As much as the Kentucky Derby (G1) winner will meet a few familiar foes in the $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1), it is a new face that has caught the attention of bettors.
While 18-1 winners Run for the Roses Mystik Dan will try to keep its Triple Crown hopes alive in the May 18 second gem of the series at Pimlico Race Courseit was trainer Bob Baffert’s multiple Grade 1 winner Muth who was made the 8-5 morning line favorite from Post 4 in a field of nine in the May 13 post position draw in Baltimore. Mystik Dan tied Game 5 and led 5-2.
“I’m not surprised that Bob’s horse is the favorite,” said Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, who will field a pair of Preakness starters. Steel only (Lesson 7, 15-1) and Embrace the gray (Lesson 6, 15-1).
Zedan Racing Stables’ Muth, who has never finished worse than second in six career starts for Baffert, had a two-length victory in the March 30 Arkansas Derby (G1) that would have would have made him a major player in the Kentucky Derby—except that Baffert was suspended and banned by Churchill Downs from running horses in the last three race renewals. Just Steel finished second and Mystik Dan was third in the Arkansas Derby.
Baffert enters a healthy and fresh 3-year-old in pursuit of his record-extending ninth Preakness victory.
“Muth ran his race very well,” Baffert said Good magic The colt was bred by Don Alberto Corp., who placed second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1). “He shows up, he runs his race every time, first or second. He’s got a lot of quality. And he’s getting better and better. His Arkansas Derby, he handled that was very good, came back and wasn’t really tiring.”
Muth was purchased for $2 million at the Ocala Breeders’ 2-year-old training sale.
Muth is not the only Preakness starter for Baffert, who won the 2023 Preakness with National treasure . He will also try performing again in Baltimore with Imagination (Lesson 9, 6-1) for the same core connection group. Owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Robert Masterson, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan and Tom Ryan, $1.05M Purchase at Keeneland September Annual Sale Stands Monday on April 6. Santa Anita Derby (G1).
“This is our goal,” said Ryan, head of SF Racing and SF Bloodstock. “When he ran in the Santa Anita Derby, we felt we learned a lot about him, just like last year when National Treasure finished fourth in that race. We knew he ran well and told Since then the horse has really developed physically and mentally.” and athletically, he is getting stronger and fitter. He’s immature at times, but he continues to impress.
Imagination, a son of into mischief will be ridden by famous European jockey Frankie Dettori in his first start in the Preakness.
Trainer Ken McPeek is in no rush to commit to Preakness starts for Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby III, 4 G Racing and Valley View Farm’s Mystik Dan. But after following my son gold money In the days following his dramatic victory in the opening leg of the Triple Crown, he saw enough to send him to Maryland.
McPeek said of the Gasaway, Hamby and 4 G Racing-bred colt, who has won three of seven starts.
Albaugh family stables’ Seize freedom (Lesson 3, 6-1) closed from 15th in the Kentucky Derby to take fourth for trainer Brad Cox, who will run the Louisiana Derby (G2) winner and is a son of Structure returned after a two-week rest, an unusual move for Cox, who had just two Preakness starts in 2019 sitting out the Derby.
“The bottom line is the horse is doing well and that is the Triple Crown,” said Jason Loutsch, co-owner and racing manager of Albaugh Family Stables. “We feel this is a huge opportunity. We know it’s going to be a tough race, but we’re excited to be in the race. He’s a top horse and this is a big race.”
Trainer Chad Brown has won the Preakness twice with horses that didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby, and that formula resulted in a runner-up finish for Seven brilliant last year. This year, he will follow that modus operandi with Tuscan Gold who placed third in the Louisiana Derby and did not accumulate enough qualifying points to run in the Kentucky Derby.
A son of Medaglia d’Oro Owned by William Lawrence, Walmac Farm and breeder Stonestreet Stable, Tuscan Gold (Post 8, 8-1) will make his fourth career start on Saturday.
“I’m really pleased with the horse,” Brown said. He ran very well and I think he was an unlucky loser in the Louisiana Derby.” “In his last few works, he has taken it to the next level and that is exactly what I was looking for.”
Lukas’ pair of Pat Day Mile (G2) winners Seize the Gray and Just Steel, who dropped to 17th after chasing the fast pace in the Kentucky Derby, both took two weeks off.
Lukas said of Seize the Gray, a son of MyRaceHorse-owned Arrogate: “He really ran a positive race. He trained really well. I don’t know if he’s good enough to win win or not but he was at the top of his game.” BC Stables and Henry Schmueckle’s Just Steel battled for the lead with a fast opening half mile: 46.63 in the Derby and faded.
“He got caught up in a fast fight and we’ll try to change that,” Lukas said justification pony. “That’s not his style.”
Milam Racing Stables Uncle is heavy (Post 2/20-1) won the February 3 Withers Stakes (G3) at Water racetrack with a dramatic late rally. But then he was hurt by a furlong from pole 12 and was bothered by a fallen horse in the stretch while finishing fifth in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) and missed out on a spot in the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Butch Reid, a son of Pennsylvania Integrate in society has won three of five starts.
“If there was ever a time to take a chance and run in a Triple Crown race it is now. Baffert’s horse (Muth) is an outstanding horse, but after that I think Uncle Heavy will be on par with any anyone else in the field. If everything goes right and there’s a decent amount of speed ahead of him, the distance won’t matter. If they’re going to beat him, at best they should run,” Reid said. “In the Wood he got outed and the horse fell next to him unfortunately. It took him and his jockey off their game. Things like that can make me nervous. All things considered, I think he ran well.”
The field also includes Average Joe Racing Stables and Dan Wells’ Mugatu (Post 20-1/1), who finished fifth in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1).
Item: Preakness S. (G1)
Pimlico Race CourseSaturday, May 18, 2024, Stage 13
- Class I
- 1 3/16m
- Dust
- 2,000,000 USD
- 3 years old
- 7:01 pm (local)
