4 'mudders' to bet on at the 2025 Preakness who thrive in the rain
It's looking like the storms hammering the East Coast this week may pass by post time for the 150th Preakness Stakes. That doesn't mean the damage won't already be done to the track — and that may end up being the biggest factor at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday.
Fortunately, and despite the smaller nine-horse field, there are quite a few contenders who have experience on off tracks entered into the field for the second leg of the Triple Crown.
WHAT'S IN A NAME? Every wacky and whimsical 2025 Preakness horse name, ranked
If it turns out the track is a mess out there on Saturday, these will be the four horses to keep an eye on.
American Promise
Friday Odds: 15-1
15-1 Morning Line Odds: 15-1
15-1 Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
D. Wayne Lukas Jockey: Nik Juarez
Before the Kentucky Derby, the last time American Promise raced on a muddy track was back on December 29 when the D. Wayne Lukas star won a 1 1/16th-mile race at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas. On a muddy Churchill Downs track, American Promise pulled up in 16th in the Run for the Roses.
Goal Oriented
Friday Odds: 6-1
6-1 Morning Line Odds: 6-1
6-1 Trainer: Bob Baffert
Bob Baffert Jockey: Flavien Prat
Baffert's Preakness entry is starting on the rail — just like Baffert's Citizen Bull did at the Kentucky Derby — but with a much smaller field than we saw at Churchill Downs, there's less reason to worry about getting squeezed out. Goal Oriented has won the only two events he's entered, which includes a muddy race on the Kentucky Derby undercard, and carries a 109 Equibase Speed Figure on a wet track, which leads the Preakness field.
Journalism
Friday Odds: 8-5
8-5 Morning Line Odds: 8-5
8-5 Trainer: Michael W. McCarthy
Michael W. McCarthy Jockey: Umberto Rispoli
Journalism finished second on the wet track at the Kentucky Derby, putting a strong performance on late but not nearly enough to overtake Sovereignty. While Goal Oriented has the top Equibase Speed Figure on a wet track in the field, Journalism arrives in Baltimore with the top Beyer Speed Figure on a wet track (102).
Sandman
Friday Odds: 4-1
4-1 Morning Line Odds: 4-1
4-1 Trainer: Mark E. Casse
Mark E. Casse Jockey: John Velazquez
Sandman finished in seventh at the Kentucky Derby, which was the first time it took to an off track. With a Wet Equibase Speed Figure of 86 and a wet Beyer Speed Figure of 87, he'll have to prove quite a bit on Saturday.
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