HORSE RACING

CHALLENGERS LINING THE ‘STREET’ FOR PREAKNESS

Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense could face 10 challengers when the colt attempts to capture the Preakness and set up a shot at the Triple Crown.

Mint Slewlep, fourth in the Withers at Aqueduct in his last start, became the latest confirmed starter yesterday. The bay colt is trained by Robert Bailes, best known for sending out Scrappy T to a second-place finish in the 2005 Preakness after the horse nearly knocked winner Afleet Alex to the ground at the top of the stretch.

Others set to take on Street Sense on May 19 at Pimlico include Derby runner-up Hard Spun and 17th-place finisher Teuflesberg, as well as King of the Roxy, Xchanger and one of two 3-year-olds trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Flying First Class or Starbase.

A decision on Derby third-place finisher Curlin was expected to day, co-owner Bill Gallion said. Af ter a jog yesterday at Churchill Downs, though, it appeared the colt who won his first three starts by a combined 28 1/2 lengths was a go for the Preakness.

“We’re very pleased with the first day back at the track, and I think that’s the first step in the process,” trainer Steve Asmussen said. “Our horse’s appetite has stayed good since the Derby, and all indications are that we’ll see him again in some major races.”

BOXING

DE LA HOYA-MAYWEATHER BOUT RICHEST IN BOXING HISTORY

Turns out the obituaries written for boxing were a bit premature.

Oscar De La Hoya’s fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. set a record for most televised buys for a fight, according to figures released yesterday, surpassing Mike Tyson’s second fight with Evander Holyfield and making it boxing’s richest event.

A total of 2.15 million households paid $54.95 for the fight, generating revenue of $120 million. The previous record set by Tyson-Holyfield was 1.99 million buys.

“This puts to bed this theory of boxing being in trouble, or being dead or dying,” the head of HBO Sports, Ross Greenburg, said.

A person close to the promotion said De La Hoya would end up making about $45 million for the fight and Mayweather just over $20 million. That person requested anonymity because they did not want official figures released.

BASEBALL

FRANCONA ADVISES PITCHER TO CURTAIL COMMENTS

Curt Schilling apologized yesterday for criticizing Barry Bonds and was advised by his manager to keep some of his opinions to himself.

The Red Sox pitcher leveled the criticism Tuesday on a radio show then backed off his remarks yesterday in an entry entitled “Public Apology,” on his blog.

“Everyone has days and events in life they’d love to push the rewind button on, yesterday was one of those days,” Schilling wrote on the blog, 38pitches.com. “Regardless of my opinions, thoughts and beliefs on anything Barry Bonds it was absolutely irresponsible and wrong to say what I did.