As expected, California Chrome was installed as the betting favorite for the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico on Saturday, and will face nine foes as the colt seeks to keep his Triple Crown bid alive.
The Art Sherman trainee drew the three post and is the 3-5 morning line favorite. The colt likely will be the shortest priced favorite since Big Brown paid just $2.40 to win in 2008.
The colt has won five in a row and seven of his 11 career starts. He won the Derby by 1 ¾ lengths over Commanding Curve and returned his backers $7.00. Victor Espinoza has the return call. Espinoza won the 2002 Preakness aboard War Emblem for trainer Bob Baffert.
Baffert will look to saddle his sixth Preakness winner when he sends out Bayern, who is the co-third choice at 10-1 on the morning line. The colt is one of seven new shooters in the field. Jockey Rosie Napravnik gets the call. She was aboard the colt in his last start where he crossed the wire first by a nose in the Derby Trial, (G3) but was placed second for causing interference in deep stretch.
The second choice on the morning line is Social Inclusion at 5-1. The colt was third in the Wood Memorial (G1) in his stakes debut but did not earn enough points to get into the Derby field. Luis Contreras rides for Manuel Azpurua, who would become the oldest winning Preakness winning trainer at the age of 85. The colt breaks from the eight post.
Ride On Curlin is the co-third choice at 10-1 and is one of just three exiting the Kentucky Derby. The colt did not have a clean trip in a seventh place finish and picks up a new jockey in Joel Rosario and breaks from the outside 10 post.
Dynamic Impact (12-1) drew the rail and is coming off a win in the Illinois Derby (G3) which was his first start against winners. His 102 Beyer Speed Figure stacks up nicely, but is 14 points higher than his previous best and the colt faces a much tougher task against this group.
Ring Weekend (20-1) is sent out by trainer Graham Motion, who saddled 2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom, who ran second in the Preakness that year. Ring Weekend won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) to earn enough points to get into the Derby, but came up short in his final prep in the Calder Derby where he ran a distance second.
Ria Antonia (30-1) faces the boys and seeks to become the sixth filly to win the Preakness. She was not much of a threat in a sixth place finish in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) in her last outing. She breaks from the six post and is making her first start for new trainer Tom Amoss.
Kid Cruz (20-1) is the lone runner in the field that has a win over the Pimlico surface, winning the Frederico Tesio as the 6-5 chalk. The colt was claimed by the Linda Rice for $50,000 back in November.
Completing the field is Pablo Del Monte (20-1), who switches back to dirt after setting the early fractions and weakening to finish third in the Toyota Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland over polytrack.
For the latest betting odds and props for the Preakness check out Odds Shark.
The Preakness is the 12th race on an outstanding 13-race card that gets underway at 10:45am (ET). Post time for the Preakness is 6:18pm (ET) and will be broadcast live on NBC.
The Preakness Stakes |
||||
Post | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Odds |
1 | Dynamic Impact | Miguel Mena | Mark Casse | 12-1 |
2 | General a Rod | Javier Castellano | Mike Maker | 15-1 |
3 | California Chrome | Victor Espinoza | Art Sherman | 3-5 |
4 | Ring Weekend | Alan Garcia | H. Graham Motion | 20-1 |
5 | Bayern | Rosie Napravnik | Bob Baffert | 10-1 |
6 | Ria Antonia | Calvin Borel | Tom Amoss | 30-1 |
7 | Kid Cruz | Julian Pimentel | Linda Rice | 20-1 |
8 | Social Inclusion | Luis Contreras | Manny Azpurua | 9-2 |
9 | Pablo Del Monte | Jeffrey Sanchez | Wesley Ward | 20-1 |
10 | Ride On Curlin | Joel Rosario | William Gowan | 10-1 |
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 17 at Pimlico. The big day of racing has eight supporting stakes including the $400,000 Dixie Stakes, $150,000 Gallorette Handicap and the $150,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap. Mike’s Report will be available on Friday May 16.