Preakness 144: Nominations Total 268 Horses for Preakness Stakes (G1) Undercard

By David Joseph —-

May 9, 2019

Nominations Total 268 Horses for Preakness Stakes (G1) Undercard

Sophomores in Spotlight in Chick Lang (G3), Sir Barton, James Murphy

BALTIMORE – A total of 268 horses were nominated to the eight stakes, four graded, worth $1.15 million in purses that support the 144th running of the Preakness Stakes (G1), the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown, Saturday, May 18 at Pimlico Race Course.

The $1.5 million Preakness will anchor nine stakes, five graded, worth $2.65 million in purses on a 14-race program that begins with a special 10:30 a.m. first post. The Preakness will be Race 13 with a post time of 6:48 p.m.

Catholic Boy, a Grade 1 winner on both turf and dirt, is one of 19 graded-stakes winners among 38 horses nominated to the 118th running of the $250,000 Maker’s Mark Dixie (G2) for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/16 miles on the grass.

A winner of six of 10 starts and more than $1.8 million in purses, Catholic Boy has not raced since having a three-race win streak snapped in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1). All three wins came in graded-stakes, led by the Travers (G1) on dirt and Belmont Derby Invitational (G1) on grass, both at 1 ¼ miles.

Also prominent among Dixie nominees are millionaires Delta Prince, winner of the Maker’s 46 Mile (G1) April 12 at Keeneland; 2016 and 2017 Woodford Reserve Turf (G1) winner Divisidero; and multiple graded-stakes winner Om; as well as Blacktype, third in the 2017 Dixie who owns 12 career wins, four in graded-stakes, and $973,335 in purse earnings; Argentinian Group 1 winner The Great Day; 2017 Maryland-bred Horse of the Year Just Howard and two-time Maryland Million Turf winner Phlash Phelps.

The $150,000 ClearSpan Maryland Sprint (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at six furlongs drew 31 nominations including 2016 winner Always Sunshine; multiple stakes winners Lewisfield, Laki and Fellowship, all of whom ran in last year’s race; and Do Share, winner of the Tom Fool (G3) March 9 at Aqueduct coming off a fourth-place finish in the Churchill Downs (G1) May 4.

Kentucky Derby (G1)-winning trainer Graham Motion won last year’s $150,000 Stella Artois Gallorette (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up at 1 1/16 miles on the grass with Ultra Brat, and this year has multiple graded-stakes winner Thewayiam among the 27 horses nominated. Other graded winners include Barkaa, Bellavais, Got Stormy, Holy Helena, I’m So Fancy and Mom’s On Strike, along with two-time defending Maryland Million Ladies winner My Sistersledge.

In addition to the Preakness, 3-year-olds will be in the spotlight in both the $200,000 Chick Lang at six furlongs and $100,000 Earle I. Mack Foundation Sir Barton to benefit the TAA and Man o’ War Project at 1 1/16 miles. The Chick Lang, named for the late racing industry legend known as ‘Mr. Preakness,’ was promoted to Grade 3 status for 2019.

The Chick Lang attracted 33 nominees including 2018 Hopeful (G1) winner Mind Control, 2018 Bashford Manor (G3) winner Sir Truebador, multiple graded-stakes winner Call Paul, stakes winners Frosted Ice, Gladiator King, Hawaiian Noises, Malpais, Mr Money Bags, Nitrous, Strike Silver and Zenden, and Still Dreaming, half-brother to Florida Derby (G1) and Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist.

Top Line Growth, an impressive 9 ½-length front-running debut winner April 22 at Laurel Park, is among 39 horses nominated to the Sir Barton, named for racing’s first Triple Crown champion whose ground-breaking achievement celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Top Line Growth is a Kelly Rubley-trained stablemate of Alwaysmining, a winner of six straight races, five in stakes, who will make his next start in the Preakness.

Maryland-bred Knicks Go, winner of the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and second in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) in 2018, is nominated to make his turf debut in the $100,000 James W. Murphy for sophomores going one mile, while the $100,000 The Very One for females 3 and up at five furlongs on grass similarly attracted 39 nominations.

New to the lineup this year is the $100,000 Ole Smoky Moonshine Searching Stakes for fillies and mares 3 and up going 1 ½ miles on the grass. Among its 22 nominees are April 26 Bewitch (G3) winner Ickymasho; Group 3 winner Gaining; and Giant Zinger, third in a pair of Grade 3 stakes this spring.

About Pimlico Race Course

Legendary Pimlico Race Course, home of the Preakness® Stakes, the Middle Jewel in horse racing’s famed Triple Crown, first opened its doors on October 25, 1870, and is the second oldest racetrack in the United States. Pimlico has played host to racing icons and Baltimoreans have seen the likes of legendary horses such as Man o’ War, Seabiscuit, Secretariat, Affirmed, American Pharoah and Cigar thunder down the stretch in thrilling and memorable competition. For more information on Pimlico, visit www.pimlico.com.

The Stronach Group is North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, home of the Pegasus World Cup Invitational, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America’s top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world’s largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry. For more information contact David Joseph at david.joseph@marylandracing.com or call 954.658.7156.