Handicapping the 148th Preakness Stakes

By Rick Francis —-

PIMLICO

Race 13) 1&3/16ths Mile. Preakness S. Grade I. Purse $1,500,000 FOR THREE-YEAR-OLDS
Post Time: ( 7:01)/ 6:01/ 5:01/ 4:01

1) National Treasure (Baffert/Velazquez); by Quality Road, colt as well as with all Baffert starters has the speed to win this, and though he may have the “will”, wins are but one.

2) Chase the Chaos (Moger/Russell); out of Australian sire Astern, gelding has never finished on the board in a dirt race; pass.

3) Mage (Delgado/Castellano); by Good Magic, Derby winner is the lone starter from the 149th “Run for the Roses”, and though this bunch doesn’t have the notoriety of the Derby field there’s a couple in here that are going to make him earn the second jewel of the Triple Crown, but it’s his race to lose.

4) Coffeewithchris (Salzman/Rodriquez); by Ride On Curlin, Maryland-bred owns a couple overnight stakes scores at Laurel and should be part of the early pace, that being said, all that should do is setup the Derby champ’s late run.

5) Red Route One (Asmussen/Rosario); by Gun Runner, the main threat to end this years Triple Crown run. Colt under a well-timed ride, got up by a head to take Oaklawn’s closing stakes contest Bath House Row; his pair of seconds in both the Rebel and Southwest make him a player.

6) Perform (McGaughey/Lynch); By Good Magis, colt has become this race’s “Wise Guy” play; I’m guessing that’s based on back-to-back wins at Tampa and last out over at Laurel. Three starts back he was handled quite easily by Mage.

7) Blazing Sevens (Brown/Ortiz, I. Jr); by Good Magic; has been squaring off against the toughest of fields of this group and has aquitted himself well, with a pair of wins and show finishes from six starts; he’s live here.

8) First Mission (SCRATCHED)

Selections: 3, 5, 7

As has become custom for Triple Crown races the Ladies of the Gretna Jockey Club offer their picks:

Debbie Francis
Head of Household
5,7,3

Kelly Coroy
Fashion Influencer
6,3,7

Dr Eeb Centanni
ER Physician
2,6,3

Lauren Rockwell
School Counselor
4,1,2

Linda McKinney
New Member
4,1,7

Gail Derveloy
New Member
3,7,2