Get to know the 2019 Preakness contenders
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Pimlico Race Course (Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club)
***UPDATED after the draw to include post positions and morning line odds
Although Saturday's Preakness (G1) won’t feature the principals from the Kentucky Derby (G1), with the disqualified Maximum Security and promoted Country House skipping Pimlico, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown promises plenty of intrigue.
Beaten Derby favorite Improbable, who was elevated to fourth, rates as the early favorite in the Preakness. Other Derby alumni in the field are the official seventh-placer War of Will, the rival most affected by Maximum Security’s veering out; Win Win Win, placed ninth; and the maiden Bodexpress, among those checked on the far turn and ultimately placed 13th.
The new shooters include prominent “bubble” horses who didn’t make the Derby – Signalman, Anothertwistafate, and Bourbon War – along with Alwaysmining, Laughing Fox, Owendale, Market King, late addition Everfast, and Warrior's Charge who had to be supplemented for $150,000.
Here are the basic contender profiles, free Brisnet past performances (click for an explanation of how to read the PPs), and further Preakness analysis.
Kentucky Derby alumni
IMPROBABLE, Post 4, 5-2 morning line favorite
Improbable wins the Los Alamitos Futurity © BENOIT PHOTO
Los Alamitos Futurity (G1) hero might be rooting for a fast track after a second in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and running evenly in the Kentucky Derby slop
Owner: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & Starlight Racing; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Mike Smith
Pedigree: City Zip-Rare Event, by A.P. Indy
WAR OF WILL, Post 1, 4-1
War of Will wins the Risen Star at Fair Grounds (c) Hodges Photography/Lou Hodges Jr.
Risen Star (G2) and Lecomte (G3) winner was fortunate to stay on his feet when fouled by Maximum Security in the Derby
Owner: Gary Barber; Trainer Mark Casse; Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Pedigree: War Front-Visions of Clarity, by Sadler’s Wells
WIN WIN WIN, Post 13, 15-1
Win Win Win set a track record in the Pasco at Tampa (c) SV Photography
Blue Grass (G2) runner-up finished midfield in the Derby
Owner: Live Oak Plantation; Trainer: Mike Trombetta; Jockey: Julian Pimentel
Pedigree: Hat Trick-Miss Smarty Pants, by Smarty Jones
BODEXPRESS, Post 9, 20-1
Bodexpress has been highly tried as a maiden (c) Coady/Churchill
Maiden was runner-up in the Florida Derby (G1) but well back in the Kentucky Derby
Owner: Top Racing, Global Thoroughbred & GDS Racing Stable; Trainer: Gustavo Delgado; Jockey: John Velazquez
Pedigree: Bodemeister-Pied a Terre, by City Zip
Winners of automatic Preakness berths
Anothertwistafate captures the El Camino Real Derby (c) Vassar Photography
ANOTHERTWISTAFATE, Post 12,6-1
El Camino Real Derby (G3) victory guaranteed his spot at Pimlico, but seconds in Sunland Park Derby (G3) and Lexington (G3) were not enough to get him into Derby 145
Owner: Peter Redekop B. C. Ltd.; Trainer: Blaine Wright; Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Pedigree: Scat Daddy-Imprecation, by First Defence
Alwaysmining is the local kingpin (c) Jim McCue/Maryland Jockey Club
ALWAYSMINING, Post 7, 8-1
Romp in the “Win and You’re In” Federico Tesio extended Maryland-based gelding’s streak to six
Owner: Runnymede Racing; Trainer: Kelly Rubley; Jockey: Daniel Centeno
Pedigree: Stay Thirsty-What Will Be, by Anees
LAUGHING FOX, Post 11, 20-1
Laughing Fox rallies in the Oaklawn Invitational (c) Coady Photography
The Arkansas Derby fourth, just behind Country House, came back to punch his ticket in the inaugural Oaklawn Invitational
Owner: Alex & JoAnn Lieblong; Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Pedigree: Union Rags-Saskawea, by Stormy Atlantic
Other new shooters
Signalman takes the Kentucky Jockey Club (c) Coady Photography/Churchill
SIGNALMAN, Post 8, 30-1
Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) winner, most recently third in the Blue Grass (G2), did not try to enter the Derby when 22nd on the points list at entry time
Owner: Lewis, Crabtree, Demaree, Bernsen, Chambers & Magdalena Racing; Trainer Ken McPeek; Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Pedigree: General Quarters-Trip South, by Trippi
Bourbon War will try to tap into his talent in the Belmont (c) Leslie Martin/Coglianese
BOURBON WAR, Post 2, 12-1
Fountain of Youth runner-up and Florida Derby fourth was left on the Derby bubble list
Owner: Bourbon Lane Stable & Lake Star Stable; Trainer: Mark Hennig
Pedigree: Tapit-My Conquestadory, by Artie Schiller; Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
OWENDALE, Post 5, 10-1
Owendale wins the Lexington (c) Wendy Wooley/EquiSport
Eighth to War of Will and Country House in the Risen Star but took a leap forward to capture the Lexington
Owner: Rupp Racing; Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Florent Geroux
Pedigree: Into Mischief-Aspen Light, by Bernardini
WARRIOR'S CHARGE, Post 3, 12-1
Warrior's Charge has romped in his last two (c) Coady/Oaklawn
Oaklawn allowance romper was not Triple Crown-nominated, so connections must pay $150,000 to supplement
Owner: Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables; Trainer: Brad Cox; Jockey: Javier Castellano
Pedigree: Munnings-Battling Brook, by Broken Vow
MARKET KING, Post 6, 30-1
Market King broke his maiden at Oaklawn Park (c) Coady Photography
Distant third to Omaha Beach and Game Winner in the second Rebel (G2) division exits an 11th in the Blue Grass
Owner: Robert C. Baker & William L. Mack; Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas; Jockey: Jon Court
Pedigree: Into Mischief-Divine Presence, by A.P. Indy
EVERFAST, Post 10, 50-1
Everfast scored on debut last August at Ellis Park (c) Coady Photography
Holy Bull (G2) runner-up has since gone unplaced in the Fountain of Youth, Florida Derby, Pat Day Mile (G3)
Owner: Calumet Farm; Trainer: Dale Romans; Jockey: Joel Rosario
Pedigree: Take Charge Indy-Awesome Surprise, by Awesome Again
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