Preakness 2015: Latest Odds, Lineup Info and Top Horses for Pimlico
On the heels of his Kentucky Derby win, American Pharoah will look to keep his Triple Crown hopes alive at the 2015 Preakness Stakes.
Saturday marks the 140th running at Pimlico, two weeks after the major trio's opening leg. The Derby's top finishers are all pegged as favorites to once again shine among the projected participating horses.
Following American Pharoah's strong showing, the revered colt enters the second leg with even greater odds of emerging victorious. With all the prominent names returning and some fresh faces possibly entering the fold, let's not declare this over just yet.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
| American Pharoah | 5-6 |
| Firing Line | 5-1 |
| Dortmund | 11-2 |
| Danzig Moon | 22-1 |
| Divining Rod | 22-1 |
| Bodhisattva | 40-1 |
| Grand Bili | 50-1 |
| Tale of Verve | 50-1 |
Odds via Odds Shark as of Tuesday at 3 p.m. ET.
American Pharoah
Trainer Bob Baffert already has his eyes on sealing the Triple Crown. Shortly after American Pharoah took home the Kentucky Derby, Baffert minimized the next challenge to the Associated Press' Richard Rosenblatt.
"To me, the Preakness is the easiest of the three legs," Baffert said. "The Derby is the hardest. Once you get through there, you know your horses are in top form. It's a two-week turnaround. It's just a matter of getting there."
Past experience has lured him into a sense of security, as his three Derby champions all also won the Preakness. None, however, finished the feat at the Belmont Stakes.
After dominating his previous four starts, American Pharoah needed a perfect final stretch to gallop past Firing Line and Dortmund. The late rally quelled any concerns over his ability to handle adversity and endure a 10-furlong track.
While Baffert shouldn't callously downplay another tough Triple Crown field, the Preakness features a shorter track (9.5 furlongs) alongside fewer competitors. American Pharoah is rightfully the runaway favorite to keep the Triple Crown hunt intact.
Firing Line
Without a Triple Crown in play, trainers often sacrifice the Preakness to rest a horse for the Belmont Stakes. Yet, the morning after the Kentucky Derby, Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden listed both Firing Line and Dortmund as likely Preakness participants:
Jockey Gary Stevens guided Firing Line as best as he could, but a sound strategy could not conquer American Pharoah's ferocious late strides. Despite falling short in second for the fourth time, the horse finally beat Dortmund to the finish line.
For all of his close calls, Firing Line has yet to finish below second place in six starts. His steadiness makes the Sunland Derby winner a strong choice to finish somewhere in the money but not the most promising pick to take it all. Simon Callaghan's entrant lacks Dortmund's size and American Pharoah's breakaway speed from any position.
All Stevens can do is again guide Firing Line to a meaningful finish and hope Baffert's two horses aren't on top of their game in Baltimore.
Dortmund
Entering the Run for the Roses with six victories in as many tries, Dortmund faltered down the closing stretch. Now that the previously undefeated colt gets a shorter track, American Pharoah's stablemate once again is a prime contender.
Baffert is expected to run both of his studs at Pimlico, even if it diminishes Pharoah's Triple Crown chances. Owner Ahmed Zayat doesn't mind his Derby victor receiving the added competition, per the Courier Journal's Jennie Rees:
"I think we're the better horse. We beat him before. I'm hopeful we can beat him again. I honestly think we have to earn it. I don't duck anything. It's not our style. I love creating a stallion. But he's already a four-time Grade I winner. So I just want him to earn it on the track and keep getting respect and let him run against the best.
"
Dortmund utilized his size advantage out of the gate but eventually lagged behind to a third-place consolation prize. The Preakness' condensed distance behooves the colt, who twice edged out Firing Line during his 6-0 start.
Although Baffert isn't doing his Triple Crown contender any favors, he'll again carry two favorites into a race with a sizable purse. Don't be surprised when they both finish among the top three.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
