Expected Preakness Stakes Field Grows to Dozen

A field of 12 is expected for the $1.5 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico. (Photo credit: Pimlico Race Course).

The expected field for Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico has grown to a dozen with the addition on Sunday of the D. Wayne Lukas trained Market King.

The colt faded to finish a well beaten 11^th in the Toyota Blue Grass (G2) at Keenland in his last outing at 33-1 on April 6. His stakes debut came in the split Rebel (G2) at Oaklawn Park where he ran third, beaten 8 ¼ lengths by Omaha Beach and Game Winner, who were separated by a nose at the wire.

Lukas, a Hall of Fame trainer has won the Preakness Stakes six times in his career and holds the record with the most starters at 43. His first Preakness starter, Codex, won in 1980. His other winners were Tank’s Prospect (1985), Tabasco Cat (1994), Timber Country (1995), Charismatic (1999) and Oxbow (2013).

Trainers R. Wyndham Walden and Bob Baffert are tied for the most wins at seven. Baffert won last year’s running with Justify, who went on to win the Triple Crown.

Baffert has the early betting favorite in the Preakness with Improbable. The colt was sent off as the betting favorite in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but crossed the wire fifth and was placed fourth due to the disqualification of Maximum Security. The colt finished 3 ¼ lengths back.

Improbable is currently listed at 2-1 in early Preakness wagering at USRacing.  Hall of Fame rider Mike Smith will be aboard the colt.

Top Four in Derby Bypass Preakness

The top four that crossed the wire first in the Derby—Maximum Security, Country House, Code of Honor and Tacitus will bypass the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

War of Will, who took the worst of the interference in the Kentucky Derby is the second choice in early Preakness betting at US Racing at 3-1. The colt was in the mix until Maximum Security veered in on him nearing the five-sixteenths and weakened to finish eighth, beaten 4 ½ lengths. He was placed seventh thanks to the disqualification.

Only two other Derby alum are wheeling back in two weeks. Bodeexpress, who was part of the bumping in the Derby and faded to 14^th returns and is listed at 16-1.

Win Win Win was outrun early and not a threat in a 10^th place finish in the Derby (placed ninth) and is currently 8-1 in early Preakness betting.

The lowest price among the newcomers to the Triple Crown is Alwaysmining at 8-1, the co-third choice. The colt has won six races in a row, taking the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park in his last outing. He is trained by Kelly Rubley and will be ridden by Daniel Centeno.

Preakness Stakes Expected Field and Odds via USRacing