Preakness Stakes Odds: Will Kentucky Derby Runner-Up Journalism Compete?

Ahead of the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 17, the biggest unknown is directed at Journalism, the Kentucky Derby runner-up and beaten favorite. The deadline for a decision to run at Pimlico Race Course is only a few days away. Here’s what we know about whether Journalism will take part in the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans, including closing futures odds for the Preakness Stakes.

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preakness stakes odds: what is journalism’s status?

Sovereignty (7-1) won Saturday’s Kentucky Derby over the favorite but has been ruled out for the second leg of the Triple Crown. That isn’t the case for Journalism. On Thursday, the colt’s owners confirmed that he may compete in the GI Preakness Stakes in Baltimore.

Trained by Michael McCarthy, Journalism remains at Churchill Downs, the annual site of the Kentucky Derby. The barn noted that the colt has fared well after Saturday’s second-place finish. Journalism returned to the track Wednesday before beginning his daily exercise routine Thursday morning.

Before the Kentucky Derby was underway, the three-time graded-stakes winner closed as a 5-1 favorite among the odds within the Preakness Stakes futures pool.

Journalism’s owners are a partnership between Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, Robert LaPenta, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith. 

“We’re not going to rush into any determination right now,” Aron Wellman, Eclipse’s president and CEO, said on Pimlico’s website.

“We’re going to keep the Preakness in play. It’s an important American Classic that, whether there’s a Triple Crown on the line or not, holds with it an extreme amount of prestige. We’re going to monitor Journalism to the best of our ability and then make the best decision for the horse at the end of the day. But we’re not saying we’re in, and we’re certainly not shutting the door.

“We think that this is a Classic-caliber colt. Even though we’re going back 18 years – which isn’t exactly ancient history – his sire was arguably a less-inspiring third in the Kentucky Derby and came back two weeks later and beat Street Sense in the Preakness. Then he ran incredibly well in the Belmont, came back to run the table, and ultimately won the Breeders’ Cup Classic and was named Horse of the Year.“

Elsewhere, trainer Bob Baffert will reportedly enter Goal Oriented, which won in sub-stakes levels at Santa Anita and Churchill, along with Rodriguez (11-1), the Wood Memorial winner who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby with a foot bruise.

The Preakness post-position draw will occur on Monday, May 12, at 6 p.m. ET. NBC will broadcast the race, with the post time set for Saturday, May 17, at 7:01 p.m.

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