Preakness 2018: Post Time, Race Schedule and Latest Prize Money Info

Not since American Pharoah won the Triple Crown in 2015 has a horse sealed victory in the first two legs of the American racing series, but Justify will attempt to do so in the 2018 Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

Bob Baffert trained American Pharoah to that clean sweep three years ago and will feel Justify is in good shape to replicate the feat after his trip to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, once again tagged as favourite in a field of only eight.

Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman provided a breakdown of the Preakness Stakes odds earlier in May, with Justify teed up for a second win in Baltimore soon after he led a storming run to victory at Churchill Downs:

The top five finishers in last year's Preakness Stakes shared prize money totalling $1.5 million. A $900,000 chunk of that went to the winner and $300,000 to the runner-up, with an identical purse to be distributed in 2018, per Scott Ross of NBC Connecticut.

Read on for a Preakness Stakes preview ahead of Saturday's showdown, complete with live-stream and television information.

2018 Preakness Stakes

Post time: 6:20 p.m. ET/11:20 p.m. BST

TV broadcast: NBC (U.S.)

Live Stream: NBC Sports app (U.S.)

Preview

The Preakness Stakes is traditionally a more modest affair than the Kentucky Derby that precedes it, often featuring a smaller field of runners, and this year's event is the joint-smallest since 2000, with only eight in attendance.

Many might have expected Justify to contend irrespective of how many made it to the Pimlico start line, but the logic may now be that a smaller pack means an even simpler line to first following a powerful display in the Kentucky Derby.

Justify did nothing to dissuade that trend of thinking with his performance in Louisville, where he held off a late challenge from Good Magic to emerge a confident victor:

But Baffert, having claimed five Kentucky Derby winners' medals in his career, now approaches the most successful race in his Triple Crown repertoire. He's aiming to win at Pimlico for the seventh time in his career on Saturday.

Jimmy Barnes is assistant to Baffert and recently said Justify was "full of himself" after the Kentucky win, per AmericasBestRacing.net. 

Jose Ortiz rode Good Magic to a laudable effort in chasing down Justify's lead a fortnight ago, but track announcer Travis Stone expected more aid would be needed in the Preakness if he's to alter the result:

Ortiz won the 2017 Belmont Stakes, and the 24-year-old is hoping to take a second career Triple Crown leg in Baltimore, but improved conditions at Pimlico could only improve Justify's chances of adding to his trophy cabinet.

What's more, Alysse Jacobs of the New York Racing Association highlighted a statistic that runs in favour of Baffert improving an already imperious record converting in the Preakness:

Justify is yet to suffer defeat four races into his professional career, and Baffert will sit on the verge of confirming another wonder horse crafted in his stable if the three-year-old can triumph on Saturday.