Skip to content

Preakness Stakes Preview: 3 storylines to watch

Horsephotos / Getty Images Sport / Getty

How to watch

When: Saturday, May 20
Post time: 6:45 p.m. ET
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Md.
TV: U.S. - NBC, 5 p.m. ET, Canada - TSN3/TSN5, 5 p.m. ET

Post positions

POST POSITION HORSE ODDS
1 Multiplier 30-1
2 Cloud Computing 12-1
3 Hence 20-1
4 Always Dreaming 4-5
5 Classic Empire 3-1
6 Gunnevera 15-1
7 Term of Art 30-1
8 Senior Investment 30-1
9 Lookin at Lee 10-1
10 Conquest Mo Money 15-1

It's that time of year again: When horse racing fans hold their breath for two minutes waiting to find out whether a bid for the Triple Crown is in the cards. All eyes will be on Always Dreaming in Saturday's Preakness Stakes - the second leg of the Triple Crown - as he's the only one with a chance at the sweep after winning the Kentucky Derby on May 6.

Will he be the 36th horse to roll into Belmont Park three weeks from now for a shot at one of the most elusive prizes in sport? Always Dreaming (4-5) is the overwhelming favorite for the race after he stormed home to win the Derby at Churchill Downs by 2 3/4 lengths two weeks ago. The dark bay colt made the romp in the slop look easy, but the cutback in distance to 1 3/16 mile for the Preakness and a fast track at Pimlico should level out the playing field for the nine other contenders who will take him on.

Since the Triple Crown was inaugurated in 1875, 12 horses have won it. The last winner was American Pharoah in 2015.

Here are three storylines to follow:

The new guys

There are five horses that didn't compete in the Kentucky Derby on May 6 who will try to upset Always Dreaming's bid for a shot at the Triple Crown.

While it may seem like a fresh horse is the best bet, the new shooters haven't fared so well in the past. In the last 20 years, only three winners of the Preakness didn't run in the Derby - the last being Rachel Alexandra in 2009. However, Rachel Alexandra won the Kentucky Oaks, which is the filly counterpart to the Run for the Roses, and took place the day before Derby. The two others were Bernardini in 2006 and Red Bullet in 2000.

Needless to say, a rested horse for the Preakness isn't necessarily the best horse.

The Pletcher Effect

Todd Pletcher is a seven-time champion trainer who has amassed more than $300 million in earnings in his career. However, the Triple Crown series has been somewhat of a nemesis for him.

Before Always Dreaming's triumph two weeks ago, Pletcher had won the Derby just once in 45 tries. He has never won the Preakness, but has only sent eight horses to the gate in the race.

The 14-day spacing between the Derby and the Preakness is typically too short of a time between races for Pletcher's training program, but given the vim and vit the colt's showed in the morning at Pimlico, he's optimistic that the quick turnaround for Always Dreaming won't affect his chances.

Related: Always Dreaming, Gunnevera highlight Preakness experts picks

Will Empire strike back?

It's now or never for Classic Empire (3-1).

The colt was the favorite for the Kentucky Derby after stoutly winning the Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November. For months, he was the talk of the town. Then the wheels began to fall off. He started refusing to train and suffered a hoof injury over the winter which drastically altered his conditioning coming into the Derby. Still, he was made the morning line choice based off his 2-year-old form and his gritty win in the Arkansas Derby.

In the Kentucky Derby, though, Classic Empire was bounced and bumped during the running of the race, and finished a disappointing fourth. It was also reported that he emerged from the race with a swollen eye that has since healed. His trainer, Mark Casse, has said all along that a great horse overcomes obstacles to win races, so it's all systems go at Pimlico - no excuses this time.

On Saturday, the champ has to prove he's the horse everyone says he is.

Related: 3 horses to watch at the Preakness Stakes

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox