Eight three-year-olds will line up against Kentucky Derby winner Orb in Saturday’s $1 million Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown.
The Shug McGaughey trainee comes into the Preakness riding a five race winning streak and was installed as the even money favorite by Pimlico linesmaker Frank Carulli.
The colt earned a career top Beyer Speed Figure in the slop at Churchill Downs. After breaking from the 15 post the colt was far back early behind an ultra-fast early pace and rolled in the stretch to a 2 ½ length win while the front-runners faded.
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Five foes he beat on Derby Day are back for another shot including fourth place finisher Mylute, who was made the 5-1 second choice. The Tom Amoss trainee will be ridden again by Rosie Napravnik, just the third female to ride in the Preakness.
Napravnik is no stranger to Pimlico. She was a regular ride in Maryland before moving on to the New York circuit. She has found plenty of success at Fair Grounds and is currently tied for second in the U.S. by races won with 123, tied with Russell Baze. Joel Rosario leads all jockeys with 137 winners.
Third choice on the morning line is Illinois Derby winner Departing, one of three in the race that did not run in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Al Stall, the colt has won four of his five career starts.
D. Wayne Lukas will send out three runners, Oxbow and Will Take Charge exiting the Derby where they finished sixth and eighth respectively, and Titletown Five, who ran fourth in the Derby Trial in his last outing. Lukas has won the Preakness five times.
Trainer Bob Baffert is also looking for his sixth win in the Preakness and will saddle Sunland Derby winner Govenor Charlie.
Saturday’s Preakness Day card gets underway at 10:30am eastern, and there are seven stakes on the 13-race card.
Friday’s Black Eyed Susan Day card also has 13 races and gets underway at noon eastern. There are seven stakes on the day highlighted by the $100,000 Miss Preakness, $500,000 Black Eyed Susan and the $300,000 Pimlico Special.
The field for the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML Odds |
| 1 | Orb | Shug McGaughey | Joel Rosario | 1-1 |
| 2 | Goldencents | Doug O’Neill | Kevin Krigger | 8-1 |
| 3 | Titletown Five | D. Wayne Lukas | Julien Leparoux | 30-1 |
| 4 | Departing | Al Stall Jr. | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 6-1 |
| 5 | Mylute | Tom Amoss | Rosie Napravnik | 5-1 |
| 6 | Oxbow | D. Wayne Lukas | Gary Stevens | 15-1 |
| 7 | Will Take Charge | D. Wayne Lukas | Mike Smith | 12-1 |
| 8 | Govenor Charlie | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 12-1 |
| 9 | Itsmyluckyday | Eddie Plesa Jr. | John Velazquez | 10-1 |
Television: Saturday, NBC, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Eastern
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Michael Dempsey’s Preakness Day Report
Michael’s Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire Preakness Day card from historic Pimlico. Michael is a Maryland bred and knows the circuit from the backstretch to the finish line.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday, May 18 at Pimlico. The big day of racing has six supporting stakes including the $150,000 Gallorette Handicap and the $100,000 Allare Dupont Distaff Stakes.