Preakness Stakes: Tidbits from Pimlico on race day

Shug McGaughey, 72, hasn’t been around forever. It just seems that way. Perform (No. 6) is just his fourth Preakness starter. He was fifth with Pine Circle in 1984, second with Easy Goer in 1989, and fourth with Orb in 2013.

The Preakness is the only Triple Crown race McGaughey has not won. He won the Belmont in 1989 with Easy Goer and the Kentucky Derby in 2013 with Orb.

McGaughey’s given name is Claude, but he’s been known as “Shug” since he was a kid. He’s not sure why, either. “They never were able to give me a reason where it came from,” he once told the Albany Times. “It came from my mother.”

Kentucky Derby winner Mage (the No. 3 horse) is a son of Good Magic, who ran second in the 2018 Kentucky Derby to Justify, the last horse to win the Triple Crown. Mage’s grandsire is Big Brown, who won the Derby and Preakness in 2008.

Perform (No. 6) and Blazing Sevens (No. 7) are also progeny of Good Magic.

Bob Baffert will be back at the Preakness with National Treasure, the No. 1 horse. Baffert, who was suspended last year following a doping scandal, has won the Preakness seven times — most of any modern-day trainer.

National Treasure, which opened at a modest 4-1, would be Baffert’s longest shot to win. His seven winners with their closing odds: 2018, Justify (2-5 odds)[ 2015, American Pharoah (4-5); 2010, Lookin At Lucky (2-1); 2002, War Emblem (5-2); 2001, Point Given (2-1); 1998, Real Quiet (5-2); 1997, Silver Charm (3-1).

Then there’s Ed Moger Jr., who trains Chase the Chaos (No. 2). Moger entered the week with 15,597 starts, 1,946 wins, and nearly $37 million in earnings. This will be his first Triple Crown race.

Chase the Chaos and Coffeewithchris (No. 4) are geldings, which means they’re castrated — a common practice in horse racing used to protect the health of the horse or try to contain his aggressiveness. Boy, talk about giving your all for a victory.

The last gelding to win the Preakness was Funny Cide 20 years ago.

Horses trained by Steve Asmussen have finished second the last two years. Epicenter was the favorite when he lost to Early Voting by 1¼ lengths last year. Midnight Bourbon was second favorite when Rombauer (11-1) surprised the field with a three-length victory in 2021. Asmussen has the 5-horse Red Route One, which opened at 10-1 this year.

Asmussen has had 15 starts at the Preakness dating back to 2000. He won with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexander in 2009.

Forte was the Kentucky Derby favorite before being scratched on race day because of a bruised right foot. He also was put on the veterinarians’ suspended list for 14 days and is ineligible for this race.