BALTIMORE -- If winning the Kentucky Derby was a lifelong dream for jockey Kent Desormeaux, winning the Preakness was like coming home.

"This one is for you, Maryland!" Desormeaux yelled in the direction of the 91,122 fans at Pimlico after he crossed the finish line aboard Real Quiet to win the 123rd Preakness. "It's good to be home."

DESORMEAUX, WHO WAS BASED IN MARYLAND when he set the record for most victories with 598 in 1989, is now poised to ride Real Quiet into racing history.

The $17,000 yearling, who spent much of his career in the shadows of stablemates Silver Charm and Indian Charlie, heads into the June 6 Belmont Stakes with a chance to become the 12th horse to sweep the Triple Crown.

"That's two down and one to go," said Desormeaux. ``I'm most confident about the Belmont - the distance (1 1-2 miles). I think it would hit him right between the eyes."

Certainly Real Quiet went a good deal further than the 1 3/16th miles of the Preakness - running well off the rail, he covered a lot more ground than he had to. But Desormeaux said he had the utmost confidence in the horse.

"On the turn, I pushed the Baffert magic button and away he went," said Desormeaux. "I asked him for his life and he gave it to me."

Although winning the Derby is the dream of every jockey -- including Desormeaux -- the 28-year-old rider said winning the Preakness had its own special meaning.

"I feel indebted to Maryland," said Desormeaux, who began riding at Evangeline Downs in Louisiana in 1986 but moved his tack to Maryland a year later.

DESORMEAUX GOT THE PERMANENT RIDE aboard Real Quiet after David Flores was injured late last year. And Desormeaux responded. In seven rides aboard Real Quiet, he has four wins and two seconds.

And, he has a chance to become the first jockey since Steve Cauthen to ride a Triple Crown winner.

Cauthen won in 1978 aboard Affirmed. The other Triple Crown jockeys were Jean Cruguet (Seattle Slew, 1977); Ron Turcotte (Secretariat, 1973), Eddie Arcaro (Citation, 1948; Whirlaway, 1941); Warren Mehrtens (Assault, 1946); Johnny Longden (Count Fleet, 1943); Charles Kurtsinger (War Admiral, 1937); Willie Saunders (Omaha, 1935); Earl Sande (Gallant Fox, 1930); and Johnny Loftus (Sir Barton, 1919).