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With
Kentucky Derby-winner Sovereignty out of the picture for the 150th Preakness Stakes, the field is open for a champion in the middle jewel of the Triple Crown in Baltimore. After days of anticipation, it was announced hours before the draw that
Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism will run in the Preakness . Journalism finished 1 1/2 lengths behind victorious Sovereignty as the 3-1 favorite in the Derby. The son of 2007 Preakness winner Curlin had won his previous four races, including the Santa Anita Derby. Here are the Preakness Post Positions as drawn Monday night. And, post position matters: 18 Preakness winners started from the sixth post position. In 1918, 26 horses were entered, causing the race to be run in two divisions for the first and only time in Preakness history. "Obviously, you don't want to be the one (post). It worked for
War of Will , it worked for
American Pharaoh ," said Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, who saddled War of Will for a
Preakness victory in 2019 . "Look, Journalism is definitely the horse to beat, he has already proven that. We don't know how he is going to react to the two weeks, we don't know how it will be for us."
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Watch special coverage of the Preakness all week long and through the race on Saturday. Welcome to Preakness! Saffie Osborne on Heart of Honor on Friday. Watch special coverage of the Preakness all week long and through the race on Saturday. Welcome to Preakness! Saffie Osborne on Heart of Honor on Friday. Watch special coverage of the Preakness all week long and through the race on Saturday. "Once you draw, you can't think about it. Last time I drew the one (post) here was with American Pharaoh. I drew the one with Lookin At Lucky. The one hole is not as bad here as it would be in the Derby," Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert said. "He is not as fast as these other horses on paper, but I think he is a good horse. I really thought he was a better fit than Rodriguez would have been." "I'm real happy with it," said Pay Billy's trainer Michael Gorham. "That's what I was hoping for – 4, 5 or 6. I didn't want to be down on the rail in the 1 or 2, and I didn't want to be on the far outside. I think it worked out pretty good. I think we'll get him out of there running and try to get a spot. You don't want to get caught too far back. He has a little tactical speed. He can be forwardly placed. We've got to get into the turn in a good spot, not too far off the lead but have something to run at." In addition to the $2 million race purse, the winner of the Preakness receives a replica of the Woodlawn Vase, which is recognized as the most valuable trophy in American sports. A smaller sterling silver replica, valued at $30,000, is awarded to the winning owner.
