The 2019 Preakness is scheduled for 6:48 p.m. EST on Saturday as race 13 on a 14 race card at Pimlico Racecourse in Baltimore, MD where 13 contenders will vie for a purse of $1.5 million.
#1 War of Will (War Front, Visions of Clarity by Sadler’s Wells)
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione
Owner: Gary Barber
Odds: 4-1
Comment: Training well, but hasn’t run particularly fast to date and will be one of the betting favorites. There is better value elsewhere.
#2 Bourbon War (Tapit, My Conquestadory by Artie Schiller)
Trainer: Mark Hennig
Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Owner: Bourbon Lane Stable & Lake Star Stable
Odds: 12-1
Comment: Will race with blinkers on for the first time which should have him closer to the pace. The best horses seem to be coming from Florida this year and this one was last seen finishing fourth behind Maximum Security. Hard not to like this colt.
#3 Warrior’s Charge (Munnings, Battling Brook by Broken Vow)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Owner: Ten Strike Racing & Madaket Stables LLC
Odds: 12-1
Comment: Very impressive in consecutive wire-to-wire scores at Oaklawn Park. Can be in front early or drop back and pass horses down the lane. Viable threat.
#4 Improbable (City Zip, Rare Event by A.P. Indy)
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Mike Smith
Owner: Winstar Farm LLC & China Horse Club International
Odds: 5-2
Comment: Will be the favorite based largely on a so-so fourth place finish in the Kentucky Derby combined with strong form last year. We would rather side with an up and coming contender than the horse that is essentially the “default” favorite.
#5 Owendale (Into Mischief, Aspen Light by Bernardini)
Trainer: Brad Cox
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Owner: Rupp Racing
Odds: 10-1
Comment: Needs to be closer to the pace this time than he was in his Grade 3 Lexington Stakes win, but has shown he can do that. One of many with a winning chance here.
#6 Market King (Into Mischief, Divine Presence by A.P. Indy)
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Jon K Court
Owner: Robert C Baker & William L Mack
Odds: 30-1
Comment: Might be able to finish fourth, but anything better than that would be absolutely shocking.
#7 Alwaysmining (Stay Thirsty, What Will Be by Anees)
Trainer: Kelly Rubley
Jockey: Daniel Centeno
Owner: Runnymede Racing LLC
Odds: 8-1
Comment:: The local hero has reeled off six consecutive wins and was very heavily favored in the last three of them. The speed figures say he can do it. Why not?
#8 Signalman (General Quarters, Trip South by Trippi)
Trainer: Ken McPeek
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Owner: Tommie M Lewis, Steve Crabtree, Dean Demar
Odds: 30-1
Comment: Will be humming along late in the race and is a good candidate to take the last spot of the superfecta or maybe the trifecta.
#9 Bodexpress (Bodemeister, Pied a Terre by City Zip)
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado
Jockey: John Velazquez
Owner: Top Racing LLC, Global Thoroughbred & Gds
Odds: 20-1
Comment: Maiden runner probably shouldn’t have been in the Kentucky Derby. His presence here is also questionable.
#10 Everfast
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Owner: Calumet Farm
Odds: 50-1
Comment: Hard to make sense of why this colt is in the race. There are better options for your betting dollars.
#11 Laughing Fox
Trainer: Steven Asmussen
Jockey: Ricardo Santana, Jr.
Owner: Alex & Joann Lieblong
Odds: 20-1
Comment: Looked great last out in the Oaklawn Park Invitational where he rallied from eighth to win by a neck. Asmussen isn’t one to run in a race like this “just to be here”. This colt can win.
#12 Anothertwistafate
Trainer: Blaine Wright
Jockey: Jose Ortiz
Owner: Peter Redekop
Odds: 6-1
Comment: Attracting lots of attention, but hasn’t proven he can hang with top horses yet. Maybe if he were 20-1 we might like him, but as one of the favorites this is a horse to pass on.
#13 Win Win Win
Trainer: Michael Trombetta
Jockey: Julian Pimentel
Owner: Live Oak Plantation
Odds: 15-1
Comment: Didn’t produce himself in the Kentucky Derby and the connections are hoping the addition of blinkers will shake him up. He’s fast enough when he “shows up”. Use on the deepest of tickets.
FINAL THOUGHTS: Nobody stands out in the 2019 Preakness Stakes. If you bet the race you must demand value and that means taking a chance on one of contenders with big odds.
First: #7 Alwaysmining 8-1
Second: #2 Bourbon War 12-1
Third: #11 Laughing Fox 20-1