The 148thPreakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course is set for Saturday, May 20. The second leg of the Triple Crown has a purse of $1.5 million, with the winner’s share at $900,000. US Racing will profile all the contenders. The post-position draw is Monday, May 15. Profiles will be updated with odds and post positions following the draw.
By US Racing Team
Extra distance turned the tables, and perform he did, breaking his maiden at a mile and 40 yards in March, winning the Federico Tesio at Laurel by a head at 1 1/8 miles on April 15, and now it’s time to step in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness.
“I think the distance is a big thing and the two turns is a big thing,” McGaughey said. “Obviously, we hope we’d get a little speed in front of us, which we probably will. In these races, they usually do. I hope we’re finishing with Mage and can outkick him.”
The connections are confident enough in their Good Magic colt that they ponied up a $150,000 supplemental fee to get into the race.
McGaughey is impressed by how this colt is developing, and he’s rarely run in a big race without feeling he had a good chance to win.
“Two turns on the dirt, the distance, the mile and three-sixteenths, the timing is pretty good,’’ he said. “We’ve got plenty of time in between races. He had a good work last Sunday with Lynch on him and, that’s what made up my mind that, along with his owners to say, ‘let’s give it a chance.’”
2023 Preakness Entries: Perform
Post position: 6
Odds: 15-1
Trainer: Shug McGaughey
Jockey: Feargal Lynch
Owners: Woodford Racing LLC, Lanes End Farm, Phipps Stable, Ken Langone, and Edward J. Hudson Jr.
Career record: 7-2-1-1
Career earnings: $130,956
Best Equibase speed figure: 98
Pedigree: Good Magic-Jane Says, by Tale of Ekati
Color: Bay
Running style: Closer/stalker
Notes: Purchased for $230,000 at the 2021 Keeneland September yearling sale … This will be McGaughey’s fourth Preakness –his 2013 Derby winner Orb ran third, Easy Goer was second in 1989, and Pine Circle was fifth in 1984 … Lynch has one Grade 1 victory over his racing career – the 2015 Woodbine Mile aboard Mondialiste. Lynch is a native of Northern Ireland, raced in England and is now based Maryland.
2023 Preakness Stakes Post Positions and Odds
| PP | Horse | Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Treasure | 4-1 | John Velazquez | Steven M. Asmussen |
| 2 | Chase The Chaos | 50-1 | Sheldon Russell | Ed Moger Jr. |
| 3 | Mage | 8-5 | Javier Castellano | Gustavo Delgado |
| 4 | Coffeewithchris | 20-1 | Jaime Rodriguez | John E. Salzman Jr. |
| 5 | Red Route One | 10-1 | Joel Rosario | Steven M. Asmussen |
| 6 | Perform | 15-1 | Feargal Lynch | Claude R. McGaughey III |
| 7 | Blazing Sevens | 6-1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Chad C. Brown |
| 8 | First Mission | 5-2 | Luis Saez | Brad H. Cox |