Preakness Stakes looms large but only two horses confirmed
The 146th Preakness Stakes will take place on May 15 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, but as yet only two horses have been confirmed for the race.
First a review of what happened last year. The 145th edition in 2020 was switched from its traditional date in May to October 3 due to COVID-19 and was won by Swiss Skydiver, who started the race at odds of 12/1 and defeated the 3/2 favourite and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic by a head.
2020 Triple Crown recap
The winner of the Belmont Stakes was Tiz the Law, the 4/5 favourite who easily outran Dr. Post by three-and-three-quarter lengths over a distance that was shortened to a mile-and-an-eighth from the usual mile-and-a-half.
2021 Triple Crown update
Trainer Bob Baffert won his second consecutive and seventh overall Kentucky Derby on Saturday when 12/1 underdog Medina Spirit led virtually wire to wire in a close, exciting race in which five horses had a chance to make a move down the stretch.
Medina Spirit and Concert Tour confirmed for Preakness
The field for the 146th running of the Preakness Stakes is still far from being set, with only Bob Baffert's Medina Spirit and Concert Tour, who was kept out of the Derby, apparently confirmed according to the Daily Racing Form. Previously, the trainers of two other horses that did not race at Churchill Downs, Rombauer and Crowded Trade, indicated they would likely enter the Preakness too.
Two trainers who had multiple entries in the Kentucky Derby, Todd Pletcher and Brad Cox, have not made any commitments about what they will do regarding the Preakness Stakes. Cox trains second-place Derby finisher Mandaloun, Essential Quality and Caddo River, who was originally entered at Churchill Downs but a fever kept him from competing.