Pimlico prepares for a star-studded 150th Preakness as Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism leads the field in the final running at historic Old Hilltop before planned demolition.
While Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty won’t make Saturday’s lineup, the field assembled for the second jewel of the Triple Crown features impressive talent across the board.
Journalism (Curlin), who went off as post-time favorite in the Derby after four consecutive victories including the GII San Felipe Stakes and GI Santa Anita Derby, returns after finishing second at Churchill Downs.
“I have a lot of confidence in my horse,” said trainer Michael McCarthy. “He’s coming back in two weeks. Sometimes with good horses, it’s a lot harder to tell when they’re not on top of their game, because they can handle it. They handle these things so easily. We’ll see on Saturday, but my gut tells me we’re in for good things.”
McCarthy’s confidence stems from experience — he won the Preakness with his very first runner, Rombauer, in 2021.
The versatile colt has proven he can handle off tracks, giving jockey Umberto Rispoli options in the 1 3/16-mile Classic.
“I wouldn’t say there’s more impetus to get to the lead,” McCarthy said. “I would say the way he has placed himself in his races, he can lay close and be effective. I’d just like a clean break this week. That’s all.”
Sandman (Tapit) brings Grade I credentials after breaking through at the black-type level with a 2 1/2 length victory in Oaklawn’s GI Arkansas Derby on March 29. Following a seventh-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, trainer Mark Casse initially ruled out the Preakness.
Plans changed quickly.
“When I said I wasn’t coming to the Preakness, I wasn’t coming to the Preakness,” Casse admitted. “But I think [last] Saturday morning I analyzed everything and said, ‘We’re going to the Preakness.'”
“I called [co-owners] [D. J. Stables’] Jon Green, [St. Elias’] Monique Delk, [West Point Thoroughbreds’] Terry Finley– they were all supportive.”
Casse attributed the colt’s Derby disappointment to early trouble. “I think he got so out of sorts in the first quarter of a mile and it was downhill from there.”
The veteran trainer knows what it takes to win at Pimlico, having captured the 2019 Preakness with War of Will and finishing second with Classic Empire in 2017.
“Physically, [Sandman] is like War of Will and Classic Empire, taller, leaner horses. That’s what I buy,” he said. “But tactically, this horse isn’t like either of those. If you push him right out of the gate, he’ll fall apart. You want him to be as close as you can, but you cannot push him to be there. You have to let him take you there, so he is different.”
Hall of Fame trainers D. Wayne Lukas and Bob Baffert — who have combined for an astounding 15 Preakness victories — both field contenders.
Lukas aims to equal Baffert’s record eight wins with American Promise (Justify), winner of this season’s Virginia Derby. The colt finished 16th in the Kentucky Derby after being hampered by Citizen Bull at the start.
“After seeing it several times, I think he actually recovered really well and was in good position at the three-eighths pole,” explained Lukas, who won last year’s Preakness with Seize the Grey. “I believe he has that kick, I am not sure he would have been good enough to win–I think the two best horses ran 1-2. But I think at least we weren’t going to be were we ended up.”
Lukas believes his charge has improved since the Derby. “I actually think he’s better this week than he was the week before the Derby. I don’t know what that is. But he was sharp after the race and has been sharp ever since. He came back really well. No excuses.”
Baffert, who last won the Preakness with National Treasure in 2023, sends out Goal Oriented (Not This Time). The TDN Rising Star has yet to win at the black-type level but impressed when scoring at Santa Anita in April before winning over 1 1/16 miles in sloppy conditions at Churchill Downs on May 3.
Lightning struck twice for Baffert in the post position draw, with Goal Oriented landing the rail just as stablemate Citizen Bull did in the Derby.
“The one-hole isn’t as bad here,” said Baffert. “In Kentucky, the one-hole and the 17 are the kiss of death. Here, it’s a shorter field.”
“He has handled everything we have thrown at him,” Baffert added. “He is a big, strong horse. This is a tough group; but the break is going to be so important for him.”
Pay Billy (Improbable) represents one of the field’s best underdog stories. The $60,000 OBSAPR purchase has won three of four starts this season, including Laurel’s Private Terms Stakes and Federico Tesio Stakes, with the latter securing his Preakness berth.
“They wanted a Derby horse. When he didn’t have points to get in, we won the Tesio which was a [qualifying race] for the Preakness. So I told them we’ll just point for the Preakness, and one of the owners [RKTN Racing] said, ‘what is the Preakness?'” explained trainer Michael Gorham.
The ownership group has since learned the race’s significance to both Baltimore and the sport as a whole.
“We’ve kind of done all the work and usually I like to ease them into a race a couple days before,” Gorham said. “He had a strong gallop [Wednesday] so that should set him up pretty good. Hopefully, he’s ready to go.”
European invader Heart of Honor (GB) (Honor A. P.) adds international flavor after finishing second in the G2 UAE Derby. The colt features the unique father-daughter trainer/jockey combination of Jamie and Saffie Osborne.
Rounding out the field are GISP TDN Rising Star River Thames (Maclean’s Music), SW Clever Again (American Pharoah) and Grade III winner Gosger (Nyquist).
Saturday’s Preakness undercard features the GIII Dinner Party Stakes, GIII Maryland Sprint Stakes and GIII Gallorette Stakes.
Preakness Runner Sandman Helps Usher in New Generation Into Racing
Sandman has become one of racing’s most compelling storylines this season. Named for Metallica’s song “Enter Sandman,” the grey colt has attracted significant media attention — due in part to social media influencer Griffin Johnson, who is among the ownership group that includes D.J. Stables, West Point Thoroughbreds, St Elias Stables and CJ Stables behind the $1.2 million OBS March purchase.
West Point’s Terry Finley believes attracting younger generations to racing is critical at this moment in the sport’s history.
“More and more people that are looking to get into our business are definitely bringing up the fact that they’ve taken note that our business has improve on the integrity and safety fronts,” said Finley. “I hear it more and more. Before HISA, I didn’t hear it at all.”
“I just say to my brethren, if you look at HISA as the enemy, I believe you out of step with the future of our industry. I know more people are truly tired of putting up with the voices that have not evolved in many years, saying they represent the overall outlook. They don’t.”
According to Finley, HISA’s involvement — alongside other initiatives — demonstrates the industry’s positive direction, something younger participants like Johnson recognize.
“He was exposed to horses as a kid while on a working farm, but he wasn’t really exposed to the business outside of the Derby, like a lot of young people,” Finley said. “I can tell you, we have talked extensively about integrity and safety. I know he is helping the industry, but I know he is also engaging with people individually. He engages with trainers, track executives, older people and younger people. Really people all across the world. He has already been invited to Australia, Asia and Europe. This is a proto-type person that we want in the business in the future.”
While attracting younger generations has been discussed for years, bringing in new owners like Johnson remains vital to maintaining momentum.
“Here is a generational talent and mind, we saw the impact he had in the Kentucky Derby. In his world, honesty, integrity and authenticity are key,” Finley explained. “You look at the work the industry has done despite the pushback, in particular HISA, and he fits right in. He’s given people a very honest and insightful outlook of what his generation, that are not involved in the business, are starting to formulate. There is no doubt, that safety and integrity, are at the beginning of every conversation with Lisa [Lazarus] and others that have contacted him. It’s reflective of how Gen Z is looking at our industry. It’s very clear.”
Finley emphasizes that despite recent progress, more work remains.
“The more defined we are in improving our safety and integrity, and the quicker we do it, the more we have a shot to bring more and more Gen Z and others to our business going forward.”
