2018 Preakness Stakes Contenders and Workouts

With just two days remaining until entries for the Preakness Stakes (gr. I) are drawn, the field is pretty much set and the competitors have completed the majority of their pre-race training.

Let’s take a look through the list of prospective starters and how they’ve been preparing for the second leg of the Triple Crown….

Bravazo

Just eight days after finishing a solid sixth in the Kentucky Derby, Bravazo returned to the work tab at Churchill Downs, going four furlongs in an easy :50.60 on May 13th, which ranked 42nd among 47 workouts at that distance. Per Churchill Downs, Bravazo continued past the wire through five furlongs in 1:04.80 in what was essentially a maintenance breeze designed to bridge the gap between the Derby and the Preakness.

Diamond King

One day after scratching from the Peter Pan Stakes (gr. II) to target the Preakness, Diamond King breezed five furlongs in 1:01.51 on May 13th over a sloppy track at Parx Racing, going in company with stablemate Colonel Juan, who posted an identical time.

Justify

The Kentucky Derby winner has bounced back well from minor post-Derby soreness and has been galloping at Churchill Downs, catching eyes with a particularly powerful exercise on Monday morning. He is not expected to post a timed workout before the Preakness.

Good Magic

He’s been galloping at Belmont Park and was recently confirmed to be targeting the Preakness starter. It seems unlikely that he will breeze between now and the Preakness.

Lone Sailor

Like Justify and Good Magic, it appears that Lone Sailor—who has been galloping at Churchill Downs—will stick with a light training regimen heading into the Preakness.

Pony Up

Trainer Todd Pletcher is skipping the Preakness with his four Derby starters, but will still be represented by Pony Up, a consistent and versatile colt that ran second in the Jeff Ruby Steaks (gr. III) on Polytrack, third in the Stonestreet Lexington Stakes (gr. III) on dirt, and second in the Kitten’s Joy Stakes on turf. Pony Up wrapped up his serious preparations for the Preakness by breezing four furlongs in an easy :48.89 on May 11th over the training track at Belmont Park.

Quip

Winner of the Tampa Bay Derby (gr. II) and runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), Quip had enough points to compete in the Kentucky Derby, but skipped the race to await the Preakness. He’s been based at Keeneland since April and went four furlongs in :48.10 on May 13th, galloping-out five furlongs in 1:03 flat.

Sporting Chance

He was scheduled to breeze on May 13th, but per the Daily Racing Form and Churchill Downs, Sporting Chance refused to break off for the exercise and wound up galloping 1 ½ miles instead. He will now forego any timed workouts before the Preakness.

Tenfold

With two wins under his belt plus a respectable fifth-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (gr. I), Tenfold looms as an interesting Preakness newcomer for trainer Steve Asmussen. The colt wrapped up his preparations by breezing four furlongs in :49.40 on May 14th at Churchill Downs, an easier work following a five-furlong move in 1:00.20 on May 7th.