Preakness 2015: Post-Position Draw Start Time, Lineup and TV Schedule
The 2015 Preakness Stakes is built for an exclusive field of no more than a dozen contenders, but this year's race promises to boast an alarmingly low number of horses as Wednesday's post-positions draw looms.
The field initially included double-digit horses but now is down to just seven confirmed contenders. This came in the wake of trainer Todd Pletcher's decision to pull all four of his horses out of the race, opting for three added weeks of rest before the Belmont Stakes.
But it's hard to deny that no matter what happened in Pletcher's corner, the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans figured to be dominated all along by three Kentucky Derby standouts. That is now all but official, but the gate that each draws will undoubtedly be crucial to their chances.
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Let's take a look at where to catch the post-positions draw and a closer glance at three contenders.
2015 Preakness Post Draw
Time (ET): 6 p.m.
Watch/Stream: HRTV.com
2015 Preakness Stakes Lineup
| American Pharoah | 5-8 |
| Firing Line | 4-1 |
| Dortmund | 9-2 |
| Danzig Moon | 18-1 |
| Divining Rod | 20-1 |
| Bodhisattva | 50-1 |
| Tale of Verve | 50-1 |
All seven horses confirmed in field as per Preakness.com. Odds courtesy of Odds Shark and updated as of May 13.
Contenders to Watch
American Pharoah
After proving his favorite status true at Churchill Downs in convincing fashion, American Pharoah will be hard-pressed to concede his Triple Crown chances at Pimlico Race Course.
The 141st Derby marked Ameircan Pharoah's fifth consecutive win, which he's won by a combined 23 1/4 lengths. He only beat out Firing Line by a single length at Churchill Downs, but proved that he can win in tight races—something not before seen from him.
Along with that, Zayat Stables (which owns the horse) should feel confident in knowing two weeks ago, its contender beat out the biggest threats at the Preakness—Firing Line and Dortmund. The trio is traveling over the afternoon from the Derby to Pimlico, as the race's official Twitter reported:
There isn't a whole lot of danger outside of Firing Line and Dortmund for American Pharoah to worry about in Saturday's race, so it will likely be smooth sailing for him if he is able to get to the outside.
Dortmund
The Derby marked the first time in Dortmund's now seven career races in which he didn't gallop into the winner's circle afterward. How he responds at Pimlico is the biggest single threat to horse racing's quest for a Triple Crown in 2015.
Also trained by Bob Baffert, Dortmund left no doubt of his ability throughout the better part of the Derby. The pace-setter stayed in front for most of the race before Firing Line and eventually American Pharoah overtook him. Frosted nearly pushed him out of a win-place-show finish altogether, before he barely held on for third place.
The big-bodied horse isn't forgoing the Preakness for extra rest, but the conditions could end up playing a big role. As Baffert told Albany Times Union's Tim Wilkin, Dortmund isn't as receptive to the mud as his partner:
While Dortmund was overtaken long before the final furlong kicked in, the shorter track at Pimlico could end up being a good thing if Dortmund starts strong again. But with 1 3/16 miles of track, keeping enough in the tank for the final push will be crucial in avoiding a repeat from Churchill Downs.
Danzig Moon
Skipping the Triple Crown's second leg after a taxing run at the Derby is so commonplace that it makes Danzig Moon's inclusion in the field worth lauding. But as far as his camp is concerned, this is far more than a simple tribute run.
In fact, trainer Mark Casse had no reason to kick around the idea of withdrawing from the race with his horse looking better than ever, per Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman: “He was training well coming into the Blue Grass, out of that he trained even better coming into the Derby, and we think he’s doing even better now."
The Derby proved that at 100 percent and at top-line speed, Danzig Moon doesn't have enough to stay with the likes of Dortmund, Firing Line and, obviously, American Pharoah. But there's no guarantee that any horse will respond well to a short two-week break, and it all too often leaves one of the afterthoughts as the fresh one.
After a fifth-place Kentucky Derby finish, Danzig Moon's camp at least knows it can stay near the leaders. And if that "looking better than ever" endorsement is indeed true, perhaps he'll have the legs to stun the field.
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