An inside look at how the 150th Preakness Stakes will play out:
Jockey: Flavien Prat
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Current form: He’s perfect. And versatile. Two for two. Rallied to win his debut at Santa Anita. Wired optional claimers at Churchill Downs.
Worth a wager: Pinch hitting for Rodriguez who is still on the shelf. Bob Baffert’s colt can win from on/off the pace and is proven over a sloppy course. But he’s run a total of 1³/₄ miles. I ran two miles this morning. Putting him fifth.
Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Trainer: Michael McCarthy
Current form: Made it four straight wins in the Santa Anita Derby. Left the gate as the logical favorite in the Kentucky Derby and ran second to Sovereignty.
Worth a wager: You get only one chance to win the Derby. Made the most of his. Finished strong. Just got outkicked. The Derby winner is skipping the middle jewel so he is the one to beat. Again. Tired off the quick turnaround? Yep. Third.
Jockey: Nik Juarez
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Current form: Took a major step forward by winning the Virginia Derby by open lengths. Took two steps back when he stopped badly in the Run for the Roses.
Worth a wager: D. Wayne Lukas has had 48 Preakness starters. His seven winners are just one behind Bob Baffert’s eight. Was American’s Promising victory at Virginia an illusion? Does best racing on the lead. Gets there. Fades to sixth.
Jockey: Saffie Osbourne
Trainer: Jamie Osbourne
Current form: Euro-bred ran home second last three starts before shipping from Dubai. Lost by a nose to Admire Daytona in the UAE Derby.
Worth a wager: Admire Daytona was last of 19 in the Kentucky Derby, keeping the tradition of UAE Derby epic fails alive for another year. Trainer Jamie Osborne: “We don’t really know what to expect.” We expect him to be last.
Jockey: Raul Mena
Trainer: Michael Gorham
Current form: Has won two in a row (both stakes) and four of his last five at Laurel. Latest win was in the Tesio, contested at 9 furlongs.
Worth a wager: Getting better but may not be good enough. Beat Sacred Thunder and Justa Fair Shake in the stakes. If you are not familiar with them, you are not alone. Doesn’t pay to play Billy. Seventh.
Jockey: Irad Ortiz
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Current form: Took a two-for-two record to the Fountain of Youth and got beat a game neck by Sovereignty. Followed that up with a close third in the Blue Grass.
Worth a wager: Contender, even though Todd Pletcher is 0 for 10 at the Preakness and Irad Ortiz is 0 for 6. Came thisclose to defeating the eventual Derby Champ at Gulfstream. Stalks the pace, gets up for second.
Jockey: John Velazquez
Trainer: Mark Casse
Current form: Popular at the betting windows on Derby day after winning the Arkansas. Not so popular afterwards. Deep closer slept and never woke.
Worth a wager: Where is he? The Gray was a ghost at Churchill Downs. You can use the excuse of being too far back in the mud but Sovereignty was with him early. Our Derby pick may come back to bite us. But putting him fourth.
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Current form: Brings a modest two-race winning streak from Oaklawn. Both wire to wire. The latest in the Hot Springs.
Worth a wager: Let’s see. Speedy. Hasn’t raced since March so he’s well rested. Loads off a triple-digit fig. Pimlico is speed-favoring when it’s fast. More so when it’s wet. If he can survive the early heat from Goal Oriented and save something he can be the … Winner.
Jockey: Luis Saez
Trainer: Brendan Walsh
Current form: Broke maiden at second asking then went on to win the Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland.
Worth a wager: Tough spot. Needs the speed to collapse and then must outkick the closers. Trainer Brendan Walsh: “I think as he goes along there is definitely a big race in him.” Not last. Eighth.