A thrilling edition of the Kentucky Derby is in the history books, and the attention now swiftly turns toward the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. The Middle Leg of the Triple Crown will take place in mid-May, with several potential newcomers who overlooked the Derby set to take their chance.
However, the most attention will be on the winner of the famous race at Churchill Downs, as Mystik Dan will look to join the plethora of greats by winning multiple legs of the Triple Crown series. But, can the Kenneth McPeek runner land success in the Preakness Stakes?
McPeek Undecided On Preakness Bid
A stunning edition of the Kentucky Derby saw a finish deserving of the 150th renewal of the race, with Mystik Dan holding off late challenges from Sierra Leone and Forever Young to win the Triple Crown race by a nose.
It was a stunning performance by the three-year-old for Kenneth McPeek, and was a boost to the G1 Arkansas Derby form, where the Derby winner finished third behind Muth. Mystik Dan will now have the opportunity to join some of the most famous runners in racing history if deciding to line up in the Preakness Stakes.
However, connections have poured cold water on the dreams of seeing a Triple Crown winner crowned this year, with McPeek teasing that his star runner could opt to overlook a date at Pimlico in favor of a tilt in the Belmont Stakes.
The trainer revealed after the Derby that his star was tired following his gutsy run, and he will likely need time to recover before returning to the track.
McPeek revealed that a racecourse gallop on May 8 will ultimately determine what decision will be made, but the Belmont Stakes over a reduced distance of 1 ¼ miles could make the Derby winner a standout contender at Saratoga next month.
Derby Stars Likely To Bypass Preakness
The fact that the Belmont Stakes will be run over a reduced distance at Saratoga this year means that it’s likely that a lot of Derby runners will travel straight to the final Triple Crown race in 2024.
Sierra Leone was only narrowly denied a dream win in the Derby for trainer Chad Brown, and connections have already made it clear that they will overlook the 2024 Preakness Stakes odds in favor of a tilt at the final race of the series.
In fact, Brown has already moved Sierra Leone to Saratoga ahead of the Belmont Stakes, and connections will be extremely hopeful of a strong run after a layoff this year given his strong run to the line at Churchill Downs.
Japanese raider Forever Young was third in the Derby, but both he and fellow raider T O Password will travel back to Asia this week.
Honor Marie had no shortage of traffic issues in the Derby, but connections have already admitted that they will be going straight to the Belmont, with West Saratoga also set to be an intended runner at Saratoga next month.
Mage was the only Derby runner involved in the Preakness Stakes last year, and it looks set to be the same again for the middle leg of the Triple Crown.
Who Could Line Up In The Preakness?
Mystik Dan could be the only Derby runner to take his chance in the Preakness, meaning that the entirety of the field could be made up of new shooters looking to score in the Triple Crown series.
Muth is expected to go off very short at Pimlico for last year’s winning connections after previously getting the better of Mystik Dan to land the G1 Arkansas Derby. That was the Bob Baffert runner’s second straight victory this season, and it could be argued that he is already the most talented three-year-old in the U.S. this year.
Baffert is also likely to saddle Imagination in the Preakness this year. The three-year-old was narrowly beaten by a neck by Stronghold in the G1 Santa Anita Derby in April, while he was a winner over an extended mile when capturing the G2 San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita in early March.
One of the most fascinating runners that could line up at Pimlico is D. Wayne Lukas-trained Seize The Grey. The three-year-old colt was incredibly impressive on the Derby undercard when beating Nash by over a length in the G3 Pat Day Mile.
He has already recorded victory over longer than a mile and has form intertwined with Derby contenders such as Sierra Leone after finishing seventh in the G1 Blue Grass.
Tuscan Gold is also a potential runner for trainer Chad Brown after finishing third in the G2 Louisiana Derby on his comeback effort at Fair Grounds. However, connections could yet target the G3 Peter Pan Stakes at Aqueduct instead.