American Pharoah, Dortmund Draw Inside Posts for Preakness
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America's Best Racing's Penelope Miller was on hand for the Preakness Stakes draw on Wednesday, May 13. Racing analyst Gabby Gaudet provides her insights on which horses benefitted from good post positions and which ones might have lost some luster, including her thoughts on Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah. The 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes will be held Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.
By Tom Pedulla, America’s Best Racing
BALTIMORE – Trainer Bob Baffert sat with his arms folded and his feet dancing to a jittery beat as the draw unfolded on Wednesday at Pimlico Race Course for the 140th Preakness Stakes.
When Kentucky Derby victor American Pharoah received the rail, Baffert’s head snapped forward and he uttered one unprintable word. To make matters worse for him, stablemate Dortmund, the third-place finisher in the Derby, will start beside American Pharoah. Derby runner-up Firing Line should be in a perfect tracking position after drawing farthest outside in the field of eight for Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness.
“I can’t believe I drew one-two of all draws,” Baffert said. “I’m glad I didn’t draw that for the Derby.”
The rail and the two hole might have all but doomed American Pharoah, who will be ridden by Victor Espinoza, and Dortmund, who will have Martin Garcia aboard, in a crowded Derby that ultimately went off with 18 starters. But the shorter field lessened the blow for Baffert only somewhat. His horses will be forced to show some early speed or risk getting potentially pinned down toward the rail.
“I don’t like inside. I never like the one hole,” he said. “Sometimes they don’t break as well.”
American Pharoah, still made a heavy 4-5 favorite, while Dortmund is the second choice at 7-2, brings a five-race winning streak into the Preakness. Those victories came by a combined 23 ¼ lengths. It is worth noting that the streak began when the eventual 2-year-old champion broke from the rail in the Del Mar Futurity (G1) last Sept. 3 and showed the way in a front-running victory that was a widening four and three-quarter lengths in that stiff seven-furlong test.
AMERICAN PHAROAH WON THE KENTUCKY DERBY IN HIS LAST START
Photo by Eclipse Sportswire
Gary Stevens, who returns aboard Firing Line, the 4-1 third choice, was hoping for any post that would allow him to be outside American Pharoah. Firing Line sat second to Dortmund through most of the mile-and-a-quarter Derby, proving he does not have to have the lead to perform well.
“I can turn him on and off like a light switch,” Stevens said of Firing Line’s maneuverability. “I’ve got options.”
Stevens, a seemingly ageless 52-year-old with three grandchildren, fully expects to be chasing American Pharoah this time. “I’d be very surprised if American Pharoah is not in the early lead,” he said. “He’s quicker out of the gate than Dortmund.”
It was only two years ago that Stevens reminded everyone of his mastery of pace. He seized an early lead with Oxbow and nursed him through comfortable fractions before pulling a stunning upset that provided him with his third Preakness victory and trainer D. Wayne Lukas with his 14th Triple Crown triumph, vaulting him past “Sunny Jim” Fitzsimmons for the all-time lead.
Lukas will try to pull another surprise with Mr. Z, who was purchased earlier in the day by Calumet Farm from Zayat Stables. The latter had no intention of running the colt in the Preakness despite a difficult trip in the Derby.
“You make or break their stallion careers with these kinds of races,” Lukas said. “To pass on this race if you have a sound horse is not a good idea.”
The Preakness field, from the rail out, with jockeys and morning-line odds in parentheses: American Pharoah (Victor Espinoza, 4-5), Dortmund (Martin Garcia, 7-2), Mr. Z (Corey Nakatani, 20-1), Danzig Moon (Julien Leparoux, 15-1), Tale of Verve (Joel Rosario, 30-1), Bodhisattva (Trevor McCarthy, 20-1), Divining Rod (Javier Castellano, 12-1) and Firing Line (Gary Stevens, 4-1).
$1.5-million Xpressbet.com Preakness StakesSaturday, Pimlico Race Course, Post time 6:18 p.m. ET1 3/16 miles, dirt, 3-year-oldsT.V.: NBC 4:30 p.m. ET
PP
Horse
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
M-L
1
American Pharoah
Victor Espinoza
Bob Baffert
Zayat Stables
4-5
2
Dortmund
Martin Garcia
Bob Baffert
Kaleem Shah
7-2
3
Mr. Z
Corey Nakatani
D. Wayne Lukas
Calumet Farm
20-1
4
Danzig Moon
Julien Leparoux
Mark Casse
John Oxley
15-1
5
Tale of Verve
Joel Rosario
Dallas Stewart
Charles Fipke
30-1
6
Bodhisattva
Trevor McCarthy
Jose Corrales
Jose Corrales
20-1
7
Divining Rod
Javier Castellano
Arnaud Delacour
Lael Stables
12-1
8
Firing Line
Gary Stevens
Simon Callaghan
Arnold Zetcher
4-1