Preakness 2018: Entries, Contenders, Odds and Lineup Analysis

Justify impressed the thoroughbred horse racing world with his victory in the Kentucky Derby on the first Saturday in May.

It's always a challenge to win the Run for the Roses, because the winner always has to overcome a crowded field and that's a major challenge.

In the case of Justify, he had to beat 19 other rivals and do it in the pouring rain. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith worked up a solid game plan, and Justify executed it to perfection. He got out of the gate quickly to avoid traffic and ran close to the lead for the first half of the race.

Once Smith took Justify to the front, he ran with purpose and determination. When Good Magic challenged him at the top of the stretch, Justify simply found another gear and put his rival away.

Justify is the minus-225 favorite for Saturday's Preakness Stakes in Baltimore, according to OddsShark, and he appears to be the best horse in the field by quite a bit. Good Magic returns to challenge him, and he is the plus-325 second choice.

If Good Magic doesn't get the best of Justify in 1 3/16-mile race, it's difficult to see any of the other six horses in the field getting the job done either. This is not a critique of the eight-horse field, but more of an endorsement of Justify, who looks like he may be able to join American Pharoah, Affirmed, Seattle Slew and perhaps the sport's all-time great, Secretariat, as a Triple Crown winner.

That may be quite a jump to make after one Triple Crown race, but Justify looks the part because of his size, red coloring (like Secretariat) and swagger on the race track.

Justify would like to run in a similar manner to the way he did in the Derby. He is comfortable near the front, with the lead or stalking the pace.

While a high-powered speed duel can be an issue for any competitor, it does not look like Justify is going to wear down at any time.

Good Magic is trained by Chad Brown, and after initially saying he did not want to challenge Justify at Pimlico Race Course, he changed his mind as his charge has looked good in training. Still, he knows that it will be a difficult task. 

"He needs to move forward again," Brown said, per Ed McNamara of Newsday, "and we need Justify to come back to us a little bit. I think it's not out of the question."

Post Position, Horse, Odds 

1. Quip, +1400
2. Lone Sailor, +2000
3. Sporting Chance, +4000
4. Diamond King, +2000
5. Good Magic, +325
6. Tenfold, +3300
7. Justify, -225
8. Bravazo, +1800

Odds provided by OddsShark.

Quip may have a chance to get a share here if he can overcome the rail. Quip has three victories in his five previous races, and he likes to stalk the pace or get near the lead. The problem is that his style is the same as Justify's, and the Derby champion appears to be the better horse by quite a bit.

Bravazo also likes to stalk the pace, and he is trained by D. Wayne Lukas. But just like Quip, if he has to engage Justify too early in the race, it will likely not go well for him.

Lone Sailor is trained by Tom Amoss and ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr. He has only won one race in nine trips to the post, but he has the running style that could take advantage of an ultra-fast pace because he does like to come from behind, according to Neil Greenberg of the Washington Post.

Diamond King has won four times in six races, but jockey Javier Castellano may have a hard time here because his horse has not run against opponents of this caliber and he appears to lack the speed needed to win.

Tenfold has only been to the post three times in his career, but he has won two of his races. Steve Asmussen is one of the better trainers in the business, but his horse is relatively untested. Sporting Chance does not seem to like this distance, as he has never won beyond seven furlongs, per McNamara.

Predicted finish

1. Justify

2. Good Magic

3. Lone Sailor