The 2019 Kentucky Derby was a mess. Messy track, messy horses, messy jocks and messy finish. Controversial to say the least. Articles are still being written about the Derby finish over a week after the event. The Maximum Security camp is still sure that they won the race and were robbed of the victory. The Country House camp is counting their blessings and holding pat.
But the Triple Crown must go on and the second leg is set to run this weekend at Pimlico Race Course outside of Baltimore. Funny thing is, neither Maximum Security nor Country House will be running in the 2019 Preakness Stakes. In fact only four horses that participated in the Kentucky Derby this year will be running at Pimlico.
The Preakness is a mile and three sixteenths long race that falls between the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes in both time and the length of the race. The purse this year will be around $1,500,000, which is a lot of money.
Such is the importance of the Triple Crown races that NBCSports will air a total of 7 hours of coverage from Pimlico featuring stakes-rich race cards and culminating in the running of the 144th Preakness Stakes. Post time for the big race is set at 6:50 EST, preceded by all the pomp and circumstance relegated to such a dignified event.
Those in attendance at the race will be ‘dressed to the nines’, as they say. The lucky ones will have ‘paddock passes’ which will allow them to walk through the paddocks where the horses and kept and prepped for the races. Walking among these magnificent creatures at rest and feeling the pent up energy all around them is one of the more unforgettable race day experiences for many, and to some, more fun than the race itself.
Of course, the favorites for the Preakness are the top horses remaining from the derby entrants. Improbable ran strong in Louisville but was blocked for most of the way around the back stretch. He is picked as the favorite at 5-2 to win at Pimlico as legendary trainer, and 2 time Triple Crown winner, Bob Baffert, will coach both horse and jockey to maximum effort to win the second leg of the 2019 Triple Crown.
Close behind comes another veteran from the Derby, War of Will, who was embroiled in the bumping controversy with Maximum Security. The longer track should tell the tale for trainer Mark Casse and War of Will who is currently listed at 4-1.
This year at Pimlico they have a local favorite running in the Preakness by the name of Alwaysmining coming off of six straight wins at Laurel Park and going off at 8-1 with strong local support.
So, grab a Daily Racing Form, study up and place your wagers for the Preakness Stakes for 2019.
