By US Racing Team
Upon further review, it sure makes sense when you think of the Kentucky Derby (G1) this way: Favorite Forte was scratched hours before the race, and Mage, who ran second to Forte in the Florida Derby (G1) last month, won the Run for the Roses.
Pretty simple, right? But when it comes to so many stats, past performances, speed numbers, and power rankings, plus every so many wagering options, picking the winner is a bit more complicated.
Now that the reshuffled Derby is done – five horses scratched, three also-eligible added to get the field to 18 — we move forward to the $1.5 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico on May 20.
There could be about a dozen 3-year-olds in the second leg of the Triple Crown, led by the Derby winner.
Mage, ridden by Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, defeated Two Phil’s by one length in the 1 ¼-mile Derby.
“He’s awesome. He’s really happy and alert and looks good, and he’s feeling good in the stall,” Ramiro Restrepo, a Florida bloodstock agent and one of the many owners of Mage, said Sunday at Churchill Downs. “If all remains as is, we’re going to the Preakness.”
Forte, scratched with a slight right front foot bruise, could go in the Preakness, too, according to Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher.
He termed Forte “good,’’ the morning after the Derby, and said the 2-year-old champion would have a timed workout this week at Churchill Downs to determine his status for the 1 3/16-mile Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Two Phil’s is a possible for the Preakness, as are several other Derby runners – Angel of Empire (third as the 4-1 favorite), Disarm (fourth), and Confidence Game 10th).
Red Route One and Chase the Chaos earned automatic berths into the Preakness with wins in the Bath House Row and El Camino Real Derby, respectively.
Hall of Famer Bob Baffert could be back in the Preakness with two possibles – Southwest winner Arabian Knight and National Treasure, wh o ran third in the BC Juvenile (G1) and third in the Sham (G3). The trainer has won the Preakness a record seven times.
Baffert’s last horse in a Triple Crown race was with Medina Spirit, who finished third in the 2021 Preakness (prior to his disqualification as the Derby winner for a positive medication violation).
Baffert was suspended for two years by Churchill Downs for the medication violation. The Maryland Jockey Club suspended him for the 2022 Preakness.
Other new shooters for the Preakness include First Mission, Blazing Sevens, Instant Coffee, Il Miracolo, and Henry Q.
Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen trains Disarm and Red Route One.
“One, if not both (will run),” he said. “Both would definitely be under consideration.
“I was very happy with how Disarm came out of the race, bright and alert and traveling well,” Asmussen added.
Red Route One worked 5 furlongs in 1:01.20 Sunday at Churchill.
Brad Cox trains Lexington (G3) winner First Mission. Cox also sent out four horses in the Derby, Angel of Empire, Hit Show (fifth), and Jace’s Road (17th).
“Right now, First Mission is our Preakness horse,” Cox said. “I don’t know if we’ll add any of these horses, but we’ll have to make a decision soon. First Mission had a fantastic work yesterday (5 furlongs in 59.80 seconds). I’m very happy with what we’re seeing.”
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 |