Humberto Gomez, the exercise rider of Kentucky Derby winner Justify, will be watching Saturday's Preakness with a heavy heart after his father, Ulpiano Portela Gomez, died Tuesday in Mexico. He was 86.
Less than three months ago, Justify hadn't even raced. Wrap your head around that fact. In 76 days, he went from an unraced maiden to the winner of the Kentucky Derby, an unprecedented feat in modern times and illustrative of the natural talent he possesses. What he accomplished at Churchill Downs cannot be overstated.
Matt Bernier's 2018 Preakness Stakes analysis.
Stonestreet Stables has twice enjoyed success in the Preakness at the expense of a Kentucky Derby winner. On Saturday at Pimlico, Stonestreet along with its partner Bob Edwards will seek its third victory in the Preakness while hoping to spoil the Triple Crown hopes of undefeated Derby winner Justify.
If your handicapping game involves identifying short-priced horses with vulnerabilities and betting against them, then Saturday's Preakness Stakes could be dangerously close to the kind of race you would watch more than bet.
This year marks the 20-year anniversary of when Bob Baffert and Elliott Walden battled in a gripping Triple Crown series that is still top of mind for both. Now, they find themselves on the same side with Justify.
