The 151st Preakness Stakes transpires today; Preview/Predictions
Emerging superstar jockey Jose Ortiz, the 32 year old from Puerto Rico, goes for the second leg of the Triple Crown, this time aboard 5/1 Chip Honcho. He won the 152nd Kentucky Derby aboard Golden Tempo. (Photo courtesy of Daily Racing Form).
Fourteen horses will compete in the 151st edition of the Preakness Stakes, which will take place at Laurel Park Racecourse in Maryland as Pimlico is under a $400 million renovation. Laurel Park, a 25 minute drive from Pimlico in Baltimore, has a capacity of 4,800, so there will be a lot less fans, but the electricity will still be high. Pimlico is expected to be back open in 2027. Post time today is 5:50 P.M. CT/ 6:50 East and NBC and Peacock will broadcast.
Golden Tempo, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, followed a trend that three of the last five Kentucky Derby winning trainers have employed, as his trainer, Cherie DeVaux, is sitting her horse out to prepare for the 158th Belmont Stakes on Saturday, June 6th at Saratoga Race course, which has been hosting it temporarily while Belmont Park is undergoing a major redevelopment.
There are a few horses in this field that ran in the Derby, but it looks like a wide open race, which makes prediciting this race even more dynamic.
Here are the thoroughbreds in this year’s Preakness, with, in order, their 1.post position, 2.their name, 3.their jockey, 4.their trainer, and 5.their odds.
1. Taj Mahal, Sheldon Russell, Brittany T. Russell, 5/1
2. Ocelli,Tyler Gaffalione, D. Whitworth Beckman, 6/1
3. Cropper,Junior Alvarado, Donnie K. Von Hemel, 20/1
4. Robusta, Rafael Bejarano, Doug F. O’Neill, 30/1
5.Talkin, Irad Ortiz Jr., Danny Gargan, 20/1
6. Chip Honcho, Jose Ortiz, Steve M. Asmussen, 5/1
7. The Hell We Did, Luis Saez, Todd Fincher, 15/1
8.Bull by the Horns, Micah J. Husbands, Saffie A. Joseph Jr., 30/1
9. Iron Honor, Flavien Prat, Chad Brown, 9/2
10. Napoleon Solo, Paco Lopez, Chad Summers, 8/1
11. Corona De Oro, John Velazquez, Dallas Stewart, 30/1
12. Incredibolt, Jaime A. Torres, Riley Mott, 5/1
13. Great White, Alex Achard, John Ennis, 15/1
14. Pretty Boy Miah, Ricardo “Carlos” Santana Jr., Jeremiah Englehart, 15/1
Winner
I had an economics teacher at my high school boarding school in Northern Virginia named Mike Miller. He was a phenomenal teacher. He was hard, but fair, and an excellent guy. We called him “Iron Mike.” He also coached the wrestling team. He was as tough as a Sherman Tank.
I gave a speech at the senior banquet and thought I’d have a little fun at Mr. Miller’s expense. I said when I started, “I hope everybody can hear me, this mic is made of Iron!” The next day, a Saturday, we had Saturday classes before football games, etc.., he was battering me with questions. “So, David, give me the micro definition of supply and demand.” I was a little flustered. “Now give me the macro version.” Getting more flustered. “Now tell me more about opportunity cost and economy of scales.” “Iron” had me totally out of sorts. It was pretty funny.
So in honor of my great teacher and leader, I’m going to take two time Preakness winning trainer (2017 and 2022), 47 year old New York state native Chad Brown, and 2019 Derby winner and 2021 Preakness winning jockey Flavien Prat, the 33 year old Frenchman, to have their horse well suited for the mile and three sixteenths race. Give me:
Iron Honor
