BALTIMORE — Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah has been made the 4-5 morning-line favourite for Saturday’s Preakness and will attempt to win it from the unfavourable No. 1 post to set up a Triple Crown attempt in the Belmont Stakes.
A field of eight three-year-olds was entered Wednesday, the smallest since 2000, when Red Bullet upset Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus.
Trainer Bob Baffert is looking for his sixth Preakness win with American Pharoah and Dortmund. Third in the Derby, Dortmund was the 7-2 second choice, with Derby runner-up Firing Line next at 4-1.
Baffert has never liked the No. 1 post, and history backs him up. The last horse to win the Preakness from the inside post was Tabasco Cat in 1994; the last to win it from the No. 2 post was Snow Chief in 1986.
If American Pharoah wins, it would set up Baffert for an unprecedented fourth Triple Crown try. The last Triple Crown winner was Affirmed in 1978.
The others in the field are Bodhisattva, Danzig Moon, Divining Rod, Tale of Verve and Mr. Z.
