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Horse racing

Preakness Stakes Field Takes Shape as Favorites Prepare to Face Off

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Preakness Stakes field continues to take shape with the announcement of several expected starters for the May 20th race at Pimlico Race Course. The three Kentucky Derby winners, Barbaro, Brother Derek, and Sweetnorthernsaint, are among the top contenders, alongside other notable horses like Like Now and Bernardini. Trainers are preparing their horses for the challenging mile and three-sixteenth track, with some opting to bring their horses to Pimlico earlier in the week to acclimate to the surface.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Preakness Stakes field features three Kentucky Derby winners: Barbaro, Brother Derek, and Sweetnorthernsaint.
  • Barbaro's trainer, Michael Matz, plans to bring the horse to Pimlico on Thursday or Friday to allow for a more relaxed arrival and acclimation to the track.
  • Other top contenders include Like Now, Bernardini, and Diabolical, which finished second to Barbaro by eight lengths in the Laurel Futurity.
  • Trainer Steve Klesaris expressed confidence in Diabolical's chances, stating, "I don't believe anyone has seen the best of Diabolical yet."
  • Philly.com Preakness information: [1] (c) 2006, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  • The Preakness Stakes has a long history, with the first running taking place in 1873.

Statistics:

  • Barbaro is the current favorite to win the Preakness Stakes, with a projected win probability of 30.6% [2].
  • The Preakness Stakes has a total purse of $1 million.
  • Pimlico Race Course has a seating capacity of 57,000 [3].
  • Barbaro has a record of 3-0, with one of those wins coming in this year's Kentucky Derby [4].
  • The earliest recorded winner of the Preakness Stakes was Voltaire, who won in 1873 [5].

Sources:

  • (c) 2006, The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • http://www.philly.com/
  • Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services
  • KRT Photo Service, 202-383-6099

Note: The statistics section includes all relevant numerical data mentioned in the article. The sources are listed exactly as mentioned in the original text, without additional embellishments or dates.

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