Preakness 2015: Post Time, TV Schedule and Live Stream Hub for 140th Race
Anticipation for the 2015 Preakness Stakes is reaching the home stretch, with Saturday's race setting up to be one of the most memorable in 140 years at Pimlico Race Course.
A Triple Crown hopeful stands among the field just like every year, but American Pharoah's prestige suggests that he could boast the best chance of ending the drought in years. Of course, the same was said about California Chrome in many circles one short year ago.
The Kentucky Derby winner may be a cut above the rest, but Saturday's field includes at least a couple of horses that can take from Churchill Downs and realize they are capable of hanging with American Pharoah. Take a look below for everything you need to know.
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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.)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Lineup 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.
Horses to Watch
American Pharoah
Based on every indication, American Pharoah is going to have to beat out exactly who he beat out just two weeks ago to move one step away from the Triple Crown—only on a different course, and in a different state.
That's because, just like at Churchill Downs, Dortmund and Firing Line are simply ahead of the rest of the field in terms of top speed and ability. American Pharoah knows as much after having to overcome both down the stretch at the Derby.
Saturday, however, made American Pharoah's quest toward winning the Preakness a bit tougher. He drew the dreaded No. 1 post, starting on the inside gate, and Sports Illustrated's Tim Layden didn't scoff at its importance:
At the Derby, American Pharoah used his outside starting post to avoid any sort of trouble throughout most of the race, staying around the leaders and striking late. Saturday will need to produce a different game plan—one that jockey Victor Espinoza can easily implement without fear of getting boxed in on the rail.
Firing Line
He came up just one length shy of glory at the Run for the Roses, but Firing Line stands no small chance of spurning American Pharoah's Triple Crown aspirations Saturday afternoon.
In fact, he nearly ended them at Churchill Downs before they even began. After valiantly overtaking Dortmund down the home stretch, Firing Line took the late lead, only for American Pharoah to come barreling down the outside.
There will be better opportunities earlier in the race for Firing Line to position himself, starting with the No. 8 draw that will put him on the very outside. But that's only the precursor to the daunting task of attempting to hold off American Pharoah and likely Dortmund—who are sure to be there down the stretch.
Could Firing Line be a modern-day Alydar? Of course, Alydar made waves by being the horse to finish a close second to Affirmed back in 1978—the last case of a Triple Crown. That's obviously not the plan for Firing Line's camp, but it would be hard to deny Firing Line's ability if he followed suit.
Danzig Moon
No horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby seems to have much of a chance if Pimlico unfolds in a similar fashion, but don't tell that to Danzig Moon.
After each of the three win-place-show finishers confirmed their spots in the field, Danzig Moon made it four of the top five Derby finishers in the field. He finished fifth in the May 2 race, only 6 ½ lengths behind the winner.
Danzig Moon surprised both horse-racing experts and oddsmakers with his strong finish at Churchill Downs, and Nicole Russo of Daily Racing Form's account from Pimlico suggests he's ready to run another strong race:
"Another good morning for Danzig Moon, who came gliding along track with good energy, ears pricked. Colt trained like a monster before the Derby and outran his odds to be a creditable fifth; could be sitting on another strong effort."
If American Pharoah's and Dortmund's spots on the rail muck things up and the pace is friendly enough, Danzig Moon just might log a top-three finish at the Preakness.
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