Here we go, racing fans! Up next, is the second jewel. Will we get a Triple Crown winner? History would predict it is unlikely but the fans know what they want. The early favorite for the Preakness Stakes is no other than, Always Dreaming, winner of the Kentucky Derby. Check out his competition here.
Many horses have won the Preakness. 141 to be exact. It is one of the most exciting of America’s Grade 1 races and thus it is quite the honor. Bernardini, featured in two pictures, was a winner. He won in 2006. He stands stud now at Darley where his Woodlawn Vase, the Preakness trophy, is displayed. After Thunder Snow was pulled up in the 2017 KY Derby, Darley doesn’t get the win this time. So, who does?
Our handsome hero, California Chrome, won the KY Derby and the Preakness in 2014. He went on to break records and prove to be a world renown champion. He will race forever through our hearts and he is busy with stud duty now at Taylor Made Farm. California Chrome is a perfect example of how hard it is to win even 2 of the 3 Triple Crown races. He came in 4th in the Belmont Stakes when Tonalist won. Between 1932 and 2017, only 23 horses won the 1st two legs but not the third. Just 12 have won them all.
American Pharoah won all 3 jewels in the Triple Crown in 2015. He is busy breeding at Coolmore now. When will we ever see a Triple Crown winner again?
This year, the early and morning-line favorite for the KY Derby, Classic Empire, finished fourth much to my surprise and disappointment. Rather, the favorite at post-time, Always Dreaming, won the KY Derby. I am torn because I could never get enough Triple Crown winners but I am such a Classic Empire fan. Where do you stand?
Here are your choices by post position/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/morning-line odds:
- Multiplier/Joel Rosario/Brendan Walsh/Gary Barber, et al./30-1
- Cloud Computing/Javier Castellano/Chad Brown/Klaravich Stables, et al./12-1
- Hence/Florent Geroux/Steve Asmussen/Calumet Farm/20-1
- Always Dreaming/John Velazquez/Todd Pletcher/Brooklyn Boyz Stables, et al./4-5
- Classic Empire/Julien Leparoux/Mark Casse/John C. Oxley/3-1
- Gunnevera/Mike Smith/Antonio Sano/Peacock Racing Stables/15-1
- Term of Art/Jose Ortiz/Doug O’Neill/Calumet Farm/30-1
- Senior Investment/Channig Hill/Kenny McPeek/Fern Circle Stables/30-1
- Lookin At Lee/Corey Lanerie/Steve Asmussen/L and N Racing, LLC./10-1
- Conquest Mo Money/Jorge Carreno/Miguel Hernandez/Judge Lanier Racing/15-1
KY Bred, Multiplier did not race in the KY Derby. He is a colt by The Factor and Trippi Street. In his fourth career start he won the G3 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne.
Cloud Computing is a KY bred offspring of Maclean’s Music and Quick Temper. In 3 starts he was 2nd in the Gotham Stakes and 3rd in the Wood Memorial Stakes. His jockey, Castellano, won the Preakness on Bernadini.
Hence was 11th in a field of 20 for the KY Derby. Hence is a KY bred colt of Street Boss and Floating Island. Hence has won 2 of his 7 starts. He won the G3 Sunland Derby, he was 2nd in his only start at Churchill. His damsire is A. P. Indy sired by Seattle Slew, former Triple Crown greatness. Nice pedigree in this one.
Always Dreaming won the KY Derby. Always Dreaming, also a KY bred Keeneland Grad was born to Bodemeister and Above Perfection. Bodeimeister finished 2nd in the KY Derby in 2012. Always Dreaming was very impressive when he scored his 3 wins in his first 5 starts in the Florida Derby. He won by 5 lengths.
Classic Empire, 4th in the KY Derby is well covered in my former posts. Classic Empire got his start at Churchill and broke his maiden there his 2nd time out, in the G3 Bashford Manor Stakes. I was pretty hooked right then and there as I was present at the track that day. He went on to amaze winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the 2016 Eclipse Award for Champion 2 Year-Old Colt. He has won 5 of his 8 starts, several graded stakes and prep races. His sire is Pioneerof the Nile, father of Triple Crown winner, American Pharoah. His dam is Sambuca Classica.
Gunnevera finished 7th in the KY Derby. Gunnevera is the product of Dialed In, 8th in the 2011 KY Derby and the late Unbridled Rage by Unbridled, winner of the 1990 KY Derby. Gunnevera was bottle raised, his dam passed away. He has 4 wins of 10 career races. His last 7 were all graded stakes where he finished in the top 3 or better except for once in 5th and his KY Derby performance. His 3rd place finish in the Florida Derby was 3rd for a race record.
Term of Art is a KY bred colt by Tiznow and Miles of Style. His owner, Calumet Farm has won the Preakness 7 times. They hold the title for the most wins. Term of Art’s trainer is O’Neill. In 2012, O’Neill won with I’ll Have Another. In 9 starts, including 6 stakes races, Term of Art has only won twice. His stakes win was the Cecil B. DeMille at Del Mar last year.
Senior Investment is a horse I have seen win live. See his picture on my featured image. He won the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland this past Spring meet. He is a KY bred son of Discreetly Mine and Plaid. Senior Investment has won 3 of 8 career starts.
Lookin at Lee finished 2nd in the KY Derby. He is sired by Lookin At Lucky who finished 6th in the 2010 Ky Derby and his dam is Langara Lass. Lookin At Lee has 2 wins in 10 starts. He did not win any of his 7 graded stakes but he finished 2nd thrice and 3rd twice.
Conquest Mo Money is another KY bred. He is a colt by Uncle Mo and Stirring. He has won 3 of his 5 starts but his loses were his graded stakes entries. However, 2nd isn’t bad and that was his order of finish in both the G3 Sunland and the G1 Arkansas Derby Stakes.
May 20, 2017 will be the 142nd edition of the Preakness Stakes. This race is slightly shorter than the KY Derby and the Belmont Stakes. It is a dirt race of 1 and 3/16 miles ( 9.5 furlongs). This Thoroughbred flat race is for 3 year-olds with a purse of $1.5 million dollars. The race is held at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland. It is the 2nd oldest track in the country. Saratoga is the oldest. The flower is the garland or blanket presented to the winner of Black-Eyed Susans. The traditional drink bears the same name as the flower. “Maryland, My Maryland” is the state song sung prior to the race.
Little Current won the Preakness in 1974. He was owned by Darby Dan Farm. I visited the farm earlier this year where I saw his trophy. Darby Dan Farm is represented this year by Gunnevera. They own his sire, Dialed In.
Don’t miss your chance to see this year’s winner. The race will post at 6:48 P.M. EDT. NBC will begin television coverage at 5 P.M. and NBC Sports will live stream the race. Also, don’t forget to watch the best fillies race the day prior in the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes.
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