The skinny on the Preakness field
American Pharoah
Post position: 1
Owner: Zayat Stables
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Victor Espinoza
Morning-line odds: 4-5
The skinny: The Kentucky Derby winner has not shown any signs of regressing. If he breaks well, it's his to lose.
Dortmund
Post position: 2
Owner: Kaleem Shah
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Martin Garcia
Morning-line odds: 7-2
The skinny: Suffered first career loss in seven starts when he ran third in the Kentucky Derby. Key will be how Garcia and Espinoza manage their mounts breaking next to each other.
Mr. Z
Post position: 3
Owner: Calumet Farm
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Corey Nakatani
Morning-line odds: 20-1
The skinny: Lukas facilitated the sale of Mr. Z from Zayat Stables to Calumet Farm this Wednesday when owner Ahmed Zayat said he would not run the son of Malibu Moon in this spot against American Pharoah. Has lost 12 straight since breaking his maiden but will likely throw a wrench into the early fractions by going to the front out of this post.
Danzig Moon
Post position: 4
Owner: John Oxley
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Julien Leparoux
Morning-line odds: 15-1
The skinny: Ran a respectable fifth in the Derby after getting in trouble heading into the first turn. Has continued to look sharp in training and is a dark horse to pick up the pieces.
Tale of Verve
Post position: 5
Owner: Charles Fipke
Trainer: Dallas Stewart
Jockey: Joel Rosario
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: Wasn't able to draw in the Derby field after being a surprise entrant as the second also-eligible. Broke his maiden in his sixth try at Keeneland on April 23. Hard to like on form but Stewart is masterful at getting long shots to perform in classic spots.
Bodhisattva
Post position: 6
Owner: Jose Corrales
Trainer: Jose Corrales
Jockey: Trevor McCarthy
Morning-line odds: 20-1
The skinny: Trying to become the first winner of the Federico Tesio Stakes to take the Preakness since Deputed Testamony in 1983. Have to think that drought is going to continue.
Divining Rod
Post position: 7
Owner: Lael Stables
Trainer: Arnaud Delacour
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Morning-line odds: 12-1
The skinny: Showed he could rate when he captured the Grade III Coolmore Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on April 11. The son of Tapit is an improving colt but in for a massive class jump.
Firing Line
Post position: 8
Owner: Arnold Zetcher
Trainer: Simon Callaghan
Jockey: Gary Stevens
Morning-line odds: 4-1
The skinny: Ran a terrific race to get second in the Kentucky Derby and has held his flesh well since. There is concern that he did not swap running leads in the stretch of the Derby.
This story was originally published May 15, 2015 at 5:09 PM with the headline "The skinny on the Preakness field."