The 150th Preakness Stakes is set to take place without the fanfare seen in recent years. Trainer Bill Mott has chosen to skip the Preakness with the Kentucky Derby’s top two finishers, aiming instead at the Belmont Stakes, meaning there will be no Triple Crown bid this year.
Three horses from the Kentucky Derby will compete in the Preakness on Saturday: Journalism (who finished second in the Derby), Sandman (seventh), and Sovereignty (sixteenth). The nine-horse field also includes several new contenders on the Triple Crown Trail.
While it’s unusual for Kentucky Derby winners to skip the Preakness, it’s happened more frequently recently. For instance, the 2019 Derby winner Country House didn’t run at Preakness due to illness and never raced again. Other recent Derby winners like Rich Strike (2022) and Mandalawn (2021) didn’t enter the Preakness either, with Mandalawn only becoming the official Derby winner after Medina Spirit’s disqualification.
Since 1932, the Triple Crown’s order has been consistently Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, then Belmont Stakes, though there have been exceptions where Derby winners skipped the Preakness due to injury or other reasons. Notable past Derby winners who skipped Preakness include Grindstone (1996), Buck (1985), and Swaps (1955).
This year’s Preakness will be the last at Pimlico for a while as the historic 155-year-old track undergoes renovations; the race will be relocated to Laurel Park during the refurbishment period.
From a betting perspective, Journalism is favored to win (8-5 odds), reflecting his strong performance in the Derby. Sandman, inspired by Metallica’s song "Enter Sandman," draws attention partly due to the band’s support and his racing style as a closer. Trainers Bob Baffert and Steve Asmussen bring lightly raced hopefuls Goal-Oriented and Smart Again, who might present value for bettors looking beyond Journalism.
The nine horses in the race include:
- Goal-Oriented (6-1), a fast pacesetter trained by Bob Baffert
- Journalism (8-5), skilled stalker and Derby runner-up
- America’s Promise (15-1), a pacesetter with modest form
- Heart of Honor (12-1), a stalker with no U.S. competition yet
- Pay Billy (20-1), a midpack runner in his first Grade Stakes race
- River Thames (9-2), a pacesetter with solid recent results
- Sandman (4-1), a closer with a notable name and Derby experience
- Smart Again (5-1), a pacesetter trained by Steve Asmussen
- Gosgar (20-1), a stalker and recent Lexington Stakes winner
Beyer speed ratings, which gauge horse speed, show many in this field run above 95, indicating competitive ability. Journalism remains the logical pick for victory but requires a sizable bet for profitable returns. Smart Again offers better odds and is considered the race’s second strongest contender.
Recommended bets include an exacta box of Journalism and Smart Again, as well as a trifecta involving Gosgar, Smart Again, Journalism, and River Thames.
Expert analyst Anita Mark highlights Journalism as a strong favorite with a solid pedigree and performance track record, with Smart Again and Goal-Oriented as intriguing challengers. For bettors, she suggests wins or places on Smart Again and an exacta box including Goal-Oriented, Journalism, and Smart Again.
Fan Take: This year’s Preakness, lacking a Triple Crown contender, shifts excitement to the emerging talents and strategic bets on faster odds. It highlights evolving trends in horse racing, where trainers prioritize longer-term campaigns, potentially shifting the sport’s traditional race narratives and fan engagement.
