Skip to content

Preakness Stakes Preview: It's Justify's race to lose

Eclipse Sportswire / Getty Images Sport / Getty

How to watch

When: Saturday, May 19
Post time: 6:46 p.m. ET
Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Md.
TV: USA - NBC, 2:30 p.m. ET; Canada - TSN, 5 p.m. ET

Two weeks ago, on a soggy day at Churchill Downs, three-year-old colt Justify splashed his way to a convincing two-and-a-half-length victory in the 144th Kentucky Derby, giving his trainer Bob Baffert his fifth Derby win.

In Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, Justify will face different competition, but the track conditions will be the same as the Baltimore area has been hit with rain all week. While the conditions are not ideal, they should not bother Justify, who comes in as the overwhelming 1-2 morning line favorite after dominating the Derby on May 5.

Yet, the fortnight since the Run for the Roses hasn’t been without some drama for Justify. The day after the race, the colt emerged from his stall slightly lame on his back left foot. Baffert originally diagnosed the soreness as “scratches,” a rash-like skin condition found around the ankles common to horses who have stood in mud for a period of time. But, it was later revealed that Justify’s tenderness was the result of a bruised heel. The colt, who was bred by John and Tanya Gunther of Vancouver and sold as a yearling for $500,000 to China Horse Club and Maverick Racing, has seemingly recovered, with the help of a special shoe, and has galloped sound all week.

Seven other horses will attempt to snuff Justify’s chances at a run for the Triple Crown, including Derby participants Good Magic, who finished second and is 3-1 on the morning line, Bravazo (20-1), who ran sixth in the Derby, and Lone Sailor, who is listed at 15-1 odds but is pegged as a dark horse Saturday. Four fresh “new shooters” are entered as well, including highly regarded Quip, who missed the Derby to prepare for the Preakness.

Still, for any of the colts to win, it seems Justify will have to throw in a clunker. Baffert has six Preakness wins to his name, and is already comparing Justify to his 2015 Triple Crown-winning colt, American Pharoah, and each of his four Derby winners (Justify was the fifth) have gone on to win the Preakness. Rain or shine, Baffert knows his way to the winner’s circle.

Post positions

Post Horse Odds
1 Quip 12-1
2 Lone Sailor 15-1
3 Sporting Chance 30-1
4 Diamond King 30-1
5 Good Magic 3-1
6 Tenfold 20-1
7 Justify 1-2
8 Bravazo 20-1

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox