Keeler Johnson’s Preakness Stakes 150 Selections

By J. Keeler Johnson (“Keelerman”) Twitter: @J_keelerman

The Altheghe Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, Sovereigtty, is omitting the 150s of the PREKNESS of $ 2 million (G1) in Pimlico, the second stage of the triple crown has attracted a quality field.

A couple of proven grade 1 winners have joined the alignment of nine horses, along with a group of promising promising. You can present a case for anyone to challenge for a first -height end, but in regards to the potential to win, I am sure of #2 Journalism (8-5) Classify a cut above the rest.

Okay, I had the same confidence in the ability of journalism to win the Kentucky derby, and that proved to be out of place since it was beaten to second place in Churchill Downs. But I think that journalism carried out an admirable career in challenging circumstances in Kentucky’s derby.

Making its first openings on a careless track, journalism had a lot of problems with the first three Furlongs. He was beaten at the beginning and continued hitting with rivals by the section and towards the first turn. He was forced to reach a tight place along the interior and began to throw his head at one point, perhaps in reaction to the bribe or perhaps due to the tight rooms; It is difficult to say see the repetition.

In any case, journalism did not give up. Going from behind, he found himself running alone and could go outside for space. He threw a threatening rally around the turn distantly and briefly on leadership in the Hometretch before Sobereigtty ran for 1 1/2 lengths.

This was an excellent effort taking into account that journalism accelerated so many 1/4 lengths closer to the hot rhythm fractions of: 22.81 ,: 46.23 and 1: 10.78 than Soberanigtty. Only in defeat, he obtained a 102 Beyer speed figure that coincided with the number that resorted to his triumph of Santa Anita Derby (G1).

In front of a much narrower field in the preakness, journalism appears to receive a cleaner trip. It is still one of the best three -year -old children in training, and with Sovereigtty omitting the preakness, journalism has a perfect opportunity to ensure a classic victory. He is my choice to win.

For second place, I’m anxious to support #8 intelligent (5-1). The son of the winner of the Triple American crown Pharoah has gone 2 for 2 since he returned from a long dismissal and extended around two shifts. First he connected a special weight of a 1/16 miles in Oaklawn Park for 3 1/4 long, and then led all the way to take the hot springs of a mile of Oaklawn S. for four leghs.

The Hot Springs performance of Clever Again was excellent. He established an acute rhythm and kicked the winner of Del Seí Futurity (G1) and the Juvenile Sub -champion Games of the Breeders Cup (G1) for four lengths. Then, the games flattered that form when they returned to finish third by 3 1/2 lengths in a deep renewal of the Pat Day mile (G2) in Kentucky Derby in Churchill Downs.

Clever again published a striking 101 Beyer in the hot springs, and his pedigree suggests that there is a possibility that he enjoy the stretch of more than 1 3/16 miles in the preakness. You will have to consider some other rhythm players in Pimlico, but Itlever again seems like a talented foal with a lot of advantage to improve. If someone can alter journalism, they could be intelligent again.

#1 objective oriented (6-1) It is another Hoo figure to run forward, especially after drawing the rail. 2 for 2 has gone under the care of the eight -time press extraction coach Bob Baffert, more recently wiring an optional claimer of 1/6 miles of $ 125000 on Kentucky day in Churchill Downs. The question is, can you handle the increase abruptly in class and distance while running in just two weeks?

In fact, I prefer the chancones of #6 River Thames (9-2) To decipher the first three. It has tactical speed, but therefore has, therefore, more manageable than more oriented and intelligent again, so it should solve a cozy trip that tracks the rhythm in third or fourth position.

River Thames dominated its first two openings before performing well on a pair of difficult roads towards the Kentucky Derby qualifiers. At the 1/16 Miles Youth Fountain (G2), he led in the middle of the Strait before complying with the second place for a neck against Sovereigtyty. Then, in the blue grass of 1/8 miles (G1), he fought galantely among rivals for the Hometretch to finish third in three quarters in length. The first two finalists, Burnham Square and East Avenue, served decently at the end of sixth and eighth in the Kentucky derby.

I wonder if 1 3/16 miles is an adequate distance for River Thames; His pedigree suggests that the shortest trips could be preferable. But your talent can compensate enough to get a place in the preakness triumph.

#7 Sandman (4-1) began as the second option in the Kentucky derby, but after returning to 18th place during the first six Furlongs, he recovered only to finish seven by 12 1/2 lengths. It is a bit surprising that he has not closed with more interest, since the fast rhythm turned out that the late corridors sweep the Kentucky Derby superfect. Maybe Sandman did not care about the races on a careless track, but if that is the case, he could be in pimic problems: there is rain in the Baltimore forecast this week, so there is a chans that you will find again.

From or not, I am inclined to rely against Sandman since the triumph in the Arkansas Derby (G1) two beginnings were assistants for a rhythm collapse. I do not anticipate the clearance that develops at a burning pace, so Sandman will have to avoid falling too far from the rhythm if it is good to close through the third or fourth place.

#9 Gosger (20-1) It is an improvement of freshot longshot freshly out of a two-length victory in the lexington (G3) in Keeneland, but Beyer’s speed figures and Brisnet speed classifications suggest that a place in the superfect can be the ceiling for its potential. The same can be said #5 pay Billy (20-1), winner of Federico Tesio S. and Los Terms Privados S. in Laurel Park. And I wonder if the runner -up form of the Eau Derby (G2) #4 Heart of Honor (12-1) will accumulate well in Pimlico, since the winner of the Eau admire Daytona ended the last in the Kentucky derby.

Complete the preakness field is #3 American promise (15-1), an intriguing long conditioned by the seven-time preakness winning coach D. Wayne Lukas. American Promise ran near the hot rhythm in Kentucky’s derby and made an offer between rivals before getting tired of finishing 16.

Two beginnings, American Promise faced easier competition in the Virginia Derby of 1/8 mile and used rhythm pressure tactics to erase its rivals by 7 3/4 long. It is not the horse most consistent in training, but occasionally the American promise takes a step forward and shoots a great shot, usually when it finds a comfortable position in or near the leadership or near. You may not get the correct configuration while facing the objectives and intelligent again in the preakness, but would not rule out American promise as a superfect contender. Your best is good enough to take into account here.

Selections

1st: journalism
2nd: Intelligent
3rd: River Thames
4th: Sandman

Now is your turn! Who do you like in the preakness?

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J. Keeler Johnson (also known as “Keelerman”) is a writer, cameraman, voice actor, handicapper and horsepower enthusiast. A great admirer of the history of the races, considers that Dr. Fager is the best racing horse ever produced in the United States, but has Zenyatta as his favorite of all time.