A field of nine will line up in Saturday's Preakness Stakes (photo credit: Maryland Jockey Club)
A field of nine three-year-olds were entered on Wednesday for the $1 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, and Kentucky Derby winner Orb was installed as the even money favorite when post positions and morning line odds were announced.
The Shug McGaughey trainee comes into the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown riding a five-race win streak, and was installed as the 1-1 morning line favorite by Pimlico morning line maker Frank Carulli.
Derby fourth place finisher Mylute was a bit of a surprise as the second choice on the official morning line at betting odds of 5-1. The colt is winless in three starts this year, missing winning the Louisiana Derby (G2) in her final prep for the Run for the roses by just a neck.
She will be ridden by Rosie Napravnik, just the third female to ride in the race. She spent her apprenticeship racing in Maryland and is a popular figure on the Maryland circuit and she knows the Pimlico track as well as any of the jockeys.
Illinois Derby (G3) winner Departing is the 6-1 third choice on the morning line. He is one of three runners in the nine-horse field that did not run in the Kentucky Derby.
Hall of fame trainers Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas have each won the Preakness five times and will be seeking number six on Saturday.
Lukas sends out a trio of runners, Derby participants Oxbow (sixth) and Will Take Charge (eighth) as well as Titletown Five, who was fourth in the Derby Trial (G3) in his last outing.
Baffert will saddle Govenor Charlie, who has made the fewest starts in the field with three. The son of Midnight Lute won the Sunland Derby (G3) on March 24 and missed the Kentucky Derby with a minor foot bruise.
Itsmyluckyday (15th) and Goldencents (17th) are looking to rebound off sub-par efforts over the sloppy track in Louisville and complete the field.
The field for the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course
| Post | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | ML Odds |
| 1 | Orb | Shug McGaughey | Joel Rosario | 1-1 |
| 2 | Goldencents | Doug O’Neill | Kevin Krigger | 8-1 |
| 3 | Titletown Five | D. Wayne Lukas | Julien Leparoux | 30-1 |
| 4 | Departing | Al Stall Jr. | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 6-1 |
| 5 | Mylute | Tom Amoss | Rosie Napravnik | 5-1 |
| 6 | Oxbow | D. Wayne Lukas | Gary Stevens | 15-1 |
| 7 | Will Take Charge | D. Wayne Lukas | Mike Smith | 12-1 |
| 8 | Govenor Charlie | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 12-1 |
| 9 | Itsmyluckyday | Eddie Plesa Jr. | John Velazquez | 10-1 |
Television: Saturday, NBC, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Eastern
Michael Dempsey’s Preakness Day Report
Michael’s Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire Preakness Day card from historic Pimlico. Michael is a Maryland bred and knows the circuit from the backstretch to the finish line.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday May 18 at Pimlico. The big day of racing has five supporting stakes including the $150,000 Gallorette Handicap and the $100,000 Allare Dupont Distaff Stakes.
