A field of 13 runners will compete on Saturday in the 133rd Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. The field is headlined by the Kentucky Derby winner and 3-year-old phenom Big Brown. Only one of his competitors in the Kentucky Derby, Gayego, has returned to face him, and that colt will be breaking from the outside. 11 other contenders have drawn in and are set to give battle to the colt many think may walk away with a Triple Crown.
Post time is 6:15 PM on Saturday, with national coverage available on NBC. The second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes) is a 1 3/16 mile race over the main dirt track at Pimlico. $1 million in total purse money is up for grabs. The track record for the Preakness is 1:53.40, set by Tank’s Prospect in 1985 and then matched by Louis Quatorze in 1996 and Curlin in 2007. Many will also tell you that the great Secretariat either matched or broke that record, and controversy around the official time of Secretariat’s trip abounds even to this day. The largest victory margin in the Preakness was an amazing 11 1/2 lengths by Smarty Jones.
The Field:
#1 Macho Again
- Odds: 20-1
- Owner: Westpoint Thoroughbreds
- Trainer: Dallas Stewart
- Jockey: Julien Leparaux
- Sire: Macho Uno (Holy Bull)
- Dam: Go Donna Go (Wild Again)
- Notes: Winner of the Derby Trial Stakes on 4/26/08 at Churchill Downs. Also boasts an impressive Allowance level win from earlier in February. Has never faced the likes of Big Brown and will need to bring his best on Saturday to factor into the money. Macho Again was originally pointing towards the Ohio Derby until a recent decision was made to instead run in the Preakness. The colt worked 4 furlongs in 50.80 on 5/10/08 at Churchill.
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- Macho Again breezes at Churchill on 5/10/08
#2 Tres Borrachos
- Odds: 30-1
- Owner: Beau Greely, John Greely IV, Phil Houchens
- Trainer: Beau Greely
- Jockey: Tyler Baze
- Sire: Ecton Park (Forty Niner)
- Dam: Pete’s Fancy (Peteski)
- Notes: Ran 3rd to Gayego and Z Fortune in the Grade 2 Arkansas Derby. Has some speed and could be a part of the Preakness pace. Led the way for a while in the Arkansas Derby before finally fading to Gayego and Z Fortune, but held on for show honors.
#3 Icabad Crane
- Odds:30-1
- Owner: Earle Mack
- Trainer: Graham Motion
- Jockey: Jeremy Rose
- Sire: Jump Start (A.P. Indy)
- Dam:Adorahy (Rahy)
- Notes: Winner of the Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico, which makes him the “horse for the course” out of the field. He stalked pace setter Mint Lane that day to triumph. I got to see him live that day and he looked pretty impressive to me. Of course, like many in this field, he’ll find the competition a bit steeper with the presence of Big Brown. Also has a 3rd place finish in the Rushaway Stakes. The colt worked 5 furlongs in 1:09.60 at Fair Hill on 5/9/08
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- Icabad Crane blows past Mint Lane to win the Federico Tesio Stakes
#4 Yankee Bravo
- Odds: 15-1
- Owner: Richard Duggan, Bienstock and Winner Stables, and Harlequin Ranches
- Trainer: Patrick Gallagher
- Jockey: Alex Solis
- Sire: Yankee Gentleman (Storm Cat)
- Dam:Vickey Jane (Royal Academy)
- Notes: Has a win in the California Derby on his resume, as well as a third place finish in the Louisiana Derby behind Pyro. Ran a disappointing 4th in the Santa Anita Derby most recently. Colt worked 7 furlongs in 1:24.20 at Hollywood Park on 5/8/08.
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- Yankee Bravo finishes 3rd behind Pyro and My Pal Charlie in the Louisiana Derby 3/8/08.
#5 Behindatthebar
- Odds: 10-1
- Owner: Padua Stable, Michael Shustek, and W. Don Stanley
- Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- Jockey: David Flores
- Sire: Forest Wildcat (Storm Cat)
- Dam: Rhiana (Runaway Groom)
- Notes: Winner of the Grade 2 Coolmore Lexington Stakes. The colt breezed 5 furlongs in 1:00.13 on 5/11/08 at Belmont Park. Behindatthebar is Todd Pletcher’s only Preakness runner for 2008.
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- Behindatthebar runs away with the Coolmore Lexington Stakes
#6 Racecar Rhapsody
- Odds: 30-1
- Owner: Jerry Carroll, Stan Kaplan, Ronald Plattner, and Mark Guilfoyle
- Trainer: Ken McPeek
- Jockey: Robby Albarado
- Sire: Tale of the Cat
- Dam: Reflect the Music (A.P. Indy)
- Notes: Longshot closer is piloted by last year’s Preakness winner in Albarado. His name suggests he’s faster than he has appeared thus far in 6 lifetime starts. Still, apart from Big Brown, he seems to belong with the rest of the field. The colt worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.00 at Churchill on 5/8/08.
#7 Big Brown
- Odds: 1/2*
- Owner: IEAH Stables and Paul Pompa Jr.
- Trainer:Rick Dutrow
- Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
- Sire:Boundary (Danzig)
- Dam: Mien (Nureyev)
- Notes: 3-year-old phenom and winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby is sure to go to post as the overwhelming favorite. He’s a perfect 4 for 4 lifetime and will have the legendary Triple Crown of horse racing within his sights if he can run to expectations in the Preakness. Blew away a field of 20 to win the Derby in stunning fashion. Does not appear to have an equal in his division at the moment.
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- Big Brown’s dominating performance in the 2008 Kentucky Derby
#8 Kentucky Bear
- Odds: 15-1
- Owner: Bear Stables
- Trainer: Reade Baker
- Jockey:Jamie Theriot
- Sire: Mr. Greeley (Gone West)
- Dam:Tate (Afleet)
- Notes: Has had Pimlico all to himself in recent days, being the first contender to arrive on the scene. The third place finisher in the Toyota Bluegrass has flashed some potential in his 3 lifetime starts and has much room for improvement. Will he be a part of the pace or will he stalk the leaders into the stretch? It seems impossible to tell right now. Has the looks of one of the better longshots in the field and could be a surprise in the exotics.
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- Kentucky Bear finishes 3rd behind Monba in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland
#9 Stevil
- Odds: 30-1
- Owner: Robert LaPenta
- Trainer:Nick Zito
- Jockey: John Velazquez
- Sire: Maria’s Mon (Wavering Monarch)
- Dam: Company Storm (Storm Creek)
- Notes: Sire was a 2 year old champion that had to be put down on the track following an injury. Colt is a half to Wait a While and Monarchos. The Zito/Lapenta connection originally desired to have War Pass in this position, but that colt’s injuries have made Stevil their best shot for the Preakness. Looms as a longshot that will have to bring his best race to factor into the final.
#10 Riley Tucker
- Odds: 30-1
- Owner:Zayat Stables
- Trainer: Bill Mott
- Jockey: Edgar Prado
- Sire: Harlan’s Holiday (Harlan)
- Dam: My Sweet Country (Bold Ruckus)
- Notes: Another of the longshots in the field who has finished in the money in a couple of tries as a 3 -year-old, including the Arlington Washington Futurity and the Saratoga Special. Was a surprise late entry to the field after it was decided El Gato Malo would not enter the Preakness. Worked 5 furlongs in 1:06.09 on 5/12/08 at Belmont Park.
#11 Giant Moon
- Odds: 30-1
- Owner: Albert Fried Jr.
- Trainer: Richard Schosberg
- Jockey: Ramon Dominguez
- Sire: Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat)
- Dam: Moonlightandbeauty (Capote)
- Notes:Colt began his campaign impressively in NY by winning his first 4 starts. Since then he has slipped a bit with a disappointing finish in the Gotham Stakes and a 4th place finish in the Wood Memorial. He worked 4 furlongs in :47.77 at Belmont Park on 5/13/08 - good enough to qualify as a bullet.
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- Giant Moon wins the 2008 Count Fleet Stakes-his last of 4 consecutive victories to begin his career
#12 Gayego
- Odds: 8-1
- Owner: Cubanacan Stables
- Trainer: Paulo Lobo
- Jockey:Mike Smith
- Sire: Gilded Time (Timeless Moment)
- Dam: Devil’s Lake (Lost Code)
- Notes:Colt that I’ve had a bit of a fascination with throughout the year. He won the San Pedro Stakes at Santa Anita on 1/20/08. Proved he could handle the dirt with his victory in the Arkansas Derby. I liked him heading into the Derby, where he had a god-awful trip. If the horse I thought he was in the Derby shows up on Preakness Day, he should be the most logical challenger for Big Brown. Of course, he’s got the outside post position to contend with as well, which may be a hindrance as it was in the Derby.
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- Gayego takes the Arkansas Derby over Z Fortune at Oaklawn Park on 4/12/08
#13 Hey Byrn
- Odds: 20-1
- Owner: Beatrice Oxenberg
- Trainer: Edward Plesa Jr.
- Jockey: Charles Lopez
- Sire: Put it Back (Honour and Glory)
- Dam: Restraining Order (Miss Shoplifter)
- Notes:An impressive allowance winner at Calder earlier in his career, where he defeated horses such as Alaazo, he faced off against Big Brown in the Florida Derby and didn’t appear to be a match for the super-colt. Hey Byrn returned to win the Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park on 4/12/08. Has the makings of a frisky competitor if he can run his best race on Saturday. Ever since Ron Correll first talked about this colt, I’ve felt that he was underrated. We’ll see if he belongs with the upper crust of the 3-year-old division on Saturday.
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- Hey Byrn wins the Holy Bull after stalking Famous Patriot through modest fractions
I won’t be watching, but am VERY excited!! These contenders seem very strong. I particularly am impressed with Macho Again and Yankee Bravo…we’ll see!!!
Thanks K!!
I heard a bunch of people talking favorably about Macho Again at the Alibi breakfast today.
A little birdie told me that Gayego hasn’t looked very good since arriving Wed. night. Also heard that Yankee Bravo had a spill during the morning workouts. Nothing serious though.
Macho Again wasn’t on my radar, but I’m definitely going to consider him as he seems to be mentioned by everyone I hear.
I’m hoping for a slop track so Big Brown can get beat. I’m trying to put together two longshots in my last 2 game. Anyone playing it for the Preakness?
http://www.last2left.com/whatsinplay/preakness-horse-race-2008
Hey Kevin,
Once Big Brown rolls to victory on Saturday, you have to make the trip up and go with us to Belmont on June 7th.
My Picks are:
Trifrecta - Big Brown over Gayego (only due to blinkers on), Macho Again Behindatthebar & Tres Borrachos
Of course the later is subject to change at any second
Big Brown’s gonna take it all- but my picks are 1- big brown, 2- ichabad crane, and 3- kentucky bear.
This is an awfully big field, isn’t it? And the Derby was just insane. I’m used to races with a half-dozen starters.
Nobody better get put down this time. I mean it!
@George - you’re on, ole buddy - we’ve got a date with history in 3 weeks now. Big Brown is going to win the Triple Crown. When you think about it, from a relatively down year, we’ve now had Curlin win the World Cup and will likely have Big Brown win the Triple Crown. That’s pretty darn good. Oh if we could only get a match race! But, no surprise, from talking with one of the folks connected with him, he’s done after the Belmont.
@lori- nice call on Icabad - I thought highly of KY Bear as well. Looks like the buzz about Macho Again was correct. Hopefully you added him in? It was a sweet trifecta to cash with a 1-5 favorite on top.
@Rain - no injuries that I know of (thank god)- just a brilliant Big Brown. Oh, and Roman Emperor put in a good stretch duel today as well. I had to encourage him a bit from the stands, but ya know how it is - we’re a team now, he and I.