Horse

Journalism

Jockey

Umberto Rispoli

Trainer

Michael McCarthy

Morning Line

15

Owner

Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith

Skinny

Journalism had the lead down the stretch in the Kentucky Derby (G1) but couldn’t hold off Sovereignty. Rispoli thought the Santa Anita Derby winner would have won if the Derby wasn’t contested on a sloppy track. Journalism will likely be reserved just off the pace. McCarthy saddled Preakness winner Rombauer in 2021

Horse

River Thames

Jockey

Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trainer

Todd Pletcher

Owner

WinStar Farm LLC, CHC Inc., Pantofel Stable LLC, Wachtel Stable

Skinny

River Thames had enough points to run in Kentucky Derby (G1) but the decision was made to give the colt more time to prepare for the Preakness (G1) after a third-place finish in the Blue Grass (G1). He was beaten a neck by Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty March 1 in the Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream. Hall of Famer Pletcher has won nearly every major race except this one.

Horse

American Promise

Jockey

Nik Juarez

Trainer

D. Wayne Lukas

Morning Line

6

Owner

BC Stables LLC

Skinny

This son of Triple Crown winner Justify finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby but the connections feel like he was compromised a few times at the start and later in the race. The 89-year-old Lukas, who first saddled a Preakness starter in 1980, will attempt to saddle his record-tying eighth Preakness winner. He earned his seventh win last year with Seize the Grey. Jockey Juarez is a native of nearby Westminster, Maryland.

Horse

Rodriguez

Jockey

Mike Smith

Trainer

Bob Baffert

Owner

SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Stonestreet Stables LLC, et al

Skinny

Rodriguez was scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to a bruised foot, but record-setting and eight-time Preakness winning trainer Bob Baffert said after the Derby he was “planning” on running in the Preakness. The colt last raced April 5, winning the Wood Memorial (G2). Baffert has won a record eight Preakness, his last coming in 2023 with National Treasure.

Horse

Clever Again

Jockey

Jose Ortiz

Trainer

Steve Asmussen

Owner

Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith

Skinny

This lightly raced son of a Triple Crown winner American Pharoah has raced only three times, but won his last two starts by 7 ¼ lengths, including the Hot Springs Stakes in his last start March 30 when he led throughout. Trainer Asmussen won the Preakness with Rachel Alexandria (2009) and Curlin (2007), both named Horse of the Year.

Horse

Heart of Honor

Jockey

Saffie Osborne

Trainer

Jamie Osborne

Owner

Jim and Claire Limited

Skinny

He’s been off the radar. Started his career where he was bred in the U.K. before making his last five starts in Dubai, including a second-place finish April 5 in the UAE Derby (G2). Trainer Osborne saddled his 2014 UAE Derby winner Toast of New York to a sixth-place finish in the Belmont Derby Invitational Stakes. His daughter is jockey Saffie, who in 2024 became the first female jockey to win a race at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai.

Horse

Pay Billy

Jockey

Raul Mena

Trainer

Michael Gorham

Owner

RKTN Racing LLC

Skinny

This $60,000 purchase earned an automatic berth in the Preakness starting gate when he won the Federico Tesio April 19 at Laurel Park. The colt has won four of his last five starts including the Private Terms at Laurel. This will be his toughest test. Trainer Gorham has been training since 1985 and has won more than 1400 races. This is his first Preakness starter.

Horse

Gosger

Jockey

Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trainer

Brendan Walsh

Owner

Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables, LLC.

Skinny

In just his third career start, homebred Gosger was impressive when winning the Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland April 12. Trainer Walsh thought the Derby was a bit too much to ask, but he was optimistic about the Preakness. Sire Nyquist was third in the 2016 Preakness. The late Harvey Clarke bred and owned 2012 Preakness winner I’ll Have Another.

Horse

Runnin N Gunnin

Jockey

Flavien Prat

Trainer

Steve Asmussen

Owner

Douglas Scharbauer

Skinny

The filly brought $250,000 at auction. She started the year winning her first two starts, including the Sunland Park Oaks, before finishing third in her last start in the Fantasy (G2). Asmussen is the winningest trainer in the sport, but this race has escaped him.

Horse

Princess Aliyah

Jockey

Nik Juarez

Trainer

D. Wayne Lukas

Owner

BC Stables LLC, Morplay Racing LLC, Joey Platts

Skinny

This filly sold for $1.2 million as a yearling. She has two wins, one against maidens and one at Oaklawn Park in the Valley Of The Vapors. Her last start was a 10th place finish in the Eight Belles (G2) at Churchill Downs May 2. Lukas has won this race four times, the last in 1995 with Serena’s Song.

Horse

Paris Lily

Jockey

Joel Rosario

Trainer

Brendan Walsh

Owner

Godolphin, LLC

Skinny

Bred and owned by Kentucky Derby winning owners Godolphin. The filly has two wins, one against maidens and one against allowance optional claiming company. Her lone stakes appearance came in December at Fair Grounds when she finished seventh in the Untapable Stakes.

Horse

Moon Cache

Jockey

Raul Mena

Trainer

Michael Gorham

Owner

Original 6 Stable

Skinny

Her eight starts have all been at nearby Laurel Park, where she finished second in the Beyond The Wire Stakes in March and third in the Weber City Miss in April. Gorham, who will saddle Pay Billy in the Preakness (G1), has saddled more than 1,400 winners.

Horse

Margie’s Intention

Jockey

Irad Ortiz Jr.

Trainer

Brad Cox

Owner

Baron Stable, WinStar Farm LLC

Skinny

This Louisiana bred has changed barns since finishing second in a pair of restricted stakes races in March at Fair Grounds. After finishing fourth in her debut in December, Margie’s Intention has two wins and two seconds and now goes to the barn of Cox, who leads the sport this year in money earned and is second in wins.

Horse

Tenma

Jockey

Juan Hernandez

Trainer

Bob Baffert

Owner

B. Flay Thoroughbred

Skinny

Enters this contest off a fourth-place finish in the May 2 Kentucky Oaks (G1) after winning the April 5 Santa Anita Oaks (G2). The $850,000 filly could give Baffert his fourth Black-Eyed Susan victory.