FAVORED CAVONNIER IN PRIME PIMLICO STALL.

Byline: Daily News Wire Services

Cavonnier finds himself a stand-in for Kentucky Derby winner Grindstone at the Pimlico stakes barn, and trainer Bob Baffert thinks the gelding can extend his role right into the Preakness winner's circle.

``I think he thought he won,'' Baffert said of the California-bred who was beaten by a nose by Grindstone in a tremendous finish in the Derby. ``I really think he's going to run the same kind of race here.

``They (owners Robert and Barbara Walter of Sebastopol, Calif.) told me, `Don't run him unless you think he can win.' ''

Clem Florio, the Pimlico line-maker, made Cavonnier the 9-5 favorite when 12 3-year-olds were entered Wednesday night for Saturday's second race of the Triple Crown.

Chris McCarron will ride Cavonnier from the No. 2 post.

Cavonnier, winner of the Santa Anita Derby before his near-miss in Kentucky, arrived at Pimlico on Wednesday from Louisville and was put in stall 40, reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner.

Grindstone, who extended trainer D. Wayne Lukas' incredible streak of wins in Triple Crown races to six, was retired to breeding when it was discovered last week that the colt had suffered a bone chip in his right front knee. Lukas, who had a record five Derby starters, will try to extend his streak Saturday with Derby veterans Prince of Thieves, third; Editor's Note, sixth; and Victory Speech, 10th.

Prince of Thieves, ridden by Jerry Bailey, was made the second choice at 5-2 and will start from the No. 9 post.

Cavonnier would be the second Derby runner-up to win the Preakness. The last was Prairie Bayou in 1993. Prairie Bayou, fatally injured in the Belmont Stakes, also was a gelding.

Cavonnier would be the seventh gelding to win the Preakness. He missed becoming the eighth gelding, and first since Clyde Van Dusen in 1929, to win the Derby in the closest finish in that classic since 1959.

``I finally saw the replay last Wednesday,'' Baffert said. ``In that last 100 yards I thought I won, that's for sure.''

Baffert recalled shouting ``We got it

'' as Cavonnier and Grindstone crossed the finish. ``But Mrs. Walter said, `No, Robert.' She held up two fingers and said, `Second, maybe.' ''

Baffert's 2-1/2-year-old daughter, Savannah, the youngest of his four children, put the loss into perspective for him.

He returned home to California late at night the day after the May 4 Derby after having stopped over in Phoenix to see his The Texas Tunnel finish third in the Great Western Shootout at Turf Paradise.

``She was still up,'' Baffert said, ``and she came running to her daddy. You sort of forget it. She didn't care where he finished.''

The Preakness, which will simulcast to Hollywood Park between the second and third local races Saturday, will feature three Southern California jockeys: McCarron (Cavonnier), Gary Stevens (Editor's Note) and Rene Douglas, who picked up the riding assignment on Victory Speech on Wednesday.

Victory Speech was ridden by Jose Santos when he finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby.