Preakness 2015: Post Time, TV Schedule, Post Positions Info

As the Preakness approaches and a new Triple Crown contender has been spotted in Kentucky Derby champion American Pharoah, many sports fans are beginning to feel introspective and nostalgic. 

Slowly, we are losing our illusions about professional sports. We've lost the misguided notion that our favorite athletes are heroes, now able to see them as the flawed people they are with the immense gifts they have. More than ever, we recognize major sporting events as financial investments first and foremost. 

It isn't whether you win or lose; it's how much money you make playing the game. 

But we still long for the magic that sports can bring, don't we?

We still long for moments like Babe Ruth calling his shot (if, in fact, he even called his shot). We long for athletes who represent something larger than life, such as Muhammad Ali. We crave a cultural touchstone to recall nostalgically throughout the years as we sit on porches late in life and have "remember where you were when?" conversations, sipping on lukewarm beer. 

And there is one accomplishment out there that might do the trick, one little bit of magic an entire generation has yet to experience. That accomplishment is the Triple Crown. And the latest horse we are pinning our hopes upon is American Pharoah, who would indeed be royalty if he were to pull off the feat. 

Of course, the next step in that journey is the Preakness Stakes. Let's take a look at the details for the upcoming race and go over a few of the horses who could offer him the biggest challenge. 

Date	Time (ET)	Event	Watch
Wednesday, May 13	6 p.m.	Preakness Stakes post position draw	HRTV
Friday, May 15	3:30 p.m.	Black Eyed Susan Stakes	NBCSN
Saturday, May 16	4:30 p.m.	Preakness Stakes (post time will be approximately 6:14 p.m. ET)	NBC

Beating American Pharoah won't be easy. He's a graceful, versatile horse who certainly looks the part of a Triple Crown winner. Better yet, the horse seems to sense his own ability. 

"He's competitive, he wants to win," trainer Bob Baffert told the Associated Press (via GulfLive.com). "He knows he's special."

And boy, we all want him to be special, don't we? 

But the road won't be easy. Firing Line, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby and gave American Pharoah a run for his money, is likely to run at the Preakness, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. So, too, is Dortmund, who finished third at the Derby and is also trained by Baffert. 

Todd Pletcher may also enter both of his top horses in the race. Carpe Diem was one of the Derby favorites but finished a disappointing 10th, though the horse had a tough draw with an inside post position. Pletcher may enter him into the Preakness, per David Grening of Daily Racing Form, as well as Materiality, who finished sixth in the Derby. 

Materiality is an interesting horse to watch. He had a very slow start, got stuck behind the pack and still managed to finish sixth. He's a big, strong and fast horse and with a better break has the top speed to compete with American Pharoah, especially on the short Pimlico Race Course. 

Pletcher could enter another interesting contender, as undefeated Competitive Edge could be given a run. The horse has handled all competition with relative ease thus far, though he also hasn't been pitted against a specimen like American Pharoah to this point. 

Those will be the top competitors, though Danzig Moon could make noise after finishing fifth at the Derby. 

But American Pharoah has our hopes and dreams riding on his shoulders. It's a heavy burden except that, well, American Pharoah is a horse and likely has no idea what's at stake, all of the money and prestige included. And that's sort of refreshing, isn't it?