Preakness Stakes field in controversy but two new horses are introduced
Two new horses, France Go de Ina and Ram, have been introduced to the field for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday while question marks still surround the future of Bob Baffert's Medina Spirit.
A horse not in the field is Mandaloun, who would be declared the winner of the Kentucky Derby if Medina Spirit's split sample comes up positive for excessive amounts of betamethasone, but that test could take weeks. Even though a win in Saturday's race could mean a potential Triple Crown, there is no indication from trainerĀ Brad Cox that they are considering running him in the Preakness Stakes.
France Go de Ina
This Kentucky bred horse who is from Will Take Charge - Dreamy Blues, by Curlin, hasn't yet lived up to the bloodline of the two-time Horse of the Year and winner of the 2007 Preakness Stakes. He's been racing overseas and is coming off a sixth-place finish in the 100-40-20-10 Kentucky Derby prep UAE Derby at Meydan Racecourse in Dubai. He is 25/1 to win the Preakness Stakes.
Ram
He was able to follow it up with a win a couple of weeks later in an allowance race on the Kentucky Derby card at Churchill Downs and Lukas must have seen something in the colt as he won, going away by three-and-a-half lengths as a 10/1 underdog. Ram paid $20.80, $7.80, and $5.20 for the victory and Lukas needs to hope he's a late bloomer after going 0-1-0 in his first seven races. He too is 25/1 to win the Preakness Stakes.