BALTIMORE – A class drop should suit Emmanuel, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in Pimlico’s Grade 3, $500,000 Dinner Party Stakes for 3-year-olds and up racing 1 1/8 miles on turf. As of Wednesday evening, however, the National Weather Service was calling for a 90 percent chance of rain on Saturday, and that might damper enthusiasm from taking too short a price on Emmanuel, who finished fifth of sixth in the Grade 1 Maker’s Mark Mile, contested over yielding turf on April 12 at Keeneland. “We’re a little concerned about the weather just because we don’t feel he’s quite as effective when the ground is soft,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Obviously, that was a pretty salty race he was in last time, but we did feel like he was compromised by the ground. And the same thing in the Fourstardave.” The Fourstardave Handicap at Saratoga was Emmanuel’s final start of 2023, and he finished a flat fifth over good going at 3-1 on the tote. Take out the Maker’s Mark and Fourstardave, and Emmanuel’s form is more promising, with Grade 3 victories over firm turf in last spring’s Poker at Belmont and the Canadian Turf at Gulfstream, Emmanuel’s debut effort in 2024. :: Get ready for the Preakness with DRF past performances, picks, and betting strategies! Emmanuel was the pacesetter in the Maker’s Mark, a race won by reigning Breeders’ Cup Mile winner Master of The Seas. “I think he’s better in a stalking position where he gets a little bit of cover,” Pletcher said. “We decided to take a shot because we didn’t think there was much speed in the Maker’s Mark. He made a comfortable lead. It might not be his preferred running style, but [jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.] seemed to think he didn’t handle the ground as well as he does firm.” Pletcher mentioned that he would consider scratching Emmanuel if the ground came up very soft. Highland Chief, a Grade 1 winner in 2022, returned from a 532-day layoff to run fifth in Keeneland’s Grade 2 Elkhorn on April 20. “I think I asked too much last time going 1 1/2 miles off such a long layoff,” trainer Graham Motion said. “He was just too sharp and wore himself out. He’s trained very well. I was very excited to run this horse the first time back. I think 1 1/4 miles is probably a good trip for him. “If I waited for the Grade 1,” Motion said, referring to the Manhattan on June 8 at Saratoga at 1 3/16 miles, “it’s only another sixteenth of a mile farther. To run in a Grade 3 as opposed to a Grade 1, it’s a kinder spot for him for the sake of a sixteenth.” Grade 3 winner English Bee, another Motion runner, recently finished second in Laurel’s Henry Clark on April 20. “He’s just an old warrior,” Motion said. “Although his Florida races were disappointing, I think maybe getting him back on fairer turf at Laurel helped him. He was a little unlucky to be run down.” Funtastic Again is winless from two turf starts, but finished second in last year’s James W. Murphy at Pimlico. In his most recent effort, he ran third in the Grade 3 Kentucky Cup Classic on the Tapeta at Turfway. “I’m excited about this race with this horse,” trainer Wesley Ward said. “I know he likes the course because he ran well on it last year. There was a horse that went out there with him, so they were ripping the first part. He held on and kept running where [the winner] sat back and made one big run and got a better trip. This time around, he’s bigger, he’s stronger, he’s more mature. He’s training superb.” Running Bee has upside potential and enters in sharp form after taking a high-level allowance on April 6 at Keeneland for trainer Chad Brown, who also saddles Grade 1 winner Adhamo. Grade 1 winner Atone, late-kicking Balnikhov, Crabs N Beer, Helms Deep, Beatbox, and Eons complete the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.