Get caught up with Clever Again's past performances, jockey, trainer, Preakness Stakes odds and full analysis heading into the second leg of the Triple Crown.
If bloodlines mean anything, Clever Again is bred to thrive at the Preakness Stakes distance. By Triple Crown champ American Pharoah and out of the Galileo mare Flattering, this colt is built to go long—and 1 3/16 miles at Pimlico should be right in his wheelhouse.
“He’s by a mile-and-a-half winner, out of a mare who also won at a mile-and-a-half,” said trainer Steve Asmussen, a two-time Preakness winner. “I think the added distance will be a plus.”
Clever Again has only three starts under his belt but has flashed ability. After finishing second on debut last April, he returned nearly a year later to break his maiden going 1 1/16 miles in February. He followed that with a strong score in the Hot Springs Stakes at Oaklawn on March 30, beating Gaming, a Grade 1 winner, by four lengths.
His recent works at Churchill Downs suggest he’s on point. Most recently, he covered 5 furlongs in 1:01.60 on May 6, and Asmussen has been training him with options—just in case he doesn’t end up setting the pace.
“There’s more speed in here than he’s used to,” Asmussen said. “So we worked him off company, and he handled it well.”
Jose Ortiz, who rode him to both of his wins, will be aboard again. Expect him to be near the lead turning for home—but the question is whether he can finish with the same punch going farther and against much tougher company.
A big ask in just his fourth career start—but he’s talented and bred to stretch out. Legit longshot to use underneath or in deep tickets.
Notes: This is Asmussen’s 14th Preakness starter. He’s won twice—with Curlin in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra in 2009—and has also finished second twice, most recently with Epicenter in 2022. Ortiz, who guided Early Voting to Preakness victory that same year, reunites with Clever Again here. Purchased for $500,000 at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
