2018 Preakness Stakes Preview

Frank The Tank5/19/2018 12:20 AM

Two weeks after Justify ran a perfect race in the slop at the Kentucky Derby, the unbeaten colt trained by Bob Baffert is looking to put himself in position for the second jewel of the Triple Crown. After a week worth of rain in Baltimore, similar conditions could exist at Plimico, setting up for another big run for history.

Gate 1: Quip who is listed at 12-1, trained by Randolphe Brisset and ridden by Florent Geroux by is the perfect pick to play spoiler. Winner of the Tampa Derby and finishing second in the Arkansas Derby, Quip drawing the first gate could be dangerous if he is able to avoid getting trapped on the rail.

Gate 2: Lone Sailor listed at 15-1 is trained by Thomas Amoss and ridden by Irad Ortiz. A longshot in the Kentucky Derby, Lone Sailor had a good run, finishing in eighth place. A change in jockeys will see Irad Ortiz replacing James Graham. I am not a fan of horses that have a jockey switch so it’s hard to see Lone Sailor being a factor.

Gate 3: Sporting Chance listed at 30-1 trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Luis Contreras raced at Churchill Downs, finishing fourth in the Pat Day Mile on the Derby undercard. It is hard to see even a Sporting Chance here, despite being trained by D. Wayne Lukas.

Gate 4: Diamond King listed at 30-1 is trained John Servis by and ridden by Javier Castellano If there is any horse with a chance to repeat the run of Cloud Computing, it is Diamond King. With the same jockey on board, Diamond King won the Federico Tesio Stakes in April and will be a contender in the Preakness.

Gate 5: Good Magic listed at 3-1 is trained by Chad Bown and ridden by Jose Ortiz. It was nearly a magical day in Louisville, as Good Magic finished second to Justify in the Kentucky Derby. With similar track conditions, Good Magic should again challenge the favorite, but with a shorter track will once again fall short of down the stretch.

Gate 6: Tenfold is listed at 20-1 is trained by Steven Asmussen and ridden by Victor Espinoza. Looking to repeat the career of his sire, Curlin who the Preakness and Belmont Stakes in 2007, Tenfold is making just his fourth race. In his last race, he hardly looked like a contender, finishing fifth in the Arkansas Derby.

Gate 7: Justify listed at 1-2 is trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Mike E. Smith. All eyes are on Justify, who won the Kentucky Derby and remained unbeaten. In becoming the first horse since Apollo in 1882 to win the Run for the Roses without racing as a two-year-old Justify has fans dreaming of another Triple Crown. With similar conditions to Louisville and coming out of the lucky seventh gate, it looks like the perfect set up for a run at history.

Gate 8: Bravazo is listed at 20-1 is trained by D. Wayne Lukas and ridden by Luis Saez. Bravazo had a decent run in the Kentucky Derby, finishing in sixth place. Hard to see Bravazo doing much better than that in Pimlico as the rest of the field is stronger.

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