak filly Rachel Alexandra's Preakness Stakes hopes appear to have survived a day of drama and intrigue.

Sunday started with owners of two fancied colts suggesting they would gang up to prevent the glamour filly running in the second leg of the three-year-old Triple Crown in Baltimore on Saturday.

The Preakness has a maximum of 14 runners and, irrespective of subsequent results, original Triple Crown nominees take precedence.

After her stunning 20 length Kentucky Oaks win, Rachel Alexandra was sold to prominent owner Jess Jackson who transferred her to Steve Asmussen's stable.

The new connections announced they would pay the $US100,000 ($A130,000) late entry fee to fill the apparently-vacant 14th slot in the field.

But that inspired other owners to try to rethink their plans.

Ahmed Zayat, owner of Kentucky Derby runner-up Pioneerof the Nile, told American television he had been rung by Mark Allen, owner of Derby winner Mine That Bird, and they had discussed entering other runners to keep the filly out of the field.

Zayat said he had agreed to enter a second runner.

Allen later told the same tv station he would confirm entry for Indy Express, winless from nine starts, for the classic over about 2200m.

Allen stands to lose his Kentucky Derby winning jockey Calvin Borel who is committed to Rachel Alexandra for the next 12 months.

As the day wore on, Zayat recanted and told Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas he would only run Pioneerof the Nile.

Rachel Alexandra's starting hopes were further boosted by the withdrawal of Lexington Stakes runner-up Conservative, and the New York Times quoted Luv Gov's owner, Marylou Whitney, as saying her horse would be withdrawn if Rachel Alexandra was stranded 15th in order of entry.

According to the Maryland Racing Club, Rachel Alexandra worked strongly on Sunday morning in Kentucky and was expected to fly to Maryland for the 134th running of the event at the Pimlico Racecourse.

If she starts on Saturday she will only be the third filly to contest the Preakness Stakes.