Handicapping the Preakness: Our staff picks
Recapping writers' Kentucky Derby selections and their predictions for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
A RECAP of staff writers' Kentucky Derby picks and a quick note on whom they like in the Preakness and why.
Ed Barkowitz
Kentucky Derby: Miserable. Had Irish War Cry (10th), Girvin (13th) and Classic Empire (4th). The fourth in my superfecta, Thunder Snow, stumbled out of the gate and was pulled up shortly into the race. No wonder the guy at the window handed me my tickets already ripped up.
Preakness pick:
Win: 5 - Classic Empire
Place: 9 - Lookin At Lee
Show: 4 - Always Dreaming
Fourth: 10 - Conquest Mo Money
Irish War Cry (grrrrr) ignited a a five-car pileup at the start of the Derby that essentially took out 25 percent of the field. Classic Empire was one of those horses. He did extremely well to finish fourth. With a much lighter field, he should get a cleaner break. Lookin At Lee running second would make for a lucrative trifecta.
Dick Jerardi
Kentucky Derby: Also had Irish War Cry (finished 10th) with McCraken (8th). At least he had Always Dreaming in his trifecta. Rounded his super out with J Boys Echo, which finished 15th.
Preakness pick:
Win: 5 - Classic Empire
Place: 4 - Always Dreaming
Show: 2 - Cloud Computing
Fourth: 10 - Conquest Mo Money
It's most likely Always Dreaming (to win), but hard to like him at 4-5 or so. Officially, my pick will be Classic Empire because I know he's better than his Derby finish. But I don't know if he is good enough to beat Always Dreaming.
Mike Jensen
Kentucky Derby: Had Always Dreaming to win, which paid $11.40. That's commendable. His other super selections, however, were Irish War Cry (10th), J Boys Echo (15th) and Irap (18th).
Preakness pick:
Win: 5 - Classic Empire
Place: 4 - Always Dreaming
Show: 10 - Conquest Mo Money
Fourth: 2 - Cloud Computing
Simple Preakness thought every year: The best horse usually wins. Not saying Always Dreaming isn't best, just not sure it's a Derby-Preakness winner. A better trip gets it done for Classic Empire.
Mike Kern
Kentucky Derby: Could have gotten a piece of the huge exacta with just a little wheel work. Kern had the winner, Always Dreaming. Then he had Hence, which ran 11th. Lookin At Lee, which finished second to Always Dreaming, was his third pick. He rounded it out with Gunnevera, who placed 7th. Not bad, considering the giant field.
Preakness pick:
Win: 4 - Always Dreaming
Place: 3 - Hence
Show: 5 - Classic Empire
Fourth: 10 - Conquest Mo Money
Coming off a once-in-a-lifetime $336 exacta in the Derby, what can I possibly do for an encore? I'm not usually a chalk guy, but I am now. And maybe we get lucky for second again. See you at the Belmont in three weeks.