Preakness Stakes 150 Picks: Journalism is still the Horse to Beat

There will not be a Triple Crown on the line when the horses enter the starting gate at Pimlico for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes. It’s not great news for horse racing, but if things fall the right way, the Belmont Stakes could become must-watch TV.

Sovereignty will not be a part of the nine-horse field that will race 1 3/16 miles for a $2 million purse at Pimlico, the final Preakness Stakes at the 155-year-old racetrack that will be razed for much-needed renovations. Part of the track has been condemned for more than five years. Ahead of Saturday’s race, the media elevator broke down. The agony!

Even though Sovereignty is out, Journalism is in the field. The two battled in an epic Kentucky Derby. If Journalism wins on Saturday, we could see the two face off once again in a rubber match at Saratoga in the Belmont Stakes. Like Secretariat and Sham, Affirmed and Alydar, horse racing is at its best when it has a great rivalry. Saturday could provide more fuel for horse racing next great rivalry.

Top Contenders

Journalism — The Kentucky Derby favorite had the lead down the stretch before ultimately falling to Sovereignty. He took to his feed — a.k.a. the horse is eating — which means he came back well from that race and is ready to go.

Clever Again — Steve Asmussen’s horse will likely be the second choice by post time after he sprinted away from 1-1 favorite Gaming in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn Park. He’s gone wire-to-wire in his two starts this spring, both victories.

Goal Oriented — Another lightly-raced horse, Goal Oriented won its debut at Santa Anita, then led the entire way in a sloppy 1 1/16 mile race on Derby Day at Churchill Downs.

Sandman — The social media sensation is a public favorite, thanks in part to one of his owners, Griffin Johnson. The late closer finished seventh in the slop at the Kentucky Derby after winning the Arkansas Derby.

River Thames — The frontrunner hit the board in two Kentucky Derby prep races, but Todd Pletcher opted to point this horse for the shorter route in the Preakness. With Irad Ortiz on board, the connections will make this horse a popular selection.

Live Long Shots

American Promise — D. Wayne Lukas is looking to tie Bob Baffert with his eighth Preakness Stakes win. Even though he did not fire in the Kentucky Derby, he has the second-best speed figure among horses in the field.

Heart of Honor — I still don’t know how this horse didn’t win the UAE Derby. When watching the race live, it looked like Heart of Honor won, but got beat by a bob from Admire Daytona. It was a rough stretch ride that might’ve cost him a step. This horse has enough stuff to contend and hit the board.

Gosger — Irad Ortiz had to make a move to the outside when hitting the far turn at the Lexington Stakes, but Gosger still had plenty of juice to run away with the win at Keeneland. The speed figures on his resume aren’t great, but 20-1 is a great price.

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Preakness Stakes Winner

Journalism did not win the Kentucky Derby, but he’s still the best horse in the three-year-old division. The biggest question is that we do not know how much that race emptied the tank. If he runs like he did on the First Saturday in May, he’s winning the Preakness Stakes.

Goal Oriented will break for the front, along with River Thames and Clever Again. It should set up the ideal pace for Journalism to stalk. Potentially facing another sloppy surface, it’s unclear if that will take more out of Journalism, or the experience will actually benefit him. If it’s the latter, he’s running away from the field.

I’m betting on Gosger to close late near Journalism, along with Heart of Honor to produce a large payout on trifecta tickets.

The Bet: Trifecta Box, Key 2 Journalism with 3 American Promise, 4 Heart of Honor, and 9 Gosger

Want more picks for Preakness Stakes Saturday at Pimlico? We’ll have a cheat sheet for all of the races, and even a few picks for night races at Churchill Downs, on KSBoard.