BALTIMORE – The field for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday will be 60 percent smaller than the Kentucky Derby, but a couple of things will look awfully familiar, as Justify, the Derby winner, will once again wear saddle cloth number 7, and once again it looks like he’ll have to negotiate an off track. On a rainy Wednesday here at Pimlico that likely will foretell the remainder of the week, Justify landed post 7 during the post draw for the Preakness, which drew a field of eight, 12 less than ran in the Derby. Justify will be heavily favored to add the Preakness and continue his quest to sweep the Triple Crown. Mike Watchmaker, Daily Racing Form’s national handicapper, made him the 2-5 favorite, while Keith Feustle, who makes the official morning line at Pimlico, has him at 1-2. Good Magic, runner-up to Justify in the Derby, is the second choice on both lines. He is 5-2 on Watchmaker’s line, and 3-1 on Feustle’s line. No one else is in single digits. Both linemakers have Quip the distant third choice at 12-1. :: Visit DRF's one-stop shop for Preakness PPs, guides, and more! Justify arrived here on Wednesday afternoon after a flight from Kentucky, where he had been based since his victory on May 5 in the Derby at Churchill Downs. He was quite fresh, with trainer Bob Baffert having chosen to give him the morning off at Churchill Downs in anticipation of the afternoon flight. Baffert walked Justify several times around the stakes barn shedrow, and muttered “he’s wearing me out” before yielding the lead shank to his assistant, Jim Barnes. “He’s really full of himself,” Baffert said later. Justify is shod with conventional shoes on all four hooves. His left rear shoe was three-quartered in the aftermath of the Derby to address minor irritation there, but he has been re-shod since in a regular shoe. Justify is scheduled to train on both Thursday and Friday mornings at Pimlico. Baffert does not take his horses to the track on race day mornings. It was drizzling when Justify got off the horse van, and that weather is expected to be pretty much the norm all week, so if you liked the weather for Derby, you’ll love it for the Preakness. The forecast the rest of the week, according to The Weather Channel, is for daily rain or showers, the chances ranging from a low of 90 percent on Thursday and Saturday to 100 percent on Friday. It’s a mud, mud, mud, mud world. :: View a list of resources and content related to the 2018 Preakness The weather was a consideration for those already here on Wednesday, hours before posts were drawn. Of the eight horses entered in the second leg of the Triple Crown, trainer D. Wayne Lukas has two of them, including Bravazo, who braved an off track in the Derby when finishing sixth behind Justify. “He handles it really well. He rolls right through it,” Lukas said as he sat in a chair, under cover, at the western end of the stakes barn as light rain fell Wednesday morning. “We’ll keep it interesting, but we’re realistic. We’re facing a good horse. It might be Justify and all the rest.” Justify has won all four of his starts, and only three horses – Bravazo, Good Magic, and Lone Sailor – of the 19 who chased him home in the Derby two weeks ago are back to try again. For all those horses, it likely will be the only time in their lives they have just 14 days between starts. “You’ve got to have a tough one,” Lukas said. “If you don’t, it won’t work.” The other four entrants – Diamond King, Quip, Sporting Chance, and Tenfold – are newcomers to the Triple Crown trail. If all eight start, that will equal the smallest Preakness field since 2000. The last time there were less than eight runners in the Preakness was 1986, when seven ran. Quip is owned by WinStar Farm and China Horse Club, who are among the owners of Justify. Sporting Chance is Lukas’s other runner, though there is no overlapping ownership of his colts. Justify remained at Churchill Downs following the Derby, and flew here on Wednesday along with Lone Sailor and Quip. Diamond King, stabled at Parx, was sent by van to Pimlico Wednesday afternoon. Those who arrived earlier this week had a muddy track on which to train on Wednesday morning. Lukas sent both Bravazo and Sporting Chance out for jogs early in the morning, while a bit later Good Magic had a controlled gallop of about 1 1/2 miles, with exercise rider Walter Malasquez appearing to keep him from rolling along owing to the surface. Tenfold also went later when testing the track for the first time, but Scott Blasi – the top assistant to trainer Steve Asmussen – said he’d go earlier in subsequent mornings because the persistent rain impacted the track as the morning progressed. POST HORSE/SIRE TRACK ODDS WATCHMAKER ODDS BEST BEYER DERBY FINISH, BEYER JAY PRIVMAN AND MIKE WATCHMAKER COMMENTS - designates Keeneland Sale grad 1 Quip 12-1 12-1 94 ** JP: Has overlapping ownership with Justify. Two good efforts so far this year, should get a decent trip.   by Distorted Humor         MW: It's a good bet that he'll do what Justify doesn't do. He'll sit if Justify goes, he'll go if Justify rates.   Owner: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club & SF Racing; Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset; Jockey: Florent Geroux               2 Lone Sailor  15-1 30-1 95 8th, 89 JP: Didn't break well in Derby, but saved ground whole way. Some traffic 3/8s, but good trip overall.   by Majestic Warrior         MW: Derby trouble line in his pps says "stymied." Lacked room for a bit on far turn, was empty late.   Owner: G M B Racing; Trainer: Tom Amoss; Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.               3 Sporting Chance  30-1 30-1 91 ** JP: Reportedly refused to work Sunday. Winless in four starts at 3, erratic behavior always a concern.   by Tiznow         MW: His form isn't going anywhere, either. Seems like he wants some R and R instead of more racing.   Owner: Robert Baker and William Mack; Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas; Jockey: Luis Contreras               4 Diamond King  30-1 30-1 84 ** JP: Earned berth via "Win and You're In" Tesio. Likely to end up chasing Justify early, which is not ideal.   by Quality Road         MW: An ungraded race should never be a "WAYI" for a classic. Lucky he's not blocking a better horse.   Owner: Cash Is King, D J Stable, & L C Racing; Trainer: John Servis; Jockey: Javier Castellano               5 Good Magic  3-1 5-2 100 2nd, 99 JP: Was sitting on a big race in Derby, fired, was second best. Running here as Belmont never an option.   by Curlin         MW: Ran well in Derby as he was close to Justify's pace, but it's difficult seeing him turning the tables.   Owner: e Five Thoroughbreds & Stonestreet Stables; Trainer: Chad Brown; Jockey: Jose Ortiz               6 Tenfold 20-1 20-1 92 ** JP: Looks like ambitious spot for a lightly raced colt who had every chance in Ark. Derby but was outrun.   by Curlin         MW: Simply not fast enough from the standpoint of speed figures to contend, but has room to improve.   Owner: Winchell Thoroughbreds; Trainer: Steve Asmussen; Jockey: Ricardo Santana Jr.               7 Justify  1-2 2-5 107 1st, 103 JP: Set wicked Derby pace, kept going. Has come a long way in brief time. Makes fifth start in 13 weeks.   by Scat Daddy         MW: His Derby effort was tremendous. If he's as special as he seems, his schdedule won't mean a thing.   Owner: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Starlight Racing, & Head of Plains Partners; Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: Mike Smith               8 Bravazo 20-1 30-1 93 6th, 91 JP: Ran far better than expected in Derby. Bumped at start, wide throughout, kept to task until late.   by Awesome Again         MW: He still was beaten eight lengths, but agree, his Derby effort was okay, can get a small piece here.   Owner: Calumet Farm; Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas; Jockey: Luis Saez