Preakness Stakes Contender: River Thames

The $2 million Preakness Stakes (G1), the second leg of the Triple Crown, is Saturday, May 17, at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The US Racing team has published profiles on each horse in the race, updated with post positions and Preakness Stakes betting odds.s.

Preakness Sakes Contender: River Thames

If trainer Todd Pletcher’s resume were a spreadsheet of sorts, it might look like this: Hall of Fame? Check. Eclipse Award(s)? Check. Kentucky Derby? Check. Belmont Stakes? Check. Pegasus World Cup? Check. Breeders’ Cup Classic? Check. Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Dirt Mile, Turf Sprint, Juvenile Turf, Juvenile Fillies Turf, Juvenile Fillies, Sprint? Check, check, check, check, check …. well, you get the idea.

The one blank spot on that unparalleled list of accomplishments is a victory in the Preakness Stakes.

Pletcher’s best result in the 1 3/16-mile Preakness Stakes came a quarter-century ago, when Impeachment finished third.

“I’d love to check that box,” said Pletcher, whose 11th starter is River Thames, a lightly raced son of MacLean’s Music.

Unraced in 2024, he turned in noteworthy efforts following his maiden and allowance wins in the Fountain of Youth (G2), when nipped at the wire by eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Sovereignty, and in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1), in which he finished third, beaten less than a length, rallying between the victorious closer Burnham Square and pacesetting runner-up East Avenue, who next finished sixth and eighth in the Kentucky Derby, respectively.

“I think (it was a step forward),” Pletcher said after the Blue Grass. “It was the first time at a mile and an eighth. It seemed like he stuck it out pretty well, and he’s come a long way in a short period of time. It was a good effort; we just couldn’t quite get there.”

Purchased for $200,000 at the Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Preferred New York-bred Yearling Sale in 2023, River Thames will be bidding to become the fourth New York-bred to win the Preakness, following in the footsteps of Funny Cide (2003), Margrave (1896), and Jacobus (1883).

Preakness Stakes Betting Advice

Considering his breeding, connections, and versatility, let’s not count out this colt even if it’s only his fifth start. Include in exotics.

Contender Information Card

• Post Position: 6
• Preakness Stakes Betting Odds: 9-2 (BUSR Odds)
• Jockey: Irad Ortiz, Jr.
• Trainer: Todd Pletcher
• Owners: WinStar Farm, China Horse Club, Pantofel Stable, Wachtel Stable
• Career record: 4-2-1-1
• Career earnings: $261,900
• Top Equibase speed figure: 103
• Last race: Blue Grass Stakes (G1), April 8, 3rd
• Pedigree: MacLean’s Music-Proportionality, by Discreet Cat
• Color: Bay
• Running style: Stalker
• Notes: Although he had amassed enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Derby, WinStar president Elliot Walden thought the horse needed more time after the Blue Grass, his fourth career start. River Thames breezed 4 furlongs in 48.25 over the Belmont training track on Saturday (May 10). Among sire MacLean’s Music’s best runners include first-crop Preakness Stakes winner Cloud Computing.

US Racing Team

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.