BALTIMORE (AP) — At a field with no top 3 finishers in the Kentucky Derby, the odds that Hall of Fame coach Bob Baffert would not possess the favorite in the Preakness are, well, Improbable.
Baffert will seek out a record-setting eighth Preakness victory Saturday with 5-2 morning line favorite Improbable, who’ll start from the No. 4 post in a field of 13 horses.
War of Will, the second choice at 4-1, obtained the No. 1 post in Wednesday’s draw.
For the first time since 1951, the Preakness won’t incorporate the four horses which crossed the finish line in the Kentucky Derby. Improbable finished fifth and was moved up to fourth following the disqualification of Maximum Security for hindrance.
It had been the only time in six career races that Improbable failed to finish first or second. On Saturday, co-owner Elliott Walden hopes that his horse gets back on track after watching a second of his horses, Justify, roll into a Triple Crown win in 2018.
“I feel like we’re preferred by default this year,” Walden conceded. “However, this horse has a great resume. He ran very well in the Derby without hitting the plank.”
Improbable can anticipate a smoother ride within a small field after being bunched closely from the 19-horse Kentucky Derby.
“Happy with the 4 article. Post positions here are a little bit anti-climactic,” Walden said. “There is not a lot whole lot for this. We just hope he gets away clean and he is able to get at a Wonderful rhythm.”
Baffert didn’t attend the draw, but he will no doubt be in the center of items Saturday. Baffert and R.W. Walden, who saddled seven winners in the late 1800s, are currently tied atop the Preakness leaderboard.
War of Will, meanwhile, is stuck onto the railroad with the No. 1 post — the same place he started from at the Kentucky Derby, when he finished eighth and was moved up to seventh.
“We certainly know it’s not quite as awful as the Derby,” coach Mark Casse explained. “One thing about it: the 1 hole can be immensely great or it may be extremely bad. From the Derby it was really bad, so I am thinking we are going to get really good this time.”
The other two Derby participants in this race are Bodexpress and Win Win Win. Bodexpress (14th in the Derby, moved up to 13th) will separate from the No. 9 article and can be 20-1 on the morning . Win Win Win (10th to 9th in Churchill Downs) is 15-1 from the 13 hole.
Bodexpress is trying for his first career victory, with hopes of becoming the first maiden to win the Preakness since reluctantly recorded a four-horse race in 1888.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 83, is looking for his seventh Preakness victory with Market King, 30-1 on the morning lineup and starting from the No. 8 article.
“I really don’t think the post position matters a lot because he is an excellent gate horse,” Lukas said. “I don’t think he is the quickest but he’ll be close. From the time they reach the clubhouse turn, he should be put somewhere where we’re comfortable.”
That is Lukas’ 44th Preakness entrance, over any trainer in the 144-year history of this race.
Alwaysmining attracted the No. 7 article and chances of 8-1. Not only is Kelly Rubley trying to become the first female coach to win the Preakness, however, the final Maryland-bred horse to finish first in the race was Deputed Testamony at 1983.
“I think it’s more about the horse compared to the simple fact that I’m a girl coach,” Rubley said. “The horse brought me , and I’m very proud of him”
Everfast, entered hours before the draw on Wednesday, was the longest shot in the field in 50-1.
The horse is trained by Dale Romans, who won the 2011 Preakness with Shackleford.
“A few of the best contenders are missing, so we’ll take an opportunity,” Romans said from Louisville, Kentucky.
Preakness odds and beginning posts (Westgate)
WAR OF WILL 4/1
BOURBON WAR 12/1
WARRIOR’S CHARGE 12/1
IMPROBABLE 9/4
OWENDALE 10/1
MARKET KING 40/1
ALWAYSMINING 8/1
SIGNALMAN 25/1
BODEXPRESS 20/1
EVERFAST 50/1
LAUGHING FOX 30/1
ANOTHERTWISTAFATE 7/1
WIN WIN WIN 12/1
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