2022 Preakness: Brisnet Speed Rating Report
Early Voting wins the Withers S. 2022 (Photo by Coglianese Photos/Chelsea Durand)
May 20th, 2022
Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up Epicenter heads a field of nine in Saturday’s 147th running of the $1.5 million Preakness, the middle leg of the Triple Crown. The Steve Asmussen-trained colt is one of four runners wheeling back two weeks later after competing at Churchill Downs.
Early Voting, a new shooter to the Triple Crown, has been freshened six weeks in advance of the 1 3/16-mile test at Pimlico, and he’s listed as the 7-2 second choice on the morning line.
How does the Preakness field stack up from a Brisnet Speed rating perspective?
Let’s examine the contenders, ranked by highest last-out number.
|
EARLY VOTING |
111 |
|
|
91 |
|
SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING |
107 |
|
|
94 |
|
SECRET OATH |
103 |
|
|
90 |
|
CREATIVE MINISTER |
101 |
|
|
86 |
|
EPICENTER |
101 |
|
|
101 |
|
SIMPLIFICATION |
98 |
|
|
93 |
|
ARMAGNAC |
97 |
|
|
97 |
|
HAPPY JACK |
81 |
|
|
97 |
|
FENWICK |
63 |
|
|
90 |
|
|
|
Takeaways
Five of the nine contestants registered a triple-digit Brisnet Speed rating, including Epicenter, the only runner with back-to-back triple-digit numbers.
Simplification, who netted a season-best 98 rallying for fourth in the Kentucky Derby and is the 6-1 fourth choice on the Preakness morning line, ranks as the top contender outside of the triple-digit threshold.
Rombauer, who upset last year’s Preakness at 11-1, had failed to earn a triple-digit Speed rating in his two previous outings, but he’s been more of an exception. Eight of the last 11 Preakness winners had posted at least a 100 Speed figure in their last two starts, including six with back-to-back numbers (Swiss Skydiver, Justify, Exaggerator, American Pharoah, California Chrome, and Shackleford).
Early Voting tops the 2022 Preakness field with a 111 Speed rating, leading nearly the entire way in the April 9 Wood Memorial (G2) before being caught by Mo Donegal, who got up in the final strides by a neck second. Mo Donegal finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby after a ridiculously wide trip.
Owned by Klaravich Stables and trained by Chad Brown, Early Voting has the same connections as 2016 Wood Memorial third-placer Cloud Computing, who came back to upset the Preakness at 13-1 odds after skipping the Kentucky Derby. Cloud Computing had also earned a triple-digit Speed rating, but the similarities stop there.
Cloud Computing was more of a stalker, Early Voting is the speed of the Preakness. Armed with triple-digit Brisnet Early Pace numbers, the dark bay son of Gun Runner likely will try to seize control at the break, and Early Voting has the cruising speed to last a long way if controlling the pace.
Skippylongstocking earned a 107 Speed rating finishing a non-threatening third in the Wood Memorial, but the Gulfstream allowance winner may be hard-pressed to back that number up against this competition.
Secret Oath enters on the upswing for six-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas, earning a career-best 103 Speed figure for her convincing two-length score in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). Luis Saez appears a perfect fit aboard the late runner, and fillies have captured two of the last 13 runnings (Swiss Skydiver and Rachel Alexandra).
Creative Minister will be tested for class following an entry-level allowance win on the Kentucky Derby undercard, but his increasing Speed numbers do offer some appeal for the vertical exotics.
Epicenter is the class of the Preakness field, but his Speed ratings aren’t overwhelming. It shapes up to be a compelling race.
