Trainer Todd Pletcher decides to pull all his horses from the Preakness Stakes
Trainer Todd Pletcher has pulled all of his horses just four days before the Preakness Stakes.
Previously, Pletcher had Materiality, Carpe Diem, Competitive Edge and Stanford ready — but not confirmed– to race in the Preakness. With Materiality, it looks like Pletcher is trying to set a spoiler for the Belmont Stakes in the event American Pharoah wins the Preakness.
”It came down to we just felt two weeks was a little bit risky,” Pletcher said, adding that Carpe Diem also would likely return for the Belmont. ”We felt five weeks to the Belmont would be an advantage for him (Materiality). He’s been at Belmont since two days after the Derby and has been training well.” (courtesy to Richard Rosenblatt, AP)
A small field of Preakness Stakes Contenders like this hasn’t been seen since 1986.
With such a small field, American Pharoah, Firing Line and Dortmund look poised to finish in the top three.
Although there is still time for owners to submit their horses it is quite late because the post positions for the Preakness Stakes will be drawn on Wednesday, May 13th. Some owners and trainers may be incensed that Pletcher filled these spots only to pull all his horses.
US Racing odds for the Preakness will be updated because of these changes.
