Market King Confirmed for Preakness Stakes
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Market King last ran in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland
The Maryland Jockey Club's racing office confirmed May 12 that Market King, trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, will be entered in the 144th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18 at Pimlico Race Course. The addition of Market King pushes the expected field to 12 horses, the largest field since 14 competed in 2011.
Lukas, 83, has saddled a record 43 horses in the Preakness and has won the Triple Crown's middle jewel six times with Oxbow (2013), Charismatic (1999), Timber Country (1995), Tabasco Cat (1994), Tank's Prospect (1985), and Codex (1980).
A son of Into Mischief co-owned by longtime Lukas clients Robert Baker and William Mack, Market King was a $550,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase from the Lane's End consignment. The bay colt broke his maiden fifth time out Feb. 9 at Oaklawn Park going 1 1/16 miles. He was third in a division of the March 16 Rebel Stakes (G2) and 11th in the April 6 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland.
Lukas recommended to the owners that they consider the Preakness after Market King posted two sharp five-furlong works in the past week. He breezed in 1:00 1/5, the second-fastest of 27 at the distance May 7 at Churchill Downs, and came back four days later with a 1:00 2/5 clocking, third-fastest of 31.
"He's training excellent," Lukas said.
Market King joins previously confirmed Preakness contenders Alwaysmining, Anothertwistafate, Bodexpress, Bourbon War, Improbable, Laughing Fox, Owendale, Signalman, War of Will, Win Win Win, and Warrior's Charge.
Four from the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1)—Improbable (fourth), War of Will (seventh), Win Win Win (ninth), and Bodexpress (13th)—will make the two-week turnaround. Alwaysmining, Anothertwistafate, and Laughing Fox all earned automatic berths through respective wins in the Federico Tesio Stakes, El Camino Real Derby, and Oaklawn Invitational Stakes.