In Halethorpe, Maryland, excitement builds as the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel in horse racingโs prestigious Triple Crown, approaches its 150th running. After a challenging race in the Kentucky Derby, where Journalism was outperformed by Sovereignty in less-than-ideal conditions, the horse is favored to bounce back at Pimlico Race Course.
The lineup was finalized when post positions were drawn on Monday evening. Journalism, opening as the 8-5 morning line favorite, has captured attention as the likely front-runner. This comes as no surprise to renowned trainer Bob Baffert, whoโs aiming for his ninth Preakness victory. Baffert, a veteran with two Triple Crowns under his belt, is entering the fray with Goal Oriented, positioned in the No. 1 post.
โJournalism should be the favorite,โ Baffert confidently stated, reflecting on the horseโs impressive showing in the Derby. With Umberto Rispoli back in the saddle, Journalism will launch from the No. 2 gate, aiming to carry the momentum from a strong Derby performance into the Preakness race set for Saturday at 7:01 p.m. EDT.
The competition is fierce with Sandman, starting from the No. 7 position, emerging as the 4-1 second favorite among the nine contenders. Notable by his absence is Derby victor Sovereignty, whose team chose not to participate in this leg. This decision means the Triple Crown will remain elusive for at least another year, continuing a trend broken only by Justify in 2018.
D. Wayne Lukas, another legendary figure in the sport, eyes a historical equaling of Baffertโs record in the Preakness with American Promise. Positioned at No. 3, this horse opens with 15-1 odds, carrying the potential to replicate Lukasโ past successes, including the thwarting of Mystik Danโs Triple Crown hopes last year with Seize the Grey.
Despite the challenges, Baffert remains optimistic about Goal Orientedโs chances, even from the inside post. Reflecting on the past, he noted, โThe 1 hole is not as bad here as it would be in the Derby,โ recalling American Pharoahโs similar draw a decade prior.
The Preakness will host three Derby participants: Journalism, American Promise, and Sandman. Jockey John Velazquez will guide Sandman after its seventh-place Derby finish, with efforts to optimize its performance amidst high competition. โWe wanted a better trip out of him,โ said shareholder Griffin Johnson. They are hopeful the conditions at Pimlico will be more favorable than the muddy Derby.
Aside from returning Derby horses, new contenders on the Triple Crown circuit include Goal Oriented, Heart of Honor, Pay Billy, River Thames, Clever Again, and Gosger. Particularly noteworthy is River Thames, offering trainer Todd Pletcher another shot at claiming his first Preakness title.
As anticipation builds for the renowned race, all eyes will be on Baltimoreโs Pimlico Race Course, where thunderous hooves will compete for $2 million and racing glory.