Preakness 2025 Post Positions Draw Start Time, Horses Lineup and More

With the announcement that Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will not compete in the Preakness Stakes comes an opportunity for a potential runner-up from that race to compete for a victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown in Baltimore.

Which of his peers from Churchill Downs will make the trip for Saturday's race?

Find out with this preview, including the confirmed horses for this year's 150th running of the Preakness and the schedule for the hotly anticipated event.

Schedule

Post Position Draw: Monday, May 12 at 6:00 p.m. EST

Race: Saturday, May 17

Time: approximately 6:50 p.m.

TV: NBC and CNBC

Streaming: Peacock

Horses Competing

The biggest news ahead of the Preakness is which horse is not competing.

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will forego the race after trainer Bill Mott informed race organizers that he will not be entering the colt at Pimlico Race Course. A patient racer who bided his time before making a late surge to the front that put him past Journalism for the win, his absence will be felt, perhaps by no one more than the Churchill Downs runner-up.

Without Sovereignty in the field, Journalism is instantly one of the favorites to claim the Preakness crown. Arguably the best racer in the field on May 3 despite the second place finish, the colt and trainer Michael McCarthy will have a shot at one of the most prestigious victories in the sport.

Like Sovereignty, he is a patient runner who can outlast his opponents, saves his sprints for the right time, and can set the pace late in the race. He did just that in Louisville and will look to replicate that performance, this time for the win.

Journalism was officially confirmed for the race Sunday evening.

Seventh-place finisher Sandman, the fan-favorite in the first leg of the Triple Crown and fast colt, should find himself right alongside Journalism as an early favorite.

Trainer Mark Casse admitted that he was originally intending to hold the horse, named after Metallica's "Enter Sandman," out until Belmont but, "He’s telling us he’s happy so we’re going to go with it.”

Expected to join those two are Goal Oriented, Clever Again, River Thames, American Promise, Gosger, Caldera, Heart of Honor, and Pay Billy.