With two weeks until the Kentucky Derby, Zito decided to pass on that race and instead run in the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes.
In the late summer and early fall of the year, Zito decided to run Star Standard against older horses in two races.
In the second, Cigar again dominated the field in the grade one Jockey Club Gold Cup in October as Star Standard ran third to him and Unaccounted For.
At the beginning of his four-year-old season in 1996, Star Standard ran in the grade one Gulfstream Park Handicap, leading almost the entire race.
In the $600,000 grade one Pimlico Special Handicap at "Old Hilltop" in Baltimore, Maryland, Star Standard broke from gate four and rushed straight to the lead under jockey Pat Day.
At the top of the stretch, Key of Luck, Geri, and Wekiva Springs all made a bid at the leader but failed to gain even terms.