Crude Velocity to Bypass the Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes (G1) at Laurel Park takes another hit with the Bob Baffert-trained Crude Velocity  skipping the race. Without the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Golden Tempo , who will be going straight to the Belmont Stakes (G1) according to his trainer, Cherie DeVaux, all eyes were on the 3-year-old undefeated son of Beau Liam  , who won the May 2 Pat Day Mile (G2) at Churchill Downs and was under heavy consideration for the Preakness. 

Originally posted by Carlos Morales on his Agentes305 X account, Baffert said the race is "very tempting, but too close." 

HOF Trainer BOB BAFFERT has just confirmed to Agentes 305 that, although is very tempting, the Preakness is coming too close for CRUDE VELOCITY, so he will point the horse towards the Woody Stephen's and Haskell; so they will pass on this year's edition of the @PreaknessStakes No… pic.twitter.com/yA9igle8jR

— Agentes305 (@agentes305) May 8, 2026

Owned by CSLR Racing Partners, the colt is a perfect three for three. He broke his maiden March 7 and followed  with a win April 4 in an allowance optional claiming race, both at Santa Anita Park. He entered stakes company for the first time on Derby Day, pulling away from his competition in the Pat Day Mile to score by 3 3/4 lengths as the favorite, an effort that made his connections consider the Preakness. He will now be pointed to the June 6 Woody Stephens Stakes (G1) at Saratoga Race Course and the July 18 Haskell Stakes (G1) at Monmouth Park. 

Ocelli , the Whit Beckman-trained maiden who was third in the Kentucky Derby, is expected to be the only horse from the Kentucky Derby to run in the Preakness. Last year, Journalism  was second in the Derby and followed that up with a dramatic win in the Preakness.