BALTIMORE – Smart Strike and his sons have been extremely successful in producing stamina for the Triple Crown series – and, indeed, have stood out in the Preakness Stakes, specifically.
That history is one of the best things that longshots Fenwick and Skippylongstocking will have going for them in Saturday’s Preakness. Fenwick is by Smart Strike’s two-time Horse of the Year Curlin, while Skippylongstocking is by Curlin’s son Exaggerator. Both sires are Preakness winners themselves.
BALTIMORE – Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter remained the Preakness Stakes favorite in early wagering Friday for Saturday's middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
Advance wagering for the Preakness began when the windows opened for the 14-race Friday card at Pimlico. Epicenter, who Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle made the 6-5 morning-line favorite at the post position draw on Monday, remained at 6-5 about 6:30 p.m. Friday, following the last race of the day.
BALTIMORE – Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter remained the Preakness Stakes favorite as early wagering numbers began to come in midway through Friday's card at Pimlico.
Advance wagering for the Preakness began when the windows opened for the Friday card. Epicenter, who Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle made the 6-5 morning-line favorite at the post position draw on Monday, had been bet down to 3-5 as of 2:15 p.m. Friday, through six of 14 races on the Friday card.
BALTIMORE – Trainers and officials at Pimlico were preparing Friday morning as best they could for the blazing heat forecast to descend on this area both Friday and Saturday, when temperatures were predicted to rise to the low-90s for the Black-Eyed Susan card on Friday and as high as 97 for the Preakness card on Saturday.
Sean McCarthy, who trains Black-Eyed Susan favorite Adare Manor, said he had given Adare Manor electrolytes on Thursday, and on Friday would give her “water like normal.”
BALTIMORE – At the northwest corner of the stakes barn here at Pimlico Race Course, trainer D. Wayne Lukas settled into a plastic chair on Wednesday, his morning training done. The spot afforded him a view down the shedrow of, among others, his filly Secret Oath, who runs in the Preakness on Saturday. But it also afforded him a view of all he’s done here over the years.
BALTIMORE – Two weeks after making his first Kentucky Derby walkover as a trainer of record, Tim Yakteen is back for the Preakness Stakes.
He brings in new a face in Armagnac while his Derby starters, Messier and Taiba, rest from their efforts.
"I'm exhausted," Yakteen said. "It's been exciting for the whole team."
BALTIMORE, Md. -- Tami Bobo has built her career around trading young horses, and she sold a Kentucky Derby starter a decade ago. Now, a colt she held on to is giving her a first taste of the Triple Crown as an owner.
Simplification, a creditable fourth in the Kentucky Derby, was the first Preakness Stakes candidate on the grounds at Pimlico last week. He is the first to carry Bobo’s silks – featuring a padlock and key, in a nod to her Secure Investments business moniker – in a Triple Crown event.
BALTIMORE – The Orioles are well below .500, the Ravens were 8-9 last year, the Bullets long ago moved to Washington and were magically transformed into Wizards. And now the Kentucky Derby winner isn’t coming to the Preakness. What, oh what, is a Baltimore sports fan to do?
Kevin McKathan’s name does not appear in the past performances of Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Hall of Famers Silver Charm and Silverbulletday, and dual classic winner Real Quiet. But he has been integral to the success of those horses and many others.
BALTIMORE – Epicenter’s presence in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday here at Pimlico marks the sixth straight year that trainer Steve Asmussen will have at least one runner in the race. It’s a testament to the appeal of the Preakness as a Triple Crown event, the depth of his barn, but, perhaps most significantly, how well prepared his horses are for the Kentucky Derby, enabling them to come back in two weeks.
