2017 Preakness: Free PPs and analysis from the rail out

The field for the 2017 Preakness is set and ready to run as the 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming will lead the horses to the gate for the middle leg of America’s three race test of ability and stamina that is the Triple Crown.

Trained by Todd Pletcher, Always Dreaming splashed his way home in decisive fashion nearly two weeks ago over a field that was twice the size of the one he’ll face on Saturday in the Preakness.

Of his nine opponents that will enter the starting gate this weekend, four return to take another crack at breaking a four-race win streak that began in a MSW race at Tampa back in January when Always Dreaming was sent out for the first time by Pletcher after opening his career in New York under the care of little known trainer Dominick Schettino.

Since then the son of 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness runner-up Bodemeister has been nothing short of spectacular with his front-running style and ability to carry his speed as long as they’ve wanted to go so far.

At 1 3/16 miles, the Preakness is the shortest of the Triple Crown series. And of the nine other entries only Conquest Mo Money has any tactical speed to challenge for the lead.

If Always Dreaming is successful in winning the Preakness, he’ll get a three-week rest before he attempts the longest of the three race rally in the 1 1/2 miles Belmont Stakes on June 10, in hopes of becoming the second Triple Crown winner in the last two years, and only the thirteenth in American thoroughbred racing history.

2017 Preakness Stakes Field by Post Position

#1 – Multiplier – Won the Illinois Derby in his last start. Before that was a maiden winner at Fair Grounds. Hasn’t missed the board in 4 career efforts and while impressive last time out beating early Derby hopefuls Hedge Fund and It’s Your Nickle, it’ll be hard for him to wake up Always Dreaming in here. There’s plenty of upside for this guy in the future and gets new rider in Rosario.

#2 – Cloud Computing – Just three starts for this young son of Maclean’s Music who took his 6f maiden opener over Aqueducts inner track. Was second to J Boys Echo in the G3 Gotham in second start when 7 in front of then undefeated El Areeb. Third in the G2 Wood. He’ll get Castellano for the first time and is a mild 12 to 1 for the Preakness. Won’t be able to be as close as he’s been in previous two graded tries but based on experience he could be around late with a deeper closing tactic.

#3 – Hence – Beat nine home in the Derby two weeks ago after an impressive rallying win in the G3 Sunland Derby. Loved the fact that he crushed Conquest Mo Money in that one. And CMM came back to give Classic Empire all he could handle in the G1 Arkansas Derby. May not be as good as we originally thought, but there was no way anyone was going to make up ground on Always Dreaming in the ‘sloppy’ Derby. Toss that one and this guy could come storming home at Pimlico.

#4 – Always Dreaming – Hard to expect that this guy to be anything less than the best of this year’s crop after proving himself as such vs. the forty some odd runners who began their career campaigns with their own dreams of winning it all as three-year-olds. But the races setup differently at Pimlico where Preakness winners tend to be the stalking type who can sit in the second flight and have enough kick to nail the leader at the wire a la I’ll Have Another who nailed Bodemeister, sire of this guy, in the 2012 Preakness. Legit favorite who will be pressed from the outside.

#5 – Classic Empire – Gotta believe that this guy doesn’t like an off-track as his lowest two BRIS speed figures came over a wet track. Still managed to close for 4th in the Derby beaten 9 lengths and has the style to be close enough and still have a kick home. Was undefeated as a two-year-old winning the BC Juvenile to cap-off the year. Disappointed fans as heavy favorite to open the ’17 season in the G2 Holy Bull, but his Arkansas Derby win was a welcome rebound for believers.

#6 – Gunnevera – After winning the G2 Fountain of Youth in impressive fashion, he went from strong contender to a disappointing pretender finishing third as the favorite behind Always Dreaming in the Florida Derby. But may very well be that he doesn’t want to make the one big run like they tried with him last time out in the Derby. He’ll get HOF Mike Smith aboard for the first time and expect he’ll be much closer than he was in his last two starts. Should be around in the end for a piece of the exotics.

#7 – Term of Art –Almost 100 to 1 when he faced Classic Empire in the BC Juvenile last November finishing 9th beaten 20 lengths. Came back the very next out to win at 1 mile in a G3 at Del Mar then nothing since. Exits the G1 Santa Anita Derby that produced Derby show runner Battle of Midway. But this guy’s numbers are just plain bad and the longer distance of the Belmont may be best for this son of Tiznow.

#8 – Senior Investment – Recorded his highest BRIS speed figure last time out as the winner of the G3 Lexington. Has only one style as a late closer and that’s not the best way to win this race unless it totally falls apart up front. And with only two legitimate speed types in here that’s not likely to happen. Has his regular rider but picks up 8 lbs. off last. Too tough a task.

#9 – Lookin At Lee – Gotta believe he was second in the Derby because he had the ready rail on a sloppy track. And that won’t be the case in the Preakness. The two-back Arkansas Derby is probably more like the performance we can expect from this guy. But his one-run style from way back makes him an unlikely challenger for the top two or three spots on the board. And remember, his only two wins came at Ellis and that’s a fact Jack!

#10 – Conquest Mo Money – This was our play in the Arkansas Derby at 17 to 1 and looked like the winner until the 1/16 pole. He was tough as nails that day after a runner-up performance two back when beaten by Hence in the Sunland Derby. Won his first three then lost his last two. But as the only other speed in the race he’ll be pressing Always Dreaming for most of the race and expect he’ll be around late to close out exotics.