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Free Preakness Stakes 2018 Past Performances and WizCapper analysis

Preakness Horses

The 143rd Preakness Stakes

All eyes will be on Justify in the 2018 Preakness Stakes next Saturday at Pimlico for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

The long term forecast calls for rain on Saturday, May 19, 2018 in Maryland where the Preakness Stakes will be run for the 143rd time. Preakness weather forecast

2018 Preakness Stakes Contenders

Note: Horses listed in alphabetical order

1.) Bolt d’Oro – Had the 11 hole twice in his career and didn’t run his best. And could end up getting the widest draw again if the list of contenders stays at ten plus one. Espinoza had no choice but to send LTO in the Derby and note it was his first trip over a sloppy track. Currently, there’s a 50% chance of rain in the forecast for the Preakness. He’ll probably run here but still don’t think he’s at the top of his class.

2.) BravazoRan much better than his 67-1 odds in the Derby. But gotta believe that was due to his fondness for Churchill and the fact that it rained. Not that the rain helped him as much as it hurt his rivals. Was 10 lengths back in 4th turning for home but flattened out due to distance limitations. Cuts back in Preakness but his style of being close to the pace won’t be helped by the inclusion of Quip and, of course, Justify. Still he’s been banging heads with the better three-year-olds in his class and could be there for a piece of the exotics.

3.) Diamond King – Would have been great to see him finish the KYJC won by Enticed but he clipped heels and lost rider soon after the start. Before that he won his first two starts and returned to win his next start. Stepped up into graded company sprinting in the Swale at Gulfstream and finished a respectable third before winning the Federico Tesio in his last start here and first time he got a chance to go a distance since the Kentucky Jockey Club misfire. He’s the hometown representative but as in many Preakness’ past, he’ll be an also ran as those who came before him.

4.) Givemeaminit – When it rains on Preakness day, horses can come from the clouds to get a piece of the purse. This guy is a humbly bred son of the Louisiana Champion Star Guitar whose 3rd place finish in the ’09 Alysheba was the best he could do in a graded stakes. But finished first in 12 of his 16 career starts from 2009 to 2012. Sure he was beaten by Sporting Chance twice, Good Magic in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (he finished just 13 lengths back in 4th) and was 8 lengths back of My Boy Jack two back in the Louisiana Derby. But he’s a different horse on an off-track as demonstrated in the Pat Day Mile on Derby Day when he finished third and was gaining on the place horse. He’s a player in the mud. UPDATE: Horseracingnation.com is reporting that trainer Dallas Stewart has elected to skip the Preakness and point to the June 9 Woody Stephens on the Belmont Stakes undercard.

5.) Good Magic – He was WizCapper’s choice to upset Justify in the Derby and almost ran out of ground to hold second. The cutback will benefit him in the Preakness. He has the speed to stay close and the ability to rate which gives him the best chance to switch places with Justify. And give him extra credit if the forecasters are wrong and the track comes up dry next Saturday.

6.) Justify – Undefeated, undisputed and Justify’ably the favorite to win it all for the second time in three years for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. But on the day after the Derby, as Justify was ‘paraded before the public’ outside his stall at Churchill Downs,  he appeared to show signs of an injury which had the racing world wondering “What Happened?” and PETA in an uproar. Read PETA’s statement on Justify. But all is well, as Baffert and the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission’s veterinarians attributed Justify’s ‘light footed’ walk to a case of the ‘scratches’, which for now seems to have ‘satisfied’ PETA, and racing fans everywhere. So take Baffert’s word on it and consider Justify to make quick work of the Preakness on his way to a Triple Crown winning shot in the Belmont Stakes on June 9.

7.) Lone Sailor –  Running line says he was “stymied” while racing down on the rail throughout to finish 8th but only 9 lengths back of Justify. Considering he relished the slop in a 7 furlong maiden victory at the Spa at 2 and was only a neck back of Noble Indy two back in the Louisiana Derby, there’s no telling how close he could have gotten given a clear path in a smaller field like he’ll face in the Preakness. Probably a couple of lengths off the better ones in here but well worth including in your bets — especially if it comes up sloppy.

8.) Pony Up – In horse racing, the phrase “…only as good as the last race” means a lot more when a horse’s last race has proved to be “key” in the sense that others have returned from the same race to win in their next starts. It doesn’t mean that every horse from a race will win but sometimes we see as many as three horses return to win next time out after exiting the same race. In this guy’s case he exits the Lexington, won by My Boy Jack who was 30-1 in the morning line on Derby Day. But much to the surprise of handicappers was bet down to as low as 5-1 at one point leading up to the start. There’s only one explanation for that. Rain! But on Derby Day My Boy Jack, who loves the mud and was bet down because of it, wasn’t able to get going early enough to have any impact on the outcome and finished a very respectable 5th. Which brings us back to this guy who was a late closing 3rd in the Lexington and should be included in exotic wagers.

9.) Quip – Single-styled speedster will be hard pressed to keep up with Justify but that’s what they’ll have to try to do if he’s to have any chance. Exits the Arkansas Derby won by Magnum Moon who returned to beat one horse in the Kentucky Derby. Won the G2 Tampa Derby two back to give them cause to consider him for bigger things but can’t see how he keeps going to win this given Magnum Moon’s performance exiting the slowly run Arkansas Derby.

10.) Sporting Chance – Toss his last effort in the Pat Day Mile when he checked at the 5/8’s pole and was taken out of his game. He has a little early foot that should have him in contention early but will be facing his toughest test to date for Lukas.

11.) Tenfold – Also exits the slowly run Arkansas Derby which saw a tiring Magnum Moon return to run 19th in the Derby. Sire won the 2007 Preakness when it looked like he would be beaten by the Derby winner Street Sense who was given an untimely and unexpected ride by Calvin Borel. Won his first two starts before a 5th LTO at Oaklawn and will be making only his second graded start. But it’s a tough place to try and get his third win.

Early Preakness Past Performances provided by Brisnet
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