Preakness 2015: Updated Predictions, Betting Lines and Post Time
With an exclusive field finalized and the post positions set in stone, the 2015 Preakness Stakes is gearing up for one of its most anticipated runnings in recent memory.
As is the case practically every year, a Triple Crown hopeful stands among the field as American Pharoah looks to take another seismic step toward growing his legend. But if the Kentucky Derby was any indication, a number of contenders in the fray are more than capable of stealing the spotlight and ending hopes of ending that 47-year drought.
Take a look below for the latest Preakness lines and predictions for the top three finishers.
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2015 Preakness Stakes
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland
Post Time (ET): 6:18 p.m.
TV: NBC (coverage starts at 4:30 p.m. ET)
Preakness Field and Odds
| 1 | American Pharoah | 10-13 | Bob Baffert | Victor Espinoza |
| 2 | Dortmund | 15-4 | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia |
| 3 | Mr. Z | 25-1 | D. Wayne Lukas | Corey Nakatani |
| 4 | Danzig Moon | 14-1 | Mark Casse | Julien Leparoux |
| 5 | Tale of Verve | 50-1 | Dallas Stewart | Joel Rosario |
| 6 | Bodhisattva | 50-1 | Jose Corrales | Trevor McCarthy |
| 7 | Divining Rod | 20-1 | Arnaud Delacour | Javier Castellano |
| 8 | Firing Line | 17-4 | Simon Callaghan | Gary Stevens |
Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated May 14
Predictions
1. American Pharoah
No winners from the No. 1 post since 1994? No problem.
American Pharoah enters the Preakness needing to bear that exact mentality, considering Tabasco Cat in 1994 has been the only horse to win the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans from the first gate since 1960. But the reality is, none of those horses were at the level of American Pharoah.
Just like at Churchill Downs, Saturday figures to be a three-horse race among Firing Line, Dortmund and American Pharoah. Even if the Derby winner gets boxed in during the opening stretch, it's likely that Dortmund—right alongside him at No. 2—will set the pace, and that should allow American Pharoah to follow close by.
Assuming that takes place over the first half of the race and American Pharoah doesn't respond poorly to getting some dirt kicked in his face for the first time, he will be in good shape. He's already proved himself convincingly superior than the competition in dead heat.
More importantly, American Pharoah's chief foes have already run their best race against him—and lost. It will take an uncharacteristic run from the favorite for him to be overtaken.
2. Dortmund
There weren't any excuses for Dortmund at the Derby, and there won't be at Pimlico, either.
Playing second fiddle to American Pharoah's favorite status at Churchill Downs, Dortmund looked poised to improve to 7-0 for his career after a hot start. Jockey Martin Garcia had the horse right where he needed to be entering the stretch but simply faded in the final couple of furlongs.
Things set up favorably for him at Pimlico as well, with his No. 2 post giving Dortmund the opportunity to cause some early trouble for American Pharoah. If the endorsement of trainer Bob Baffert—who oversees both horses—is any indication, neither is showing signs of slowing down, per the Courier-Journal's Derby Twitter:
While Firing Line was the first to overtake Dortmund for the late lead at Churchill Downs, American Pharoah looked twice as fast as he galloped to victory. Adjustments will be made to assure Dortmund doesn't run out of gas like in the Derby, but the distance between him and American Pharoah is hard to ignore.
3. Firing Line
American Pharoah and Dortmund better be careful to start out strong on the rail, because their most dangerous opponent is starting on the outside.
Coming off a one-length defeat at the Kentucky Derby, trainer Simone Callaghan's Firing Line will begin with the entire rest of the field between him and the two favorites. While American Pharoah benefited from an outside start at the Derby, Firing Line is expected to follow suit, as jockey Gary Stevens told Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden:
Firing Line showed his quality down the stretch at Churchill Downs, giving American Pharoah all he could handle when it looked like the race was already won. But it marked just the first time in which he has topped Dortmund, after finishing second to him in two previous races in 2015.
He should remain in the fray for the entire race, but a shorter track should help Dortmund to finish stronger and hold off Firing Line for second place.
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