Derby winner American Pharoah favorite to take home Preakness
BALTIMORE – Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah was made the 4-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Preakness and will attempt to win it from the unfavorable No. 1 post to set up a Triple Crown attempt in the Belmont Stakes.
A field of eight 3-year-olds was entered Wednesday, the smallest since 2000, when Red Bullet upset Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.
Trainer Bob Baffert is looking for his sixth Preakness win with American Pharoah and Dortmund, who drew the No. 2 post. Third in the Derby, Dortmund was the 7-2 second choice. Derby runner-up Firing Line leaves from the outside No. 8 spot and is the third choice at 4-1.
Baffert has never liked the No. 1 post, and history backs him up. The last horse to win the Preakness from the inside post was Tabasco Cat in 1994; the last to win it from the No. 2 post was Snow Chief in 1986. Baffert has 10 wins in Triple Crown races, and none started from the rail.
“I can’t believe I drew the 1-2,” a somewhat disappointed Baffert said, noting that if American Pharoah is the best horse, “we’re going to find out.”
He added: “It’s the luck of the draw. I don’t love it, but it will be easy to watch.”
If American Pharoah wins, it would set up Baffert for an unprecedented fourth Triple Crown try.
The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978.
Victor Espinoza has the mount on American Pharoah, with Martin Garcia aboard Dortmund. Hall of Famer Gary Stevens is aboard Firing Line.
The field, from the rail out is American Pharoah (Espinoza, 4-5); Dortmund (Garcia, 7-2); Mr. Z (Corey Nakatani, 20-1); Danzig Moon (Julien Leparoux, 15-1); Tale of Verve (Joel Rosario, 30-1); Bodhisattva (Trevor McCarthy, 20-1); Divining Rod (Javier Castellano, (12-1); and Firing Line (Stevens, 4-1).