Mike Welsch's Preakness analysis
1. American Pharoah
2. Firing Line
3. Danzig Moon
4. Dortmund
I would love to be able to get creative in the second leg of the Triple Crown, but frankly, it’s pretty difficult to get beyond the logical contenders coming out of this year’s Kentucky Derby. AMERICAN PHAROAH looked to be a notch above all the others with the way he trained into the race at Churchill Downs, and while he was all out to defeat FIRING LINE in the Derby, he did so despite getting hung very wide around both turns. Hard not to stay on the bandwagon at least one more time, although at less than even-money, it’s hard to muster up the same kind of enthusiasm to make the same kind of substantial play as there was two weeks ago in Louisville, Ky.
Firing Line ran to his training coming into the Derby, only to fall just short of victory in a courageous effort against the division leader. The question is whether he can find another length, vis-a-vis the favorite, especially if he properly switches leads through the stretch, something he did not do in the pair’s previous encounter two weeks ago. The grand-looking 3-year-old appears to be the chief threat to American Pharoah once again.
:: Preakness: Contenders and news
DANZIG MOON is an improving sort who trained extremely well leading up to the Derby and ultimately ran a pretty solid race despite a less-than-clean trip. Although he does appear to have a bit of hang in him at the end – he’s lost ground from the eighth pole to the wire in four of his six career starts – the smaller field and extra experience should play in his favor. Another forward move is likely, perhaps enough to get him a thicker slice of the Preakness pie.
DORTMUND didn’t have much excuse when suffering his first setback, finishing a tiring third behind the top pair at Churchill Downs, and it would be no surprise if he tried a different tactic and attempted to rate off the speed. He’s much too talented to dismiss entirely off his last. DIVINING ROD looks to be the best of the new faces coming off an impressive performance in the Lexington Stakes, but the waters get much deeper this time around.