Preakness 2018: Early Predictions Post-Kentucky Derby

Winning the Kentucky Derby is always an impressive achievement, and it throws Justify into the spotlight for the rest of the Triple Crown racing seasons.

However, winning the 1 1/4-mile Derby does not mean a horse is going to be successful in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes in Baltimore in two weeks.

The May 19 race at Pimlico Race Course is quite a bit different than the Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. While horses can depend on their speed to win on a bigger track, Pimlico features much tighter and sharper turns and a shorter homestretch than the one found in Kentucky.

That doesn't mean a come-from-behind horse can't win, but tactics by the trainer and jockey are always important at the Preakness.

Here's a look at some of the horses that figure to be Preakness runners.

Justify: A tremendous performance in the Kentucky Derby against a powerful field in the rain, Justify looks like a special horse who is capable of winning the Triple Crown. Bob Baffert trained American Pharoah in 2015 when he won all three Triple Crown races, and he said after the Derby on the NBC broadcast that Justify was as good as any horse he has ever trained.

As long as there are no health problems, Justify will almost certainly ship to Baltimore to run in the Baltimore race.

Good Magic: In another Kentucky Derby, Good Magic might have been the one to earn a trip to the winner's circle. He made an excellent run and appeared to have a shot at catching Justify at the top of the stretch, but the winner was just too good. That does not mean that Good Magic can't get him at the Preakness.

Good Magic won the 2018 Blue Grass Stakes, and this son of Curlin may be able to reel in a few competitors as he makes his way on the backstretch before reaching full stride on the turn for home and continuing to run well down the stretch. Still, trainer Chad Brown has to decide if he wants his horse to run in the Preakness.

Bolt d'Oro: After finishing in 12th place in the Kentucky Derby, look for this Mick Ruis-trained horse to come to Baltimore and show off his abilities. Bolt d'Oro may have learned a key lesson in last year's Breeders' Cup Juvenile. He finished third in that race, as he was forced wide, and Ruis has to understand that he can't have his horse run wide in Baltimore if he is going to have a chance.

Free Drop Billy: He struggled to find his stride at Churchill Downs and finished 16th, but this Dale Romans-trained horse won the Futurity at Keeneland last fall, and he should have plenty to offer his supporters in Maryland.

Mendelssohn: Mendelssohn took a huge bump coming out of the gate, ended up at the back of the pack and finished 20th in the Derby. However, this is still a special horse, and if European trainer Aidan O'Brien is looking for redemption, he may send his charge to Baltimore. If that's the case, look for a much better performance from the horse who won the UAE Derby by 18 1/2 lengths.

Solomini: This Baffert-trained horse finished 10th in the Kentucky Derby. Like Good Magic, he is a son of Curlin, and he finished third in the Arkansas Derby. He could have a chance to hit the board in Baltimore.

Prediction

Justify is an undefeated horse, and he won the Kentucky Derby in impressive fashion. It's difficult to see anything but bad racing luck stopping him at this point.

Brown told NBC's Randy Moss that he didn't want Good Magic to challenge Justify again, but that may have been his spur-of-the-moment reaction. Good Magic is a strong horse, and he belongs in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Solomini got off to a slow start in the Derby, but he picked it up in the second half of the race and finished in 10th place. He should do better with a shorter field and has a chance to hit the board and finish third.