In Baltimore, the Kentucky Derby runner-up has been favored with a 6-5 morning line for Monday’s Preakness Stakes. The surprising Derby winner, Rich Strike, will not compete in Saturday’s $1.65 million event due to concerns from the owner about the short two-week recovery period; instead, Rich Strike is aimed for the Belmont Stakes.
The absence of Rich Strike adds uncertainty to the second leg of the Triple Crown, marking the second time in four years the Preakness has lacked the Derby winner. Last year, Medina Spirit, who tested positive for a banned substance at Churchill Downs, ran in the Preakness finishing third. In 2020, race scheduling was disrupted by the pandemic, and in 2019, Derby winner Country House also skipped the Preakness.
Only Happy Jack, trained by Steve Asmussen, remains from the Derby field, finishing 14th and entering the Preakness with 30-1 odds. Another contender, Simplification, trained by Antonio Sano, starts with a 6-1 odds drawing the rail (post 1) with jockey John Velazquez riding. Trainer Sano has faith in Velazquez’s judgment regarding race strategy.
Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, is the third betting choice at 9-2 and starts in the 4th post position. Early Voting, another strong contender, was aimed directly at the Preakness by trainer Chad Brown and has 7-2 odds starting from post 5.
Notable absences include Taiba and Messier, but Bob Baffert’s Armagnac will run as a late entry. The horse, now trained by Tim Yakteen due to Baffert’s Kentucky suspension for drug violations, has 12-1 odds starting from post 7. Other entries include Creative Minister (10-1), SkippylongStocking (20-1), and long shot Fenwick (50-1). Fenwick’s trainer, Kevin McAsan, acknowledges the strong competition, highlighting Epicenter, Simplification, and Secret Oath as the front-runners.
Additionally, some horses initially expected in the Preakness were withdrawn before the draw, including Ojo, sidelined by injury, and Zandon, who may target the Travers Stakes later this summer instead of the Belmont Stakes.
Fan Take: This year’s Preakness Stakes brings fresh intrigue with the surprising absence of the Derby winner, Rich Strike, leading to a more open and unpredictable race. For horse racing fans, this could intensify competition and excitement around the Triple Crown races, showcasing the depth and talent across contenders and possibly redefining the path to victory in this prestigious sport.
