For a printable, PDF version of the graded line for Preakness 142 by The Green Sheet, click HERE.
National Weather Service Forecast for Baltimore, Maryland: May 19-20, 2017: Friday, May 19th: Mostly sunny with a high near 86 degrees; 30% chance of thunderstorms. 30% percent chance of showers and thunderstorms in the evening; partly cloudy, low around 63 degrees. Saturday, May 20th: Partly sunny with a high near 76 degrees.
The 2017 renewal of the Preakness Stakes (G1), to be contested at a mile and three-sixteenths trip at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday, May 20th, is a race–on paper–that figures to unfold true to form.
Conquest Mo Money, a game second after making all the pace in the Arkansas Derby (G1), will likely set the early pace in the middle jewel of the 2017 Triple Crown with Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hero Always Dreaming attending in second. Classic Empire should be more in touch with the front-runners in a true stalking position, especially with the prospects of a cleaner trip and slower early pace. Cloud Computing figures to be forwardly-placed as well which leaves a host of closers–Lookin At Lee, Gunnevera, Hence, Multiplier, Senior Investment, and Term of Art to try and deal with finishing into tepid early splits.
Getting a dream trip over a “sloppy,” sealed racetrack that had a pronounced inside speed bias aside, Always Dreaming was the best horse in the Kentucky Derby (G1) and holds all the aces in Baltimore. The quick turnaround after the “Run for the Roses” is always a concern, but the dark bay son of Bodemeister didn’t seem to overly exert himself in Louisville and has been jumping out of his skin of late at Pimlico.
Always Dreaming will likely clock Conquest Mo Money off a moderate pace, have first crack at him at the three-eighths pole and will then have to fend off Classic Empire for the final quarter-mile. Conquest Mo Money is interesting in that he comes into this race fresh and is a tough competitor–his effort in the Arkansas Derby (G1) is worth watching the video replay. Cloud Computing has never beaten winners and the aforementioned closers will be compromised by the moderate early fractions.
Check the site often, as I will not only update this graded line as the week progresses, but also I will have FREE Preakness Stakes (G1) analysis and selections after the post position draw.
The best of luck with your handicapping and enjoy this year’s Preakness…JG