An inside look at how the 144th running of the Preakness Stakes will shape up:
1. War of Will (4-1)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Current Form: Looked like a winner turning for home in the Derby but lost all chance when Maximum Security forced him to check. No-show at Louisiana after winning previous three.
Worth a Wager? Casse: “When Tyler came back he told me we’re lucky he didn’t go down.” Casse said he came out of his war at Churchill in good order. Draws rail again and may be post-time favorite. A cleaner second.
2. Bourbon War (12-1)
Trainer: Mark Hennig
Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Current Form: Stretch runner was a fast-closing second in Fountain of Youth, then failed to make a run due to the dawdling fractions in the Florida Derby. Resting since March; no one fresher.
Worth a Wager? He’s not the best horse in the race. But late kicker may have his table set if they duel on the lead. Regular rider Irad Ortiz will pilot after Baffert bumped him off Improbable. Needs it fast. If he gets it … he’s the winner.
3. Warrior’s Charge (12-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Current Form: Never headed winning last pair by a half-dozen lengths at Oaklawn, latest with optional claimers.
Worth a Wager? Owners put up $150K to enter him. Had a relatively easy time dictating on the front end. Steps into big leagues here, and distance is a concern. Castellano takes him as far as he can go. A tired eighth.
4. Improbable (5-2)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Current Form: The Derby favorite found a good spot early, averted the mess at the top of the stretch, but could only run home evenly for fifth.
Worth a Wager? Probably. Baffert makes a rider change to Smith, who should have him close if not on the lead this time. Morning line fave is 0-for-3 this year. Shop around. We’ll put him third.
5. Owendale (10-1)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Current Form: Was sitting ninth of 10 in the Lexington, then inhaled the field while racing widest to score. Fired a 5/8th bullet work before leaving Churchill.
Worth a Wager? Finished full of run in the Lex, but his handler Cox isn’t convinced he can get the additional furlong. Like him, but can’t see him outkicking Bourbon War. Up for fifth.
6. Market King (30-1)
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Jon Court
Current Form: Went off at 48-1 and came back a distant, yet still surprising third, to Omaha Beach in the Rebel. Good vibrations evaporated when he stopped badly in the Blue Grass.
Worth a Wager? Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, saddling his 44th Preakness horse, said he made a mistake bringing him back on short rest at Keeneland. Maybe. But the King needs a smaller market. 11th.
7. Alwaysmining (8-1)
Trainer: Kelly Rubley
Jockey: Daniel Centeno
Current Form: Maryland-bred extended his winning streak to six, drawing away under a hand ride to win a Laurel $125K by 11 lengths at odds of 1-9.
Worth a Wager? Local product will try to be the first Marylander to win Preakness since 1983 (Deputed Testamony). Don’t think so. Hasn’t beaten anyone of note, but speedster may hound front-runners. A wilting seventh.
8. Signalman (30-1)
Trainer: Kenny McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Current Form: After an invisible outing in the Fountain of Youth, he showed a pulse in finishing third, a nose back of Win Win Win, in the Blue Grass.
Worth a Wager? Never fired in either prep, signaling trouble about his long-range ability. Could have made Derby as an AE but had cut over his eye that needed time. Should have taken more time. 12th.
9. Bodexpress (20-1)
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Jockey: John Velazquez
Current Form: Still a maiden. Winless through six after running well early at Churchill then landing 14th at 71-1. Clear second to Maximum Security in the Florida Derby previously.
Worth a Wager? The Express has yet to pull into the station on time. Gonna get there, but not today. John Velazquez makes him better, but only 10th.
10. Everfast (50-1)
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Current Form: In a word: Terrible. He’s lost nine straight since his debut W and failed to compete, getting outrun last three starts.
Worth a Wager? In a word: No. And figs suggest trainer Dale Romans should have opted for something on the Pimlico undercard. Last of 13.
11. Laughing Fox (20-1)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Current Form: Was a sneaky fourth behind Omaha Beach, Improbable and Country House in the Arkansas. Rallied boldly from 10 lengths out to win a $300K next out.
Worth a Wager? Returns to top level after a confidence builder. Steve Asmussen believes he may have bettered position in the Arkansas if the conditions were better. An interested fourth.
12. Anothertwistafate (6-1)
Trainer: Blaine Wright
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Current Form: Strong second to Owendale in the Lexington. All three victories were earned over the synthetic oval at Golden Gate.
Worth a Wager? Does best running early, and new rider Jose Ortiz isn’t likely to wait. Like Alwaysmining, he will factor early. Eventually fades to sixth.
13. Win Win Win (15-1)
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Jockey: Julian Pimentel
Current Form: Still has three wins after coming back a muddy 10th in the Derby. Troubled second after steadying in the Blue Grass two races back.
Worth a Wager? Hasn’t won anything going longer than 7 furlongs. Unlike War of Will and Improbable, he should have skipped the middle jewel. Evenly for ninth.