First, let’s refresh ourselves on a bit of Preakness facts. The Preakness Stakes was inaugurated in 1873. The first edition was held at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Most years, as it will be again this Saturday, this race is at Pimlico. Unlike the Kentucky Derby, there have been years when the race was moved elsewhere and there have been years when it was not raced at all. Currently, there is much speculation and debate as to weather this may be the last year that Pimlico will host the Preakness. This is one more reason to cherish this 144th edition.
Additionally, the Preakness may also be called “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.” A black-eyed Susan is Maryland’s state flower. The official race beverage and cake go by the same name as well, black-eyed Susan. Also, the day prior to the Preakness, there is a historically important Grade 2 filly race called the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes. Both the Preakness and the Black-Eyed Susan are dirt races for 3 year-olds.
Prior to the race, the official song, “Maryland, My Maryland” will be sung in unison. The Preakness is raced over 9.5 furlongs (1 and 3/16th miles). The winner will receive a floral blanket made of imitation black-eyed Susans ( 4 thousand Viking poms), a smaller replica of the very expensive Woodlawn Vase and part of the $1.5 million dollar purse.
On Saturday, May 18th, 2019, the Preakness Stakes will post. It is the lucky 13th race on a card of 14. Race 1 will begin at 10:30 AM ET. The Preakness is at 6:48 PM ET. The facility gates at Pimlico open at 8 AM ET, with the gates to the other areas opening at 9 AM ET.
Finally, meet the 2019 contenders (no grays and no fillies in this edition) as follows by post position/horse/jockey/trainer/owner/morning-line odds:
- War of Will/Tyler Gaffalione/Mark E. Casse/Gary Barber/4-1
- Bourbon War/Irad Ortiz, Jr./Mark A. Hennig/Bourbon Lane Stable and Lake Star Stable/12-1
- Warrior’s Charge/Javier Castellano/Brad H. Cox/Ten Strike Racing and Madaket Stables/12-1
- Improbable/Mike E. Smith/Bob Baffert/WinStar Farm, LLC., China Horse Club International, LTD., and Starlight Racing/5-2
- Owendale/Florent Geroux/Brad H. Cox/Rupp Racing/10-1
- Market King/Jon Kenton Court/D. Wayne Lukas/Robert C. Baker and William L. Mack/30-1
- Alwaysmining/Daniel Centeno/Kelly Rubley/Runnymede Racing, LLC./8-1
- Signalman/Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr./Kenneth G. McPeek/Tommie M. Lewis, Steve Crabtree, Dean Demaree, David Bernsen, Jim Chambers and Magdalena Racing /30-1
- Bodexpress/John R. Velazquez/Gustavo Delgado/Top Racing, LLC., Top Racing, LLC., Global Thoroughbred and GDS Racing Stable/20-1
- Everfast/Joel Rosario/Dale L. Romans/Calumet Farm/50-1
- Laughing Fox/Ricardo Santana, Jr./Steven M. Asmussen/Alex and JoAnn Lieblong/20-1
- Anothertwistafate/Jose L. Ortiz/Blaine D. Wright/Peter Redekop B.C., LTD./6-1
- Win Win Win/Julien Pimentel/Michael J. Trombetta/Live Oak Plantation/15-1
In more detail, here are the thoroughbreds by name (place of breeding) – (career starts:firsts-seconds-thirds) Sire – Dam : and information
War of Will (KY) – (9:3-1-1) War Front – Visions Of Clarity : This Keeneland Sales Grad and Keeneland raced colt will break from the exact same position as he did in the KY Derby where he finished 7th. His best moments, in my opinion, were his early wins in the LeComte and Risen Star Stakes. He raced 5 times to break his maiden. I adore the personality of his sire. This horse is an early favorite for this race. His connections, jockey (J), trainer (T) or owner (O), have not won the Preakness before.
Bourbon War (KY) – (5:2-1-0) Tapit – My Conquestadory : He is also a Keeneland Grad whom unfortunately, for me, has yet to race there. The pinhook I invest in owned this horse from November 2016 until April of 2018. I enjoyed watching him at the auction where we bought him as a weanling and then visiting him at farrier sessions in his barn. The pictures throughout this post are all pictures of Bourbon War, that I took myself. I have always been very impressed by him, breaking his maiden in his first start. He did so well in the Remsen Stakes, the Fountain of Youth Stakes and the Florida Derby that he just narrowly missed racing in the KY Derby. A win in the Preakness would be a first for his J:T:O. I hope he does it!
Warrior’s Charge (FL) – (5:2-0-3) Munnings – Battling Brook : This colt broke his maiden is his 4th start and he won his next/last race too. I suppose it is his six length then 6 and 1/2 length wins that have his connections convinced he is ready for his first graded stakes entry. His jockey, Castellano, has won the Preakness two times before.
Improbable (KY) – (6:3-2-0) City Zip – Rare Event : He is a 2 time Keeneland Sales Grad. He just finished 4th in the KY Derby and he is the current favorite to win the Preakness Stakes. His jockey, Smith, trainer, Baffert, and owner, WinStar, China Horse Club and StarlightRacing, won the Preakness on last year’s Triple Crown winner, Justify. Baffert has won the Preakness 7 times!
Owendale (KY) – (8:3-1-1) Into Mischief – Aspen Light : He is another Keeneland Grad colt, as well as a Keeneland Stakes winner! Owendale broke his maiden in his third race. His last start was the G3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes where he finished first by 1 and 3/4 lengths. He shares the same trainer as Warrier’s Charge. His J:T:O have yet to win the Preakness.
Market King (KY) – (8:1-1-2) Into Mischief – Divine Presence : He is a Keenleand Sales Grad too and brother of Owendale. Market King has raced at Keeneland as well. He broke his maiden in his 5th start and his best finish in graded stakes is third. My favorite trainer and 6 time Preakness winner, Lukas, is Market King’s trainer.
Alwaysmining (MD) – (12:7-0-1) Stay Thirsty – What Will Be : This gelding is a 2 time Keeneland Sales Grad and began his racing career at Keeneland. He is a Maryland bred and has raced his last 9 races at Laurel Park in Maryland. It was at Laurel where he broke his maiden in his 7th start. He is on a 6 straight winning streak there! Of his streak, 4 races were Black Type and one was Listed. His J:T:O are looking for their first Preakness win.
Signalman (KY) – (7:2-2-2) General Quarters – Trip South : This colt finished twice in the money at Keeneland after breaking his maiden in his second start. His last 5 races were all graded stakes. In 4 of those 5 stakes he finished in the top 3. His J:T:O have yet to win the Preakness.
Bodexpress (KY) – (6:0-3-0) Bodemeister – Pied A Terre : This Keeneland Sales Grad colt had his last start in the KY Derby. He finished 13th in a field of 20. Bodexpress has yet to win his maiden. There has not been a maiden Preakness winner since the 19th century. Bodexpress’ J:T:O have never won the Preakness.
Everfast (KY) – (10:1-1-1) Take Charge Indy – Awesome Surprise : He is another Keeneland Sales Grad and Keeneland raced colt. He broke his maiden at first asking but never won another race. His best finish was second in the Holy Bull. In his last start, on the KY Derby Day card, he finished fifth in the G3, Pat Day Mile. Everfast’s trainer, Romans, has won the Preakness once before. His owner, Calumet, has won the Preakness 7 times!
Laughing Fox (KY) – (7:3-0-0) Union Rags – Saskawea : Again, he is a Keeneland Sales Grad. This colt broke his maiden in his 3rd race, since then he has competed in 2 graded stakes and won a Black Type in his last start. Laughing Fox’s trainer, Asmussen, has won the Preakness twice.
Anothertwistafate (KY) – (6:3-2-0) Scat Daddy – Imprecation : This colt had his last start at Keeneland. He finished second in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes. He broke his maiden in his second start and has always finished 2nd or better since. He has finished in the top 2 in both Listed and graded stakes. No Preakness wins yet for his J:T:O.
Win Win Win (FL) – (7:3-2-1) Hat Trick – Miss Smarty Pants : This colt is fresh off of a 9th place finish in the KY Derby. One race prior, at Keeneland, he was second in the G2, Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. Win Win Win began his career as a winner. He has finished 2nd in a Black Type race, 1st in a Listed race and in the top 2 in 2 of his 3 graded stakes appearances. This colt’s J:T:O have no Preakness wins.
If you can’t make it to Pimlico be sure to catch the live action on television. The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes Day will be shown on NBCSN on 5/17 from 3 PM ET to 5 PM ET. The following day, 5/18, NBCSN will cover the Preakness Stakes card from 2 PM ET to 5 PM ET. Then, switch over to NBC to watch the races from 5 PM ET to 7:15 PM ET.
I hope we get some pretty weather for the race rather than rain or fog. I’ll be grateful for a safe trip for all. I do love this classic race as I recall some of my all time favorites have done so well here. I love just scrolling through the winners names. It makes me ready to hop in the car to visit California Chrome, Funny Cide and Silver Charm, to name a few. Thanks for reading Thoroughbred U and be sure I’ll be talking about the Belmont Stakes soon.
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