Preakness Start Time 2015: Post Info, TV Schedule and Live Stream Coverage Guide
If American Pharoah is going to win a Triple Crown, he will need to keep up his recent success at the upcoming 2015 Preakness Stakes.
The Kentucky Derby winner has won five races in a row and is the clear favorite to win again Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. However, there are a number of competitors ready pull off an upset and find a way into the winner's circle.
Considering American Pharoah ran the slowest final quarter-mile of any Derby winner in the past five years, according to Jim Chairusmi of the Wall Street Journal, there are reasons to be skeptical. Here is all the info you need to tune into the exciting event as well as a few sleepers capable of surprising the favorite.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Preakness Viewing Information
Date: Saturday, May 16
Where: Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore
TV Time: 4:30-6:30 p.m. ET
Post Time: 6:18 p.m. ET
Channel: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
| 1 | American Pharoah | Bob Baffert | Victor Espinoza | 10-13 |
| 2 | Dortmund | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 15-4 |
| 3 | Mr. Z | D. Wayne Lukas | Corey Nakatani | 25-1 |
| 4 | Danzig Moon | Mark Casse | Julien Leparoux | 14-1 |
| 5 | Tale of Verve | Dallas Stewart | Joel Rosario | 50-1 |
| 6 | Bodhisattva | Jose Corrales | Trevor McCarthy | 50-1 |
| 7 | Divining Rod | Arnaud Delacour | Javier Castellano | 20-1 |
| 8 | Firing Line | Simon Callaghan | Gary Stevens | 17-4 |
Top Sleepers
Danzig Moon
While most are expecting the top three of American Pharoah, Dortmund and Firing Line to be the only real competitors, counting out Danzig Moon would be a major mistake.
The second-place finisher at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes earned a respectable fifth-place finish at the Kentucky Derby, proving he is worthy of competing against the top horses in the age class.
Jay Privman of Daily Racing Form also had good things to say about the colt:
"Danzig Moon rightly received rave notices for the way he trained coming into the Derby, and I really liked how well he looked in his gallop just now at Pimlico. He arrived on the same plane yesterday as American Pharoah et al, so this was his first morning at Pimlico. He's continuing to thrive. I don't think he's good enough to win, but -- considering how he looks -- I certainly can understand why he's being brought back by his connections for another try against this very strong 3yo group.
"
If jockey Julien Leparoux can get the horse into good position out of the gate, Danzig Moon will have a chance to get into the money.
Mr. Z
There usually isn't this much drama in between the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, but Mr. Z is an exception this season. After originally seeming unlikely to compete at Pimlico, the horse was sold to different owners:
Calumet Farm—which has won the Preakness eight times, most recently in 2013 with Oxbow—decided to enter the horse into the upcoming race and will see what happens.
Despite a disappointing 13th-place finish at the Kentucky Derby, Mr. Z certainly has talent as well as a whole lot of experience. The horse has finished in the money in three Grade 1 races, including the Arkansas Derby behind American Pharoah.
With Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas getting him into shape, Mr. Z has what it takes to surprise the field and once again finish in the top three.
Bodhisattva
While Bodhisattva doesn't have the experience in big-time events like the others on this list, he makes up for it in local flavor.
Originally from California, the colt has competed in a number of races in nearby Laurel Park. Most recently, Bodhisattva earned an impressive win at the Federico Tesio Stakes, which took place at the same Pimlico track as the Preakness.
Jockey Trevor McCarthy is also familiar with the Maryland circuit and will make up for his lack of experience with true talent. The soon-to-be 21-year-old ranked seventh among all jockeys in total wins in 2014 and is eager to keep moving up the list.
Although this will be his first-ever Triple Crown event, Saturday's race on his birthday doesn't make him nervous:
A good post position could provide him with a chance to get the horse in good position and shock the world with a strong finish.
Follow Rob Goldberg on Twitter for the latest breaking news and analysis.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
