Preakness Stakes guide: Odds, post positions, horse-by-horse rundown, TV info and more
Mage is the only horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby on May 6 who is in the field for Saturday’s Triple Crown race at Pimlico.
Instead of a gorgeous bouquet of roses, Kentucky Derby winner Mage comes to the Preakness Stakes with a target on his back.
Winning the Triple Crown is a grind. Especially with the first two races within 14 days of each other. Mage is the only horse who ran in the Derby on May 6 who is in the field for this Saturday’s Preakness.
John Salzman Jr., co-owner and trainer of Coffeewithchris, is among those willing to take a crack at Mage. His horse opened as the second longest shot on the board at 20-1 and ran fifth in his most recent race, the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 15.
“I’m not saying I’m going to beat him, because he is a super horse,” Salzman said after Coffeewithchris drew the No. 4 post. “But what I like is he has to come back in two weeks and with the shipping [from Louisville to Baltimore] and with everything, I’m here waiting and I’m fresh.”
The essentials
What: 148th Preakness Stakes.
When: Saturday, 7:01 p.m. Race 13 of 14.
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore.
Distance: 1 3/16 miles.
TV: CNBC (1-4:30 p.m.), NBC (4:30-7:30 p.m.).
Streaming: NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, Peacock.
Weather: Upper 60s, chance of a rain shower or two.
Purse: Total, $1,500,000. First place, $900,000. Second place, $300,000. Third place, $165,000. Fourth place, $90,000. Fifth place, $45,000.
Other Triple Crown races: Kentucky Derby (winner: Mage), Belmont Stakes (June 10).
» READ MORE: Mage the betting favorite at Pimlico
Last time out
The most recent results for the horses in the Preakness field listed by program number:
1. National Treasure, April 8: Santa Anita Derby, 4th
2. Chase the Chaos, April 29: California Derby, 8th
3. Mage, May 6: Kentucky Derby, 1st
4. Coffeewithchris, April 15, Federico Tesio Stakes, 5th
5. Red Route One, April 22: Bath House Row Stakes, 1st
6. Perform, April 15, Federico Tesio Stakes, 1st
7. Blazing Sevens, April 8: Blue Grass Stakes, 3rd
8. First Mission, April 15: Lexington Stakes, 1st
Born to be wild
A look at when this year’s Preakness field was born in 2020.
Feb. 1: Perform (6)
Feb. 19: Blazing Sevens (7)
March 12: Red Route One (5)
March 17: National Treasure (1)
March 21: Coffeewithchris (4)
April 7: Chase the Chaos (2)
April 18: Mage (3)
May 6: First Mission (8)
Pay up
The last five Preakness winners and some of their payouts.
2022: Early Voting (5-1) — $13.40 to win (5), $25.80 exacta (5-8), $133.00 trifecta (5-8-2).
2021: Rombauer (11-1) — $25.60 to win (6), $98.60 exacta (6-5), $325.40 trifecta (6-5-3).
2020: Swiss Skydiver (11-1) — $25.40 to win (4), $75.60 exacta (4-9), $2,411.40 trifecta (4-9-6).
2019: War of Will (6-1) — $14.20 to win (1), $947.00 exacta (1-10), $9,399.60 trifecta (1-10-5).
2018: Justify (2-5) — $2.80 to win (7), $27.40 exacta (7-8), $2.96.60 trifecta (7-8-6).
The field
1 — National Treasure (4-1)
Trainer: Bob Baffert. Jockey: John Velazquez.
Career earnings: $345,000
2023 starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-0-0-1
Career starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 5-1-1-2
Last three: Santa Anita Derby (4th), Sham Stakes (3rd), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (3rd).
Notable: Only win was in his first race on Sept. 3 at Del Mar. Baffert has seven victories here, tied with 19th century trainer Robert Wyndham Walden for most all time.
2 — Chase the Chaos (50-1)
Trainer: Ed Moger Jr. Jockey: Sheldon Russell.
Career earnings: $125,950
2023 starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-1-0-0
Career starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 8-3-2-1
Last three: California Derby (8th), San Felipe Stakes (7th), El Camino Real Derby (1st).
Notable: Qualified for the Preakness by winning the El Camino, but quickly struggled against better competition. Opened as easily the longest shot on the board.
3 — Mage (8-5)
Trainer: Gustavo Delgado. Jockey: Javier Castellano.
Career earnings: $2,107,200
2023 starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-2-1-0
Career starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-2-1-0
Last three: Kentucky Derby (1st), Florida Derby (2nd), Fountain of Youth Stakes (4th).
Notable: Only horse in the field who ran in the Kentucky Derby. Started in the eighth post there. The last two Derby-Preakness winners went on to win the Triple Crown (Justify and American Pharoah).
4 — Coffeewithchris (20-1)
Trainer: John Salzman Jr. Jockey: Jaime Rodriguez.
Career earnings: $225,600.
2023 starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-1-2-0
Career starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 12-3-3-2
Last three: Federico Tesio Stakes (5th), Private Terms Stakes (2nd), Miracle Wood Stakes (1st).
Notable: Certainly the most experienced in the field with 12 starts, including nine at nearby Laurel Park. Broke his maiden at Pimlico last May.
5 — Red Route One (10-1)
Trainer: Steve Asmussen. Jockey: Joel Rosario.
Career earnings: $633,525.
2023 starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 4-1-2-0
Career starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 9-2-2-1
Last three: Bath House Row Stakes (1st), Arkansas Derby (6th), Rebel Stakes (2nd).
Notable: He roared back from 10-plus lengths down to win by a head his last time out. Rosario has finished second in four of his last six Preakness mounts, including last year on Epicenter.
6 — Perform (15-1)
Trainer: Shug McGaughey. Jockey: Feargal Lynch.
Career earnings: $130,956
2023 starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-2-0-0
Career starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 7-2-1-1
Last three: Federico Tesio Stakes (1st), Maiden/Tampa (1st), Maiden/Gulfstream (4th).
Notable: This will be his eighth start at his eighth different track. Perform was 10-1 to win the Federico, which clinched his spot here. Trainer McGaughey’s first Preakness horse was 39 years ago (Pine Circle, finished 5th).
7 — Blazing Sevens (6-1)
Trainer: Chad Brown. Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr..
Career earnings: $565,250
2023 starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 2-0-0-1
Career starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 6-2-0-2
Last three: Blue Grass Stakes (3rd), Fountain of Youth Stakes (8th), Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (4th).
Notable: He had an impressive, three-length win at the Champagne Stakes, but that was more than seven months ago. Has raced only twice in 2023. Just a coincidence that he drew the No. 7 post.
8 — First Mission (5-2)
Trainer: Brad Cox. Jockey: Luis Saez.
Career earnings: $276,500
2023 starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-2-1-0
Career starts-1st-2nd-3rd: 3-2-1-0
Last three: Lexington Stakes (1st), Maiden/Fair Grounds (1st), Maiden/FairGrounds (2nd).
Notable: He did not run as a 2-year-old but has improved in his three starts this season. Opened as the second favorite despite a limited resumé. Son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense.