The 143rd running of the Preakness Stakes will commence this Saturday, May 19th. A small field of eight runners will assemble for the middle jewel of the Triple Crown at "Old Hilltop", with each contender trying to etch his name into history. While the field for Maryland's biggest race may be lacking in size this year, one thing it will not be lacking in is talent. Some very quality thoroughbreds will be lining up to take on the undefeated Derby hero, Justify, as he tries to sweep the Triple Crown. But regardless of the outcome on race day, the Preakness Stakes is sure to provide suspenseful thrills and scintillating excitement.
The Preakness Stakes may not be as celebrated as the Kentucky Derby, or as exalted and dramatic as the Belmont Stakes, but it will always hold an important and unique part in the series. The Preakness Stakes is the one race where hope for a Triple Crown will live on, or be shattered, leaving the race unmatched in terms of superlative anticipation.
Justify looks tough to beat on Saturday. With a flawless record and a dominating Derby win, there isn't much you can knock about this horse. But just like in every race, the win will have to be earned. Justify's rivals will do everything in their power to put an end to his reign on top, as each one battles it out in pursuit of glory. Each of the Preakness contenders can be found profiled below, in order of their post positions.
1. Quip (12-1)
Post #1 is often viewed as an undesirable position to break from, but with his natural speed and swift turn of foot, breaking from the rail should not be an issue for Quip. The Rodolphe Brisset trainee has won three races out of five lifetime starts, and has only finished off the board once, when he ran a troubled seventh in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr.2), at the age of two. In his most recent start, Quip finished a game second in the Arkansas Derby (Gr.1), behind the highly regarded Magnum Moon, who was undefeated at the time.
When the first Saturday in May rolled around, Quip decided to sit out of the Kentucky Derby, instead plotting for a run in the Preakness Stakes. The nimble son of Distorted Humor has been handed odds of 12-1 for his targeted race, and will likely be part of the pace when the field sets sail over what is expected to be a sloppy track on Saturday. This colt is fresh and rested, and will be coming into the race in top condition. While he may be just a cut below some of the others, I wouldn't count him out when betting the exotics.
2. Lone Sailor (15-1)
Lone Sailor is rich in experience, but wanting in the win department. Throughout his career, this bay son of Majestic Warrior has raced a total of nine times, but has only visited the winner's circle once. His lone win came in a maiden special weight at Saratoga, when he was a two-year-old. Dealt with morning line odds of 15-1, Lone Sailor will be in with some very tough company, once again. However, if you are a fan of this horse, you needn't count him out completely. While this colt has yet to win a stakes race, he has managed to place in three different stakes races throughout his career, including a very gallant second in the Louisiana Derby (Gr.2). It may be asking a lot to expect this underdog to end the day in a cape of Black-eyed Susans, but it is not too farfetched to think that this colt can make an impact in this race by hitting the board.
3. Sporting Chance (30-1)
Sporting Chance flashed signs of brilliance at the age of two, scoring convincingly in a maiden special weight and the Hopeful Stakes (Gr.1), after running a solid second in his debut. However, the D. Wayne Lukas trainee has lacked the same kick at the age of three, failing to make it to the winner's circle in all four of his starts this year. This colt may not be a wise horse to wager on, but he will be an interesting one to watch. Sporting Chance has a bad habit of ducking out and running erratically in the stretch, and even ended up being disqualified from third to fourth in the Blue Grass Stakes back in April, as a result of his wild antics. Maybe if this colt can get his act together and run straight he can be a factor, but with odds of 30-1, this is one longshot that I will have to count out for this particular race.
4. Diamond King (30-1)
The local hero in this year's Preakness Stakes is the John Servis trainee, Diamond King. The fleet-footed bay earned an automatic berth into the Preakness Stakes, thanks to his victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes in April. The colt swept to glory in the local prep by three-quarters of a length, earning his fourth win from six lifetime starts. The only blemishes recorded on this imposing colt's record came in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at the age of two, when he failed to finish the race, and a third-place finish in the Swale Stakes (Gr.3), after a troubled trip throughout the race. Diamond King has never faced anything like the daunting caliber of horses that he is about to run with in the Preakness, but there are a few things that are riding in this horse's favor. He is fresh, he has a home-court advantage, and above all, he has the class and heart to put himself in the game.
5. Good Magic (3-1)
Good Magic is back for a rematch with Triple Crown hopeful, Justify. Two weeks ago, Good Magic ran his heart out in the Kentucky Derby, splashing over the slop to finish a valiant second to the runaway beast. While he couldn't run down the undefeated Justify, he did manage to fend off the charge of 18 other foes, validating his heart and strength. The tenacity and courage that this colt displayed in the stretch of the Kentucky Derby was beyond admirable, and I expect him to show up in this race with the same fighting spirit as before. The fact that trainer, Chad Brown, is willing to run his colt against Justify again after only two weeks of rest speaks volumes about his confidence in this colt.
Good Magic has only won two races out of his six lifetime starts, but both of his wins came in spectacular fashion, and came when they mattered the most. Good Magic soared to a romping victory in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile at the age of two, which led him to being crowned as the Champion Two-Year-Old Male of last year. He then thundered to glory in the Blue Grass Stakes (Gr.2), before his gallant run in the Derby.
Eleven years ago, Good Magic's sire, Curlin, charged to victory in the Preakness Stakes. Now, Good Magic will be trying to follow in his hoof prints, and become the next Preakness champion. Chad Brown knows how to get a horse ready for the major races, and is actually coming into the middle jewel of the Triple Crown looking for a back-to-back sweep, as he won the Preakness Stakes with Cloud Computing, last year. He will have Good Magic charged and ready to fire on race day, as they attempt to turn the tables on Bob Baffert and Justify
6. Tenfold (20-1)
At odds of 20-1,Tenfold is coming into the Preakness Stakes as a bit of an outsider. This lightly raced colt has only raced three times, but has come out on top in two of the events. His one defeat came in the form of a fifth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (Gr.1), in his last race. This inexperienced colt will be in with some stiff competition on Saturday, but he has been training steadily leading up to the esteemed event, and will give it his best shot when the gates burst open. Rain is expected take over Maryland for the remainder of the week, but luckily for Tenfold, he is by the mighty sire Curlin, who was an expert on the mud during his racing days. This is not an easy spot for the strapping bay colt, but the combination of the weather and his pedigree will only help.
7. Justify (1/2)
The headliner of the 143rd Preakness Stakes is none other than Kentucky Derby winner, Justify. The undefeated chestnut has mercilessly taken down his rivals in all four of his races, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Public concern arose shortly after his score in Kentucky, when it was discovered that the colt had exited the race with a minor case of a bruised hoof. However, the fiery beast has been given a clean bill of health by his veterinarians, and has been training forwardly as he comes into the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
Bob Baffert has never failed to win the Preakness Stakes when entering the race with a Kentucky Derby winner. It is a trend that looks likely to continue. Justify has never met another horse that has been able to match him in the stretch. His unyielding stamina and high-cruising speed give him superiority over his competition, as he can glide over the ground while exerting very little energy. There is an undeniable amount of talent that surrounds this colt, which was validated when he managed to pull off a win in America's greatest race after only recording three previous races. This horse had the class and ability to accomplish a lot of major things in a shockingly short amount of time, and that makes him a very serious contender in any race.
As mentioned before, rain is likely to pour all weekend in Maryland. But as we all know by now, the mud and water will not be an issue for Justify. He is a perfect two-for-two on an off track, and after seeing the way he tamed the brutal ocean of the Kentucky Derby, we know that there isn't much that can trip this resilient colt up. Justify will be sitting on another big effort on Saturday as he sets off to pursue the ultimate goal of the Triple Crown.
8. Bravazo (20-1)
With morning line odds of 20-1, Bravazo comes into the Preakness Stakes as an underdog. But his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas, is no stranger to spoiling Triple Crown dreams. Five years ago, the 82-year-old trainer pulled the upset in the Preakness with 15-1 shot, Oxbow, in front-running fashion. This year, he will be looking to add a 15th win in the Triple Crown series to his resume, with another longshot.
Bravazo has visited the winner's circle three times out of nine career starts, including a triumph in the Risen Star Stakes (Gr.2), back in February. Bravazo's record isn't quite as decorated as some of the other horses in this race, but he is not in without a chance. Bravazo was a fast-closing sixth in the Kentucky Derby, and appeared to handle to monstrous slop with ease that day. With a clean trip, this colt just might have what it takes to hit the board.
Post time for the Preakness Stakes is 6:48 p.m. ET
Be sure to follow me on Twitter!https://twitter.com/Down2TheWire_
You can also follow my photography at https://www.facebook.com/Chelsea-Lowman-Photography-331822924004/
Commentaires