Heading into the Kentucky Derby so lightly raced and untested after a late start to his career seemed to be the biggest obstacle for JUSTIFY two weeks ago at Churchill Downs. But his innate talent seemed undeniable, and he was sent off as the favorite.
Justify did not disappoint, as he kept up with a fast early pace en route to a dominant win in the Kentucky Derby.
After pushing demanding splits of 22.24 seconds, 45.77, and 1:11.01 over sloppy going in the Kentucky Derby, JUSTIFY had a right to be caught in the lane by juvenile champion Good Magic, but instead he turned aside his bid and drew clear as the stronger horse. His winning time was slow by Derby standards, 1 1/4 miles in 2:04.20, but he still ran faster than his rivals did, and all the best 3-year-olds were there.
Some favorites are vulnerable, others are solid. The latter group includes the undefeated JUSTIFY, who answered every question in the Kentucky Derby and looks tough to beat at low odds in the Preakness. Justify won the Derby legitimately; he pushed a fast pace and won clear. He could have an easier trip in a Preakness field with less speed. If the race unfolds as expected, Justify can be loose on the lead or press modest fractions.
JUSTIFY is going to be a very short price in the Preakness Stakes, and deservedly so following his emphatic victory in the Kentucky Derby. The 5-2 favorite, Justify pressed a hot early pace before taking over entering the far turn and never looked back. Trainer Bob Baffert has had tremendous success in the Preakness, especially with Derby winners. Baffert’s Derby winners are unbeaten in Baltimore, and it would be surprising if this year were any different. Justify is strictly the horse to beat.
BALTIMORE – While Stonestreet Stables has yet to win the Kentucky Derby, it has twice enjoyed success in the Preakness at the expense of a Kentucky Derby winner.
On Saturday at Pimlico Racecourse, when the Preakness is run for the 143rd time, Stonestreet, along with its partner Bob Edwards, will seek its third victory in this race 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 at Pimlico could be dangerously close to the kind of race you would watch more than bet.
BALTIMORE – In the giddy first moments of a post-race press conference following Justify’s victory in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago at Churchill Downs, Bob Baffert looked over at Elliott Walden and said, “Elliott cost me a Triple Crown, so you’re off the hook, Elliott.”
“You cost me a Derby,” Walden quickly replied.
BALTIMORE – The 14-race Preakness Day 143 card at Pimlico on Saturday includes seven undercard stakes. First post is 10:30 a.m. Eastern.
The Preakness, which is race 13, will be the final leg of an all-stakes pick five with a $1 million pool guarantee. A $2 million-guaranteed pick four also will end on the Preakness.
The late pick five consists of the Grade 3 Gallorette (8 horses), Grade 3 Maryland Sprint (9), The Very One Stakes (14), the Sir Barton (11), and the Preakness (8). The pick four begins on the Maryland Sprint.
Since the turn of the century, four horses have won the Preakness Stakes as fresh horses after bypassing the Kentucky Derby two weeks prior. In the same span, four horses who were unstarted as juveniles were victorious in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has saddled a Preakness winner from each of those groups – and his representative Saturday fits in both boxes. Tenfold is among four colts in the Preakness field of eight who are new challengers to Kentucky Derby hero Justify, along with Diamond King, Quip, and Sporting Chance.
BALTIMORE – If you liked the weather for the Kentucky Derby, you’ll love it for the Preakness. The forecast for the rest of the week here at Pimlico, 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.
