Handicapping the field for the Preakness Stakes
A closer look at the field for Saturday’s 141st running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Md. Post time for the second leg of the Triple Crown is 6:45 p.m., with the race to be televised live on NBC.
Cherry Wine
Post position: 1
Owners: Pacella Racing, Frank Jones Jr. and Frank Shoop
Trainer: Dale Romans
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Morning-line odds: 20-1
The skinny: Broke his maiden by 9 1/4 lengths over a sloppy track last November. Third-place finisher in Blue Grass Stakes could be live over a wet surface.
Uncle Lino
Post position: 2
Owners: Tom Mansor, Purple Shamrock Racing, and Gary Sherlock
Trainer: Gary Sherlock
Jockey: Fernando Perez
Morning-line odds: 20-1
The skinny: Captured the California Chrome Stakes in gate-to-wire fashion on April 30 after running third behind Exaggerator in the Grade I Santa Anita Derby.
Nyquist
Post position: 3
Owner: Reddam Racing
Trainer: Doug O’Neill
Jockey: Mario Gutierrez
Morning-line odds: 3-5
The skinny: Can win from in the lead or off the pace, can handle a wet track or a drying out surface. Is unbeaten in eight career starts for a reason.
Awesome Speed
Post position: 4
Owner: Colts Neck Stables
Trainer: Alan Goldberg
Jockey: Jevian Toledo
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: Was placed first in the Federico Tesio Stakes on April 9 via disqualification. Likely a cut below this class of competition.
Exaggerator
Post position: 5
Owners: Big Chief Racing, Head of Plains Partners, Rocker O Ranch, et al
Trainer: Keith Desormeaux
Jockey: Kent Desormeaux
Morning-line odds: 3-1
The skinny: Has been beaten by Nyquist in each of their four meetings, including his runner-up effort in the Kentucky Derby. Should get another good pace scenario to close into.
Lani
Post position: 6
Owner: Maeda Koji
Trainer: Mikio Matsunaga
Jockey: Yutaka Take
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: The son of Tapit has gotten a ton of headlines for his quirky behavior but he was able to make up ground from the back of the field in the Kentucky Derby to finish ninth.
Collected
Post position: 7
Owner: Speedway Stable
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Jockey: Javier Castellano
Morning-line odds: 10-1
The skinny: Was a stylish winner of the Grade III Lexington Stakes but there are questions about how far he wants to go and how effectively he can rate if needed.
Laoban
Post position: 8
Owners: McCormick Racing and Southern Equine Stable
Trainer: Eric Guillot
Jockey: Florent Geroux
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: Still a maiden in five career starts. Don’t expect that status to change after Saturday.
Abiding Star
Post position: 9
Owners: Stonehedge LLC
Trainer: Edward Allard
Jockey: J.D. Acosta
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: Has won five straight races, including the Parx Derby. Should be a factor in the early pace scenario.
Fellowship
Post position: 10
Owner: Jacks or Better Farm
Trainer: Mark Casse
Jockey: Jose Lezcano
Morning-line odds: 30-1
The skinny: Was fourth in the Pat Day Mile on the undercard of the Kentucky Derby. Needs the perfect pace and trip to hit the board.
Stradivari
Post position: 11
Owners: John D. Gunther, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Susan Magnier
Trainer: Todd Pletcher
Jockey: John Velazquez
Morning-line odds: 8-1
The skinny: Has won his last two starts by 25 3/4 lengths but is facing graded stakes company for the first time.
This story was originally published May 20, 2016 at 6:21 PM with the headline "Handicapping the field for the Preakness Stakes."