Pay Billy's past performances, jockey, trainer, Preakness Stakes odds and full analysis heading into the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Trainer Mike Gorham is no stranger to East Coast racing, but Saturday marks a career milestone: his first starter in the Preakness Stakes. That horse is Pay Billy, who punched his ticket with a 1 ¾-length win in the Frederico Tesio Stakes on April 19 at Laurel Park.
The Tesio isn’t exactly the golden gateway to Pimlico. Only one horse has pulled off the Tesio-Preakness double, Deputed Testamony in 1983. Most recently, Perform won the Tesio in 2023 and finished sixth in the Preakness. Still, for Gorham and first-time owners RKTN Racing, this is a dream worth chasing.
“We talked about going the Derby route,” Gorham said after the Tesio. “But I told them let’s go the low road—hit some local stakes and maybe the Preakness becomes an option. We took the shot, and here we are.”
Pay Billy has been on an upswing since breaking his maiden in December. He’s won three of five starts this year, including the Private Terms Stakes, and has shown steady improvement. While he hasn’t tackled graded competition yet, he’s been consistent and game in every outing.
The Preakness will be a big leap. But for a colt who “figured it out” after a slow start as a 2-year-old, it’s a testament to patience and timing.
“He was a little unfocused as a baby,” Gorham said. “We always thought he wanted to go longer, and he’s proven that as a 3-year-old.”
This will also be the first Preakness mount for Raul Mena, who was aboard for Pay Billy’s final prep—a 4-furlong breeze in 49.00 seconds at Delaware Park, 10th fastest of 34 that day.
This is a big step up in class, and he’s never faced anything close to this level. Use caution. Better off passing or watching for future spots.
Notes: RKTN Racing is a Minneapolis-based ownership group led by attorney Nate Nelson, who also owns horses with On Your Left Racing. Pay Billy is their first horse, and they’re bringing a crowd—31 people plan to attend. Trainer Gorham, a 40-year veteran of the game, is best known for conditioning Mandy’s Gold, who won 21 of 24 races and earned over $1 million, including a Grade 1 win in the Ruffian.
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.
