Compared to the 1 1/4 miles distance of the Derby, the Preakness Stakes is run at a slighty shorter 1 3/16 miles on the Pimlico dirt, and offers a total purse of $1.5 million. Final entries and the post position draw will take place on Wednesday, May 16. The field is limited to 14 starters, but it's expected the race will likely draw eight three-year-old colts, with three of those, besides Justify, having also run in the Derby.
Future odds are courtesy of Bovada's racebook.
After Derby pace-setter Promises Fulfilled expectedly faded half-way throught the Derby, the only horse that looked capable of denying Justify was Good Magic (7-2), and his connections have decided that he ran well enough to give him another shot at the champ.
The 2017 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, Good Magic has been in the money in all six of his lifetime starts, and also won the (G1) Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on his way to qualifying for the Derby. He got a late start to his 2018 campaign and was a bit of a disappointment in his three-year-old debut finishing third in the (G2) Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in early March. Despite the fact he rebounded in the Blue Grass, the poor effort in the FOY cost him some support, and he went off in the Derby as something of a 10-1 overlay.
In comparison to Justify he's had a lighter schedule this spring, and trainer Chad Brown is likely hoping that will help him make up the 2 1/2 lengths he was beaten by Justify last weekend.
Although he had enough points to qualify for the Derby, the connections of Quip (16-1) decided to give him a bit extra rest and come back fresh to try and win the Preakness. A bit of an unknown at the start of the year, having run seventh in his first Derby qualifying race to close out 2017, he made his presence felt by winning the (G2) Tampa Bay Derby at odds of 20-1 over eventual Kentucky Derby runners Flameaway and Vino Rosso. He followed that up by running second in the (G1) Arkansas Derby.
One of the longest shots in the Derby field at 67-1, Bravazo (20-1) gave a good account of himself at Churchill Downs, overcoming some early bumping and a wide trip to get as close as fourth place as they came down the stretch before tiring a bit late and eventually finishing in sixth. Legendary trainer D. Wayne Lukas has won the Preakness six times, tied with Justify trainer Bob Baffert for the most of any trainer in the modern era.
When the track came up wet for the Derby, it appeared to be a help to Lone Sailor (25-1), who had scored his maiden victory last summer on a sloppy track at Saratoga. He made good progress from the back of the pack racing along the Churchill Downs rail, but like several others he couldn't sustain his bid through the stretch and ran eighth. Another wet track in the smaller Preakness field would be a benefit, but it's important to note he only has that maiden win in nine lifetime starts.
Of the newcomers joining the Triple Crown trail, Diamond King (16-1) may have the best chance of making an impact in the Preakness. He has won four of six lifetime starts, and one of his losses came when he clipped heels with another horse in the (G2) Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes and lost his rider. He has a pair of lower stakes wins to his name, and good ability to sit just off the early pace before making his move as they turn for home.
Expected to be up on the early pace and maybe pressing Justify for the lead out of the gate is Sporting Chance (22-1), a second Preakness starter for Lukas. He showed a lot of promise as a two-year-old when he won the (G1) Hopeful Stakes at Saratoga last September ahead of eventual Kentucky Derby contenders Free Drop Billy and Firenze Fire, but his development seems to have stalled in 2018, as he has yet to win this year in four starts.
By far the least experienced of the probable Preakness starters is Tenfold (25-1) who only came to the races this year. He won his first lifetime start at Oaklawn Park in February and followed that up with an allowance-level victory one month later. He took his one-and-only shot at qualifying for the Derby in the (G1) Arkansas Derby where he was fifth, but just missed grabbing the second-place money by less than a length.
You can make your future bet for the Preakness right now with an account at Bovada's racebook. Post time for Saturday's race is TBA, so check back for that and the final post position and updated odds later this week.
Category : Betting Picks
Tag : Bovada , Horse Racing
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