Hi Ho Pimlico. It’s Preakness Day and the second jewel of the Triple Crown, with all eyes on Kentucky Derby Mage to see if he can add a second classic and make a run at history in three weeks.
The son of Good Magic scored a 15-1 upset two weeks ago in Louisville and won’t be anywhere near that price Saturday, when he takes on five opponents in the 148th Preakness. The race lost a serious player Friday morning with the scratch of second choice First Mission, who is out with a foot issue.
The Preakness leads a stellar card of 10 stakes, which includes a quartet of Grade 3s in the Dinner Party, Chick Lang, Gallorette and Maryland Sprint.
Paul Halloran led the way with four winners. He started with those four, picking Interstatedaydream in the Alliare duPont, Train To Artemus in the The Very One, Maple Leaf Mel in the Grade 3 Miss Preakness and Aspray in the Hilltop. He leads a large group of four that picked two winners apiece – Joe Clancy, Tom Law, Rob Whitlock and John Shapazian. Charles Bedard picked one winner while Jessica Paquette and Sean Clancy were blanked.
Here’s hoping for better luck Saturday. Check out the picks for Saturday’s Preakness Day stakes. Be well, be safe and good luck.
Fourth race. Sir Barton Stakes presented by Brandon and Diannah Perry to benefit the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance. $100,000, 3-year-olds, 1 1/16 miles. Post time 12:16 p.m. ET
Arabian Lion, considered to be one of Bob Baffert’s top prospects heading into the Triple Crown run-up, looks for first stakes win against five others. Son of Justify finished second last time out in the Grade 3 Lexington, after leading into the stretch and failing to outfinish First Mission. Tapit’s Conquest looked like a potential classics competitor for Brad Cox, too, before he finished off the board in back-to-back starts at Fair Grounds. He’ll appreciate the cut in class.
- Paul: Arabian Lion, Denington, Tapit’s Conquest.
- Joe: Arabian Lion, Tapit’s Conquest, Denington.
- Sean: Arabian Lion, Tapit’s Conquest, Denington.
- Charles: Tapit’s Conquest, Sheriff Ronnie, Feeling Woozy.
- John: Arabian Lion, Feeling Woozy, Tapit’s Conquest.
- Jessica: Masterwork, Tapits Conquest, Feeling Woozy.
- Tom: Tapit’s Conquest, Arabian Lion, Denington.
- Rob: Arabian Lion, Masterwork, Tapit’s Conquest.
Sixth race. Chick Lang Stakes presented by Case Tractor (G3). $200,000, 3-year-olds, 6 furlongs. Post time 1:29 p.m.
Another potential showcase for top sophomores, stakes named for former head of the Maryland Jockey Club and staunch promoter of the Preakness attracted field of seven led by Bob Baffert’s Havnameltdown, Steve Asmussen’s Ryvit, Hutcheson winner Super Chow and Prince Of Jericho. The latter goes out for Brittany Russell, who improved to 11-for-20 at the meet with a big day Friday.
- Paul: Super Chow, Havnameltdown, Prove Right.
- Joe: Ryvit, Prince Of Jericho, Havnameltdown.
- Sean: Prince Of Jericho, Havnameltdown, Ryvit.
- Charles: Havnameltdown, Super Chow, Ryvit.
- John: Havnameltdown, Ryvit, Frosted Departure.
- Jessica: Ryvit, Prince Of Jericho, Havnameltdown.
- Tom: Ryvit, Havnameltdown, Prince Of Jericho.
- Rob: Prince Of Jericho, Havnameltdown, Ryvit.
Seventh race. Gallorette Stakes presented by Pepsi Zero Sugar (G3). $100,000, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/16 miles, turf. Post time 2:08 p.m.
First stakes of the day on the grass and a puzzler with three from Graham Motion in Sopran Basilea, Vergara and Bipartisanship and two from Chad Brown in Whitebeam and Eminent Victor. Toss in runners from Jimmy Toner and Brendan Walsh and it’s a turf specialist event if we’ve ever seen one.
- Paul: Princess Theorem, Whitebeam, Vergara.
- Joe: Sopran Basilea, Princess Theorem, Vergara.
- Sean: Whitebeam, Vergara, Sopran Basilea.
- Charles: Whitebeam, Bipartisanship, Vergara.
- John: Whitebeam, Eminent Victor, Vergara.
- Jessica: Bipartisanship, Princess Theorum, Whitebeam.
- Tom: Sopran Basilea, Whitebeam, Traffic Song.
- Rob: Sopran Basilea, Whitebeam, Princess Theorem.
Eighth race. Dinner Party Stakes presented by Bulleit Bourbon (G3). $200,000, 3-year-olds and up, 1 1/8 miles, turf. Post time 2:49 p.m.
Traditional Preakness Day co-featured event drew only seven but a good group led by Pegasus World Cup Turf winner Atone, Grade 1 Hollywood Derby winner Speaking Scout, multiple graded stakes winner Emmanuel and last-out allowance winners Easter and Hurricane Dream.
- Paul: Speaking Scout, Easter, Emmanuel.
- Joe: Emmanuel, Hurricane Dream, Speaking Scout.
- Sean: Hurricane Dream, Never Explain, Emmanuel.
- Charles: Hurricane Dream, Emmanuel, Atone.
- John: Hurricane Dream, Atone, Easter.
- Jessica: Hurricane Dream, Emmanuel, Easter.
- Tom: Atone, Emmanuel, Hurricane Dream.
- Rob: Hurricane Dream, Emmanuel, Never Explain.
Ninth race. Skipat Stakes presented by Old Bay. $100,000, fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs. Post time 3:31 p.m.
Always a fun race on the card and a field of 10 awaits. Javier Castellano looks to start what could be a big day with Beguine for Ned Allard, while trainer Greg Compton tries to keep the good vibes going for Team Oaklawn with I’m The Boss Of Me. They take on the likes of familiar Mid-Atlantic stakes competitors Oxana, Princess Kokachin, Gunning and Edie Meeny Miny Mo.
- Paul: Beguine, Gunning, I’m The Boss Of Me.
- Joe: Beguine, I’m The Boss Of Me, Princess Kokachin.
- Sean: Gunning, Beguine, Oxana.
- Charles: Beguine, Gunning, Oxana.
- John: Gunning, Edie Meeny Miny Mo, Beguine.
- Jessica: Cheetara, Gunning, Golden Effect.
- Tom: Gunning, Oxana, Beguine.
- Rob: I’m The Boss Of Me, Edie Meeny Miny Mo, Beguine.
10th race. Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes presented by Guinness. $100,000, 3-year-olds and up, 5 furlongs, turf. Post time 4:12 p.m.
Back to the grass and one of the bigger fields of the day with 13 set to go. Artemus Citylimits was no match for Caravel last time in the Grade 2 Shakertown at Keeneland but he’s a capable turf sprinter for Mike Maker. Nothing Better exits a win going 6 furlongs on the grass at Aqueduct, and Coppola comes off big win sprinting on the turf at Churchill last time out. Plenty of potential value with the likes of Grateful Bred, Noble Emotion and Beer Can Man in the mix.
- Paul: Artemus Citylimits, Coppola, Nothing Better.
- Joe: Grateful Bred, Nothing Better, Smokin’ Jay.
- Sean: That’s Right, Nothing Better, Artemus Citylimits.
- Charles: Nothing Better, Artemus Citylimits, Grateful Bred.
- John: Nothing Better, Coppola, Artemus Citylimits.
- Jessica: Determined Kingdom, That’s Right, Grateful Bred.
- Tom: Beer Can Man, Noble Emotion, Artemus Citylimits.
- Rob: Artemus City Limits, Coppola, Grateful Bred.
11th race. Maryland Sprint Stakes presented by Big Ass Fans (G3). $100,000, 3-year-olds and up, 6 furlongs. Post time 4:53 p.m.
Brittany Russell looks to keep her meet rolling with Wondrwherecraigis, who prepped for this with a victory at the same distance in mid-April at Laurel. He’s won two of three at Pimlico. Russell also sends out Hello Hot Rod, second in the Frank Y. Whiteley last time out at Laurel. Wesley Ward ships Nakatomi in from his Keeneland base off a fourth there in the Grade 3 Commonwealth going 7 furlongs, while Straight No Chaser comes in from California for Dan Blacker.
- Paul: Nakatomi, Straight No Chaser, Prevalence.
- Joe: Wondrwherecraigis, Nakatomi, Prevalence.
- Sean: Straight No Chaser, Wondrwherecraigis, Nakatomi.
- Charles: Straight No Chaser, Nakatomi, Wonderwherecraigis.
- John: Wondrwherecraigis, Nakatomi, Straight No Chaser.
- Jessica: Wondrwhercraigis, Straight No Chaser, Nakatomi.
- Tom: Wondrwherecraigis, Nakatomi, Prevalence.
- Rob: Nakatomi, Straight No Chaser, Hello Hot Rod.
12th race. James W. Murphy Stakes presented by Four Seasons of Baltimore. $100,000, 3-year-olds, 1 mile, turf. Post time 5:51 p.m.
Jimmy Murphy was a force on the Maryland circuit as a trainer, winning with the likes of Chati, My Frenchman and Horatius in a career that included 1,381 wins. His memorial race ought to be a throwdown with horses coming in from all directions. Wesley Ward has Funtastic Again off a third in the Jeff Ruby Steaks Stakes. Arnaud Delacour counters with A Western Yarn, an allowance winner at Tampa Bay Downs in January. Brittany Russell tries the turf with Circling The Drain, third in the Private Terms and seventh behind Preakness runner Perform in the Federico Tesio. The West Coast gelding is out of a Cozzene mare (which screams turf potential). Carlos Martin ships in with Kingfish Stevens, second last time at Aqueduct in April. Brad Cox sends out English-bred Justify colt Wonderful Justice, a stakes winner at Fair Grounds in March. The favorite, Nagirroc, breaks from the outside while adding blinkers for trainer Graham Motion. Last year the son of Lea won a Grade 3 at Aqueduct and finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at 40-1. He opened 2023 with a third in the Grade 3 Transylvania.
- Paul: Nagirroc, Wonderful Justice, Funtastic Again.
- Joe: Nagirroc, Top Recruit, A Western Yarn.
- Sean: Nagirroc, Funtastic Again, Circling The Drain.
- Charles: Funtastic Again, Wonderful Justice, Nagirroc.
- John: Nagirroc, Funtastic Again, Wonderful Justice.
- Jessica: Nagirroc, Funtastic Again, Wonderful Justice.
- Tom: Nagirroc, Wonderful Justice, Top Recruit.
- Rob: A Western Yarn, Funtastic Again, Moonstrike.
13th race. Preakness Stakes (G1). $1.5 million, 3-year-olds, 1 3/16 miles. Post time 7:01 p.m.
You got a 3-year-old in your shedrow? He might not look too bad in this as the Grade 1 Preakness is down to seven runners with the scratch of First Mission Friday. Kentucky Derby winner Mage will take all kinds of beating if he repeats that effort. The race lost a potential pace player when First Mission scratched, which helps National Treasure from the inside post. If he sets up shop alone on the lead look out. Mage and Perform wanted some pace to run into. We’ll find out if they can adjust a little. Can Maryland-bred Coffeewithchris, who could be up front early, make an impact? How about Pennsylvania-bred Chase The Chaos? Holy crossover, his breeder Dale Krapf runs a regional stable of steeplechase and flat horses as Turks Head Turf. Trainer Steve Asmussen finished second with Epicenter last year and tries to win with Red Route One. Chad Brown’s skip-the-Derby-go-to-Baltimore plan (see Early Voting and Cloud Computing) gets tested again with Blazing Sevens. For the hunch players, he’ll be No. 7 in your program too.
- Paul: Mage, Perform, Red Route One.
- Joe: Perform, Mage, Blazing Sevens.
- Sean: National Treasure, Mage, Blazing Sevens.
- Charles: First Mission, Mage, National Treasure.
- John: National Treasure, Perform, Mage.
- Jessica: Red Route One, Perform, Mage.
- Tom: Blazing Sevens, Mage, National Treasure.
- Rob: Mage, National Treasure, Perform.
14th race. UAE President Cup (G1), $100,000, Arabians, 4-year-olds and up, 1 1/16 miles. Post time 7:43 p.m.
Post time is 7:43. We’re not sure if it’ll be light enough either but, hey, night racing at Pimlico could have a future anyway. Arabian stakes horses tackled the Grade 1 at 1 1/16 miles in the finale. Ten-year-old Quick Sand is a deserving favorite off a win at Sam Houston March 17, but will have to deal with rivals Diamond Gem, Like Moulin Rouge, Rb Rathowayne and Rb Texas Hold Em. The favorite has won 19 races, but is 0-for-3 in this one.
- Paul: Aa Take A Chance, Quick Sand Aa, Diamond Gem Aa
- Joe: Rb Texas Hold Em, Quick Sand, Like Moulin Rouge.
- Sean: Diamond Gem Aa A, Quick Sand Aa A, Aa Take A Chance A.
- Charles: Like Moulin Rouge, Quick Sand Aa, Diamond Gem Aa
- John: Quick Sand Aa, Rb Texas Hold Em, Diamond Gem Aa.\]
- Jessica: RB Texas Hold ‘Em, Aa Take A Chance, Like Moulin Rouge
- Tom: Diamond Gem Aa, Rb Texas Hold Em, Quick Sand Aa.
- Rob: Wikispeed, Like A Moulin Rouge, Tn Texas Hold ‘Em.
