BALTIMORE (AP) — In a field with no top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby, the chances that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert wouldn’t have the favorite in the Preakness are, well, Improbable.
Baffert will seek a record-setting eighth Preakness victory Saturday with 5-2 morning line favorite Improbable, who will begin from the No. 4 post in a field of 13 horses.
War of Will, the second choice at 4-1, received the No. 1 post in Wednesday’s draw.
For the first time since 1951, the Preakness will not incorporate the four horses which crossed the finish line in the Kentucky Derby. Improbable finished fifth and has been moved up to fourth following the disqualification of Maximum Security for interference.
It had been the only time in six career races that Improbable failed to finish first or second. On Saturday, co-owner Elliott Walden expects that his horse gets back on course after watching another of his horses, Justify, roll to a Triple Crown triumph in 2018.
“I feel as if we are preferred by default this season,” Walden conceded. “But this horse has a good resume. He ran very well in the Derby without hitting on the board.”
After being bunched closely in the 19-horse Kentucky Derby, Improbable can anticipate a ride within a field.
“Happy with the 4 article. Post positions here are a little bit anti-climactic,” Walden said. “There is not a lot lot for this. We only hope he gets away clean and he’s able to get in a nice rhythm.”
Baffert did not attend the attraction, but he will undoubtedly be in the middle of things Saturday. Baffert and R.W. Walden, who saddled seven winners in the late 1800s, are currently tied across the Preakness leaderboard.
War Will, meanwhile, is stuck on the railroad with the No. 1 post — the exact same place he started from at the Kentucky Derby, when he finished eighth and was moved up to seventh.
“We definitely know it is not as awful as the Derby,” coach Mark Casse explained. “One thing about it: the 1 hole can be immensely great or it can be extremely bad. From the Derby it was extremely bad, so I’m thinking we’re going to get extremely good this time.”
Another two Derby participants in this race are Bodexpress and Win Win Win. Bodexpress (14th at the Derby, moved around 13th) will break from the No. 9 article and is 20-1 on the morning . Win Win Win (10th to 9th at Churchill Downs) is 15-1 from the 13 hole.
Bodexpress is striving for his first career success, with hopes of becoming the first maiden to win the Preakness since reluctantly recorded a four-horse race in 1888.
Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, 83, is searching for his seventh Preakness success with Market King, 30-1 on the morning lineup and beginning from the No. 8 post.
“I don’t believe the post position matters much because he’s an excellent gate horse,” Lukas said. “I really don’t think he is the quickest but he’ll be shut. By the time they reach the clubhouse turn, he should be placed somewhere where we’re comfortable.”
That is Lukas’ 44th Preakness entrance, over any trainer in the 144-year history of this race.
Alwaysmining drew the No. 7 post and chances of 8-1. Not only is Kelly Rubley seeking to become the first female trainer to win the Preakness, however, the final Maryland-bred horse to finish first in the race was Deputed Testamony in 1983.
“I think that it’s more about the horse than the fact that I am a girl coach,” Rubley said. “The horse brought me , and I’m very proud of him”
Everfast, entered before the draw on Wednesday, was the longest shot in the area at 50-1.
The horse is trained by Dale Romans, who won the 2011 Preakness with Shackleford.
“A few of the top contenders are missing, so we’ll have an opportunity,” Romans said from Louisville, Kentucky.
Preakness odds and starting posts (Westgate)
WAR OF WILL 4/1
BOURBON WAR 12/1
WARRIOR’S CHARGE 12/1
IMPROBABLE 9/4
OWENDALE 10/1
MARKET KING 40/1
ALWAYSMINING 8/1
SIGNALMAN 25/1
BODEXPRESS 20/1
EVERFAST 50/1
LAUGHING FOX 30/1
ANOTHERTWISTAFATE 7/1
WIN WIN WIN 12/1
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