Preakness Draw Day

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The field is set for the 142nd running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico in Baltimore Saturday.

The second leg of the Triple Crown all but given to Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming.

He’ll break from gate 4 as the morning line favorite at 4-5.  Classic Empire draws the 5 hole.  He’s at 3-1.

The field of ten stands as follows:

As for trainer Todd Pletcher’s thoughts on getting to break once again from the four, as Always Dreaming did in the Florida Derby, plus how the field shapes up, check out the video.

Pletcher is a traditionalist, but he’s always trying to improve the game.

Does the two week turnaround hurt horse racing from Derby to Preakness?   Would three weeks between the two make much of a difference?  Perhaps a month would, in Pletcher’s mind, to help better gauge prep works and add a half-mile breeze.

American Pharoah’s Triple Crown put that notion to bed for awhile.

As for Pletcher’s other Derby winner, Super Saver in 2010, to enter in the second leg of the Triple Crown, how does he compare to Always Dreaming?

Mark Casse’s Classic Empire worked Wednesday at Pimlico in prep of Saturday’s big race.

He didn’t get a good trip at Churchill Downs, but breaking from the five hole right next to Always Dreaming may help turn the second leg of the Triple Crown into a match race in the 1 3/16 mile trip.

At least, that’s the idea anyway.  Hear from Casse on the slimmer field, and why it helps his horse, in the video.