150th Preakness Stakes Draws Competitive Field Without Derby Winner

The 150th Preakness Stakes, held at Pimlico Race Course before its temporary move to Laurel Park, will take place without the Kentucky Derby winner, Sovereignty, who was withdrawn due to concerns about the short two-week gap between the Derby and Preakness. Sovereignty's trainer, Bill Mott, indicated the colt would next race in the Belmont Stakes, continuing a rare trend of Derby winners skipping the Preakness. Despite the absence of the Derby champion, the field remains competitive with notable runners including Derby runner-up Journalism, fan favorite Sandman, and promising colts like Goal Oriented, trained by Bob Baffert, and Clever Again, sired by American Pharoah. Seven of the nine starters are graduates of BloodHorse's Maiden Watch program, reflecting the strength of the field. American Promise, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, also aims for a Preakness win that would tie Lukas' record with eight victories in the race. The Preakness will be broadcast nationwide on NBC and streamed on Peacock, highlighting its significance as the second jewel of the Triple Crown, even without a Triple Crown bid this year.