Preakness Field 2015: Final Outlook for Undercard and Stakes Lineup at Pimlico
The 2015 Preakness Stakes has arrived, and there is no shortage of intrigue ahead of runaway favorite American Pharoah's bid to continue a push for the Triple Crown at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Prior to the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans are a number of other undercard races, giving horse racing fans even more to look forward to following Friday's action.
Check out the full Preakness Day schedule, along with the post-position lineup for the eight-horse field that will compete for the Triple Crown's middle jewel:
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
| 1 | Maiden | Maidens, 2yo | 5 furlongs (turf) | $50,000 | 10:30 a.m. |
| 2 | 8th running of the Deputed Testamony Starter Hcp | 3yo and up | 1 1/16 miles | $30,000 | 11 a.m. |
| 3 | 3rd running of the Xpressbet Purse | 3yo and up | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | $50,000 | 11:31 a.m. |
| 4 | 6th running of the James W. Murphy Stakes, presented by RTN | 3yo | 1 miles (turf) | $100,000 | 12:02 p.m. |
| 5 | 29th running of the Maryland Sprint Handicap-GIII, presented by Jagermeister | 3yo and up | 6 furlongs | $150,000 | 12:39 p.m. |
| 6 | 6th running of the LifeBridge Health Good Neighbors Race | F&M, 3yo and up | 5 furlongs (turf) | $52,000 | 1:14 p.m. |
| 7 | 8th running of the Sir Barton Stakes, presented by Jagermeister | 3yo | 1 1/16 miles | $100,000 | 1:51 p.m. |
| 8 | 1st running of the OLD BAY Nation Race | 3yo and up | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | $55,000 | 2:35 p.m. |
| 9 | 64th running of the Gallorette Handicap-GIII | F&M, 3yo and up | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | $150,000 | 3:19 p.m. |
| 10 | 6th running of the Chick Lang Stakes | 3yo | 6 furlongs | $100,000 | 4:04 p.m. |
| 11 | 16th running of The Very One Stakes | F&M, 3yo and up | 5 furlongs (turf) | $100,000 | 4:44 p.m. |
| 12 | 114th running of the Longines Dixie Stakes-GII | 3yo and up | 1 1/16 miles (turf) | $400,000 | 5:25 p.m. |
| 13 | 140th Preakness Stakes | 3yo | 1 3/16 miles | $1,500,000 | 6:18 p.m. |
| 14 | Allowance | 3yo and up | 1 1/16 miles | $52,000 | 7:08 p.m. |
| 1 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | 4-5 |
| 2 | Dortmund | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | 7-2 |
| 3 | Mr. Z | Corey Nakatani | D. Wayne Lukas | 20-1 |
| 4 | Danzig Moon | Julien Leparoux | Mark Casse | 15-1 |
| 5 | Tale of Verve | Joel Rosario | Dallas Stewart | 30-1 |
| 6 | Bodhisattva | Trevor McCarthy | Jose Corrales | 20-1 |
| 7 | Divining Rod | Javier Castellano | Arnaud Delacour | 12-1 |
| 8 | Firing Line | Gary Stevens | Simon Callaghan | 4-1 |
Final Preakness Stakes Predictions
The post draw added a twist to the 140th Preakness Stakes. Starting closer to the rail is difficult to overcome—never mind being the two closest to it.
Such is the challenge for American Pharoah and Dortmund. Both are trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert and will need to flash their superior skills with strong starts to break away from the early traffic.
Not lost in the morning odds is the fact Firing Line, the Kentucky Derby runner-up by one length, is the third favorite despite a far better post on the outside at No. 8.
To start the race, it will be fascinating to see the power struggle unfold between the speedier American Pharoah and the more physically imposing Dortmund. American Pharoah isn't as well built to take the punishment that could ensue out of the starting gates, while Dortmund has the strength to fight his way off the rail sooner.
Both of Baffert's entries figure to weather the early storm, if only because there isn't a ton of competition. With just eight horses starting, the inside post isn't as much of a disadvantage as it could've been.
The Courier-Journal reported how confident Baffert seemed to be in the work his premium contenders have done leading up to Saturday:
But Firing Line has a three-time Preakness winner in the iron in Hall of Fame jockey Gary Stevens. The 52-year-old veteran has experienced a renaissance since returning to competition following his retirement, last riding to victory in the Preakness aboard a long shot in Oxbow in 2013.
Stats expert Gary Dougherty highlighted that Stevens' wealth of experience can be used as currency to counteract Baffert's big-time duo:
Victor Espinoza is a tremendous jockey in his own right, and he has to give Baffert and American Pharoah's connections comfort that he can get the job done. Espinoza rode California Chrome to wins at last year's Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes. Only a stumble at the Belmont Stakes derailed California Chrome's Triple Crown hopes.
Espinoza knows how to manage the quick two-week turnaround, having done it successfully in 2014 and with Baffert's War Emblem back in 2002. As long as the start isn't devastating, which it probably won't be, American Pharoah has the goods to win the Preakness.
Since Dortmund ran out of steam and Firing Line finished so well at Churchill Downs, here's a bold final-results prediction: The horses that finish in the money at Pimlico will be the same—and in the same order—as they were at the Kentucky Derby.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
