Preakness 2019: Top Contenders and Unheralded Horses in Lineup Field

The 2019 Preakness Stakes will announce its field in full on Wednesday, but one of the most hotly anticipated events in the horse racing calendar has already started to take shape at Pimlico Race Course.

Saturday's showdown will be the 144th edition of the race and features a series of storylines, not least of which is that we already know we won't see a Triple Crown winner in 2019.

That's because Country House—who won the Kentucky Derby in controversial fashion—will not travel to Baltimore in an attempt to build on his victory in the first leg:

Maximum Security, who became the first horse to be disqualified from first place at the Derby, also won't take part in the Preakness, which could significantly open the field.

Bob Baffert-trained Improbable is again gaining attention as a top contender heading towards race day, while War of Will could be another to keep an eye on.

Improbable was one of the tipped favourites in Louisville but could only finish fourth, although he'll hope a more open field with fewer runners could be the key he needs to take victory this time.

His trainer gave a positive assessment of the horse after appearing at Pimlico recently, via broadcaster Fred Cowgill:

Baffert has two more ready-made candidates in Game Winner and Roadster, who finished fifth and 15 at the Kentucky Derby, respectively.

Improbable remains the only definite, though, after Baffert told reporters in early May that neither of his two other horses was in the running for Preakness, though that could change up until the last hour.

Bodexpress is an example of one horse that's leagues away from some peers in terms of status—he doesn't even have a win to his name so far—but he could spring a surprise come Saturday.

Jockey John Velazquez has won each of the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on two occasions, and he'll be hungry to finally add a Preakness victory to his trophy cabinet at 47.

Bodexpress finished second in the Grade 1 Florida Derby prior to Kentucky and could hold value lower down the order. Among those new horses said to be entering the field, Lexington Stakes winner Owendale has also attracted some interest of late.

The Courier Journal's Jason Frakes gave some insight as to why Country House and Maximum Security weren't competing:

The favourites can only be truly assessed after the post positions draw on Wednesday, with the favourites and underdogs alike all jostling for a superior spot on the line.