Preakness 2019: How to bet, stats, and our staff picks for the winner
Our writers believe War of Will and Improbable have the best chances to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.
It’s always discouraging when you make a superfecta pick and horse-racing expert Dick Jerardi basically says that horse (Market King) has no chance. Sigh.
Here’s a closer look at Saturday’s race.
144th Preakness Stakes
When: Saturday, 6:48 p.m. post time (Race 13)
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore
TV: NBC beginning at 5 p.m. (NBCSN has the undercard starting at 2 p.m.)
Live streaming: NBCSports.com
Wagering Info: 1-888-BET-2-WIN or www.parxracing.com/phonebet.php
Distance: 1 3/16 miles. Weights: 126 pounds. Purse: $1.5 million.
First place: $900,000. Second: $300,000. Third: $165,000. Fourth: $90,000. Fifth: $45,000.
Other Triple Crown races: Kentucky Derby, May 4 (winner: Country House); Belmont Stakes, June 8.
Staff Picks
The Field
1 War of Will
Morning Line: 4-1
Owner: Gary Barber. Trainer: Mark Casse. Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione.
Career Earnings: $501,569. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-2-0-0
Last three: Kentucky Derby (7th), Louisiana Derby (9th), Risen Star Stakes (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Forget the incident on far turn of the Derby. Was compromised by traffic issues on the backstretch. Huge chance to win.
2 Bourbon War
Morning Line: 12-1
Owner: Bourbon Lane & Lake Star stables
Trainer: Mark Hennig. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Career Earnings: $202,100. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-1-1-0.
Last three: Florida Derby (4th), Fountain of Youth Stakes (2nd), allowance/Gulfstream (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Solid South Florida form against some very strong fields. Dangerous if gets hot, contested pace to set up late run.
3 Warrior’s Charge
Morning Line: 12-1
Owner: Ten Strike Racing & Madaket Stable. Trainer: Brad Cox. Jockey: Javier Castellano.
Career Earnings: $138,110. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-2-0-2.
Last three: allowance/Oaklawn (1st), maidens/Oaklawn (1st), maidens/Oaklawn (3rd)
DJ’s breakdown: Changed style in last two and ran really fast. Best chance if loose, but there is definitely other early speed.
4 Improbable
Morning Line: 5-2
Owner: WinStar Farm, et. al. Trainer: Bob Baffert. Jockey: Mike Smith.
Career Earnings: $769,520. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-0-2-0.
Last three: Kentucky Derby (4th), Arkansas Derby (2nd), Rebel Stakes (2nd)
DJ’s breakdown: Talent is obvious, but winless in 2019. Took forever to get a clear run in the Derby. Solid favorite with Baffert/Smith.
5 Owendale
Morning Line: 10-1
Owner: Rupp Racing. Trainer: Brad Cox. Jockey: Florent Geroux.
Career Earnings: $187,225. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-2-0-0.
Last three: Lexington Stakes (1st), Risen Star Stakes (8th), claiming/Fairgrounds (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Powerhouse winner of the Lexington Stakes with the kind of speed figure that can win the Preakness if he does it again.
6 Market King
Morning Line: 30-1
Owner: Bob Baker, Bill Mack. Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas. Jockey: Jon Court.
Career Earnings: $148,007. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 5-1-0-2.
Last three: Blue Grass Stakes (11th), Rebel Stakes (3rd), allowance/Oaklawn (3rd)
DJ’s breakdown: Vet scratch during post parade of Pat Day Mile on Derby Day. Not a good sign for horse that was just beaten 37 lengths.
7 AlwaysMining
Morning Line: 8-1
Owner: Runnymede Racing. Trainer: Kelly Rubley. Jockey: Daniel Centeno.
Career Earnings: $386,192. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-3-0-0.
Last three: Tesio Stakes (1st), Private Terms Stakes (1st), Miracle Wood Stakes (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Maryland-based star on a six-race win streak by a combined 36 lengths. Has the speed to be in the race early.
8 Signalman
Morning Line: 30-1
Owner: Tommie Lewis, et. al. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Career Earnings: $552,990. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-0-0-1.
Last three: Blue Grass Stakes (3rd), Fountain of Youth Stakes (7th), Jockey Club Stakes (2018, 1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Simply not fast enough. Slight chance is if there is a complete pace meltdown and he is the only one running at the finish.
9 Bodexpress
Morning Line: 20-1
Owner: Top Racing, et. al. Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. Jockey: John Velazquez.
Career Earnings: $208,700. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-0-2-0.
Last three: Kentucky Derby (13th), Florida Derby (2nd), maiden/Gulfstream (2nd)
DJ’s breakdown: Was a brilliant second behind Maximum Security in Fla. Derby and ran hard to final turn of the Ky. Derby. Still a maiden.
10 Everfast
Morning Line: 50-1
Owner: Calumet Farm. Trainer: Dale Romans. Jockey: Joel Rosario.
Career Earnings: $134,805. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 5-0-1-0.
Last three: Pat Day Mile (5th), Florida Derby (9th), Fountain of Youth Stakes (8th).
DJ’s breakdown: Last-minute entrant has run just one good race and that race isn’t remotely good enough to give him any chance.
The Fastest Preakness In History
11 Laughing Fox
Morning Line: 20-1
Owner: Alex & JoAnn Lieblong. Trainer: Steve Asmussen. Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Career Earnings: $338,518. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 5-3-0-0.
Last three: Oaklawn Stakes (1st), Arkansas Derby (4th), Rebel Stakes (7th)
DJ’s breakdown: Earned his way with a stakes win on Derby Day at Oaklawn Park. Son of 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags.
12 AnotherTwistaFate
Morning Line: 6-1
Owner: Peter Redekop. Trainer: Blaine Wright. Jockey: Jose Ortiz.
Career Earnings: $303,505. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-2-2-0.
Last three: Lexington Stakes (2nd), Sunland Park Derby (2nd), El Camino Real Derby (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Has early speed to be with the pace and super consistent form with three wins and two seconds in last five races.
13 Win Win Win
Morning Line: 15-1
Owner: Live Oak Plantation. Trainer: Mike Trombetta. Jockey: Julian Pimentel.
Career Earnings: $367,300. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-1-1-1.
Last three: Kentucky Derby (9th), Blue Grass Stakes (2nd), Tampa Bay Derby (3rd)
DJ’s breakdown: Ran better than his 10th place Derby finish. Lost momentum just before quarter pole when stuck behind huge pack.
Lucky Seven
Bob Baffert is tied with 19th-century trainer R.W. Walden for most Preakness Stakes wins with seven. Here are Baffert’s winners at Pimlico: