It’s always discouraging when you make a superfecta pick and horse-racing expert Dick Jerardi basically says that horse (Market King) has no chance. Sigh.
Here’s a closer look at Saturday’s race.
When: Saturday, 6:48 p.m. post time (Race 13)
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore
TV: NBC beginning at 5 p.m. (NBCSN has the undercard starting at 2 p.m.)
Live streaming: NBCSports.com
Wagering Info: 1-888-BET-2-WIN or www.parxracing.com/phonebet.php
Distance: 1 3/16 miles. Weights: 126 pounds. Purse: $1.5 million.
First place: $900,000. Second: $300,000. Third: $165,000. Fourth: $90,000. Fifth: $45,000.
Other Triple Crown races: Kentucky Derby, May 4 (winner: Country House); Belmont Stakes, June 8.
Morning Line: 4-1
Owner: Gary Barber. Trainer: Mark Casse. Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione.
Career Earnings: $501,569. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-2-0-0
Last three: Kentucky Derby (7th), Louisiana Derby (9th), Risen Star Stakes (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Forget the incident on far turn of the Derby. Was compromised by traffic issues on the backstretch. Huge chance to win.
Morning Line: 12-1
Owner: Bourbon Lane & Lake Star stables
Trainer: Mark Hennig. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
Career Earnings: $202,100. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-1-1-0.
Last three: Florida Derby (4th), Fountain of Youth Stakes (2nd), allowance/Gulfstream (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Solid South Florida form against some very strong fields. Dangerous if gets hot, contested pace to set up late run.
Morning Line: 12-1
Owner: Ten Strike Racing & Madaket Stable. Trainer: Brad Cox. Jockey: Javier Castellano.
Career Earnings: $138,110. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-2-0-2.
Last three: allowance/Oaklawn (1st), maidens/Oaklawn (1st), maidens/Oaklawn (3rd)
DJ’s breakdown: Changed style in last two and ran really fast. Best chance if loose, but there is definitely other early speed.
Morning Line: 5-2
Owner: WinStar Farm, et. al. Trainer: Bob Baffert. Jockey: Mike Smith.
Career Earnings: $769,520. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-0-2-0.
Last three: Kentucky Derby (4th), Arkansas Derby (2nd), Rebel Stakes (2nd)
DJ’s breakdown: Talent is obvious, but winless in 2019. Took forever to get a clear run in the Derby. Solid favorite with Baffert/Smith.
Morning Line: 10-1
Owner: Rupp Racing. Trainer: Brad Cox. Jockey: Florent Geroux.
Career Earnings: $187,225. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-2-0-0.
Last three: Lexington Stakes (1st), Risen Star Stakes (8th), claiming/Fairgrounds (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Powerhouse winner of the Lexington Stakes with the kind of speed figure that can win the Preakness if he does it again.
Morning Line: 30-1
Owner: Bob Baker, Bill Mack. Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas. Jockey: Jon Court.
Career Earnings: $148,007. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 5-1-0-2.
Last three: Blue Grass Stakes (11th), Rebel Stakes (3rd), allowance/Oaklawn (3rd)
DJ’s breakdown: Vet scratch during post parade of Pat Day Mile on Derby Day. Not a good sign for horse that was just beaten 37 lengths.
Morning Line: 8-1
Owner: Runnymede Racing. Trainer: Kelly Rubley. Jockey: Daniel Centeno.
Career Earnings: $386,192. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-3-0-0.
Last three: Tesio Stakes (1st), Private Terms Stakes (1st), Miracle Wood Stakes (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Maryland-based star on a six-race win streak by a combined 36 lengths. Has the speed to be in the race early.
Morning Line: 30-1
Owner: Tommie Lewis, et. al. Trainer: Ken McPeek. Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr.
Career Earnings: $552,990. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-0-0-1.
Last three: Blue Grass Stakes (3rd), Fountain of Youth Stakes (7th), Jockey Club Stakes (2018, 1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Simply not fast enough. Slight chance is if there is a complete pace meltdown and he is the only one running at the finish.
Morning Line: 20-1
Owner: Top Racing, et. al. Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. Jockey: John Velazquez.
Career Earnings: $208,700. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-0-2-0.
Last three: Kentucky Derby (13th), Florida Derby (2nd), maiden/Gulfstream (2nd)
DJ’s breakdown: Was a brilliant second behind Maximum Security in Fla. Derby and ran hard to final turn of the Ky. Derby. Still a maiden.
Morning Line: 50-1
Owner: Calumet Farm. Trainer: Dale Romans. Jockey: Joel Rosario.
Career Earnings: $134,805. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 5-0-1-0.
Last three: Pat Day Mile (5th), Florida Derby (9th), Fountain of Youth Stakes (8th).
DJ’s breakdown: Last-minute entrant has run just one good race and that race isn’t remotely good enough to give him any chance.
Morning Line: 20-1
Owner: Alex & JoAnn Lieblong. Trainer: Steve Asmussen. Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.
Career Earnings: $338,518. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 5-3-0-0.
Last three: Oaklawn Stakes (1st), Arkansas Derby (4th), Rebel Stakes (7th)
DJ’s breakdown: Earned his way with a stakes win on Derby Day at Oaklawn Park. Son of 2012 Belmont Stakes winner Union Rags.
Morning Line: 6-1
Owner: Peter Redekop. Trainer: Blaine Wright. Jockey: Jose Ortiz.
Career Earnings: $303,505. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-2-2-0.
Last three: Lexington Stakes (2nd), Sunland Park Derby (2nd), El Camino Real Derby (1st)
DJ’s breakdown: Has early speed to be with the pace and super consistent form with three wins and two seconds in last five races.
Morning Line: 15-1
Owner: Live Oak Plantation. Trainer: Mike Trombetta. Jockey: Julian Pimentel.
Career Earnings: $367,300. 2019 Starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-1-1-1.
Last three: Kentucky Derby (9th), Blue Grass Stakes (2nd), Tampa Bay Derby (3rd)
DJ’s breakdown: Ran better than his 10th place Derby finish. Lost momentum just before quarter pole when stuck behind huge pack.
Bob Baffert is tied with 19th-century trainer R.W. Walden for most Preakness Stakes wins with seven. Here are Baffert’s winners at Pimlico:
