Surprise, surprise: Fusaichi Pegasus is Serena's otherworldly pick to win the Preakness.

I entered the vestibule and encountered the familiar neon glow that encompasses Serena's lair. As I knocked eagerly on the door, I noticed an alluring scent emanating from the room -- probably some type of witch's brew Serena concocted to cast away evil spirits. But as Serena opened the door, her apron hinted otherwise. She was baking cinnamon buns.

A full-figured woman with a daring fashion sense, Serena wore a purple sweatsuit -- velour, if I'm not mistaken -- and a highly elaborate makeup job. She had clearly maintained her otherworldly seductiveness since my last visit.

"Hello Serena, how've you been?" I asked her, not expecting an embrace, but hoping for one nonetheless.

"Hello," replied the dubious diva. "Do I know you?"

I giggled at Serena's quip, congratulated her for correctly predicting the outcomes of three out of the four BCS bowl games, and sat down.

"Let's get down to business, Serena," I said. "The Preakness Stakes takes place on Saturday, and I want you to tell me how each of the horses are going to finish."

"Horses?" asked Serena.

I immediately sensed that horse racing was not a sport that Serena had a vast knowledge, and decided to fill her in on the latest happenings in the equine realm, i.e. the Derby outcome, Fusaichi Pegasus' quest for the Triple Crown, the whereabouts of the Preakness, etc ?

"Twenty-five dollars," snapped Serena.

"Deal."

Remembering that Serena disallowed my use of a tape recorder, I whipped out my pen and pad, and asked her if she was ready to work her magic.

"Wait," she replied, and escaped to the kitchen to blow her nose with a resounding power.

"Now I am ready."

Serena closed her eyes and drew herself into a deep mystic trance. Unfortunately, it is always accompanied by intense perspiration on Serena's part.

I began listing the names of the potential entries in alphabetical order:

"Captain Steve, Fusaichi Pegasus, Hal's Hope, High Yield?"

Serena does not flinch. Clearly, she is immersed in the spirit world, a versatile realm that provides divine guidance and horse racing predictions alike.

"Hugh Hefner (I chuckle like an 8-year-old), Red Bullet and Snuck In."

I wondered if Serena was reaching toward the celestial steeds like Man O' War, Secretariat and Citation for guidance.

"Versace!" Serena bellowed. "Versace will win the Preakness Steak!"

"Versace?"

"Yes, Versace!"

"Are you referring to Fusaichi Pegasus?"

"Exactly!"

Amazing. The sorceress forecasted the powerful Kentucky Derby winner to complete the second leg of the Triple Crown without any prior knowledge of crucial race factors such as the horses' pedigree, dosage, or the track conditions at Pimlico.

	“	Versace! Versace will win the Preakness Steak! ”
		— Manhattan psychic Serena

I proceed to run down the list of remaining horses to Serena. The rest of her field will finish as follows:

2nd - Snuck In
3rd - High Yield
4th - Captain Steve
5th - Hugh Hefner
6th - Red Bullet
7th - Hal's Hope

So there you have it. The final results of the 2000 Preakness Stakes, days before race time.

Toweling herself off, Serena was emotionally drained, but somehow found the energy to light up a cigarette and offer me a $60 tarot-card reading. I declined, insisting that my work was done, the field was set, and I'd had yet another opportunity to witness a true soothsayer in action.

I tucked away the forecast knowing that the actual running of Saturday's race serves as little other than a mere formality, and began to make my exit.

"Until the Belmont, Serena. Until the Belmont ?"