Preakness: First runners arrive at Pimlico; 14 entered ahead of 5 p.m. draw

BALTIMORE – The first group of horses scheduled to run Saturday in the 136th Preakness arrived Wednesday at Pimlico at about 12:30 p.m. Eastern following a flight from Louisville to Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

The Preakness starters that arrived were Astrology and Sway Away on a first van, followed by Dance City on a second van.

The Tex Sutton charter flight departed Baltimore to return to Louisville to pick up a second load of horses, including Preakness runners Dialed In, Flashpoint, Midnight Interlude, Mr. Commons, and Shackleford. That flight was expected to return to Baltimore by early evening.

Earlier Wednesday, Mucho Macho Man arrived by van from Belmont Park at about 10:30 a.m.

Meanwhile, Pimlico officials announced shortly after noon that Preakness entries closed with the 14 runners that had been expected. Saratoga Red, who would have been the only exclusion, is entered instead versus older horses in the Schaefer Handicap on the Saturday undercard.

Post positions for the Preakness will be drawn at 5 p.m. Eastern. The draw will be shown on HRTV.

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