Preakness favorite
 

If Mage, Two Phil's & Forte all show up for this year's Preakness, who goes off favored? First Mission won't be far behind in the betting either I imagine. This reminds me very much of 1997 where Silver Charm actually ended up 3rd choice in the Preakness, very close in the betting behind Captain Bodgit & Free House with Touch Gold a tick below their odds as well. If this year's edition is anything like that one we're in for a treat.

It's a good question, though I doubt ( unfortunately ) we see Forte.

Good insight, if you like Mage you might get some value.

Mage.

hopefully some others show up.

Without knowing a ton about Rivelli's style, it feels like Two Phil's would strike while hot.

gut says Forte possible + maybe Tapit Trice for the Belmont.
Somewhat complex group of forces/factors to what if any map materializes. Rooting for a full showcase season.

Cox seems likely to run someone fairly competitive.

Yakfert hopefully runs something.

Rooting for Mage to win. Then we get to see him again, get some positive hype for the sport, and it would be a good betting race if you aren't 1000% confident that mage is a 12 furlong horse vs. Pletcher in a rushed campaign...

2 more horses died today (mountain lion in Idaho)

Too bad about Forte, with him out I imagine something like 2-1 on Mage, 5-2 Two Phil's & 7-2 on First Mission.


I know I'm probably living in a fantasy land of years past, but any chance we can get into the ear of the Forte team & get the Met Mile on their brain? If he's really as healthy as they say he is, then he should be nearly ready to run the race of his life. What would be their plan otherwise, to just sit on him until the Jim Dandy? The timing of the race, the prestige, just a slight cutback in distance & outside of Cody's Wish who's to be scared of in the older division? I think it all makes perfect sense, hoping they start to see it that way & that Forte really is healthy & ready to go soon.

Welp, Two Phil's is out too.

Yakfert and Cox(use your imagination) need to go easy on 'em
no Heartman (is Two Eagles River or whatever still in gear?) (edit - oh wow, somehow a few preakness also-rans(red route, tapit shoes, victory formation, two eagles) for some reason just raced in the historic 'Bath House' together... oh well)
no Sassafras

go light on the supertrainers
get a Roman noodle runner get a Dallas Single fourth super runner
look for a McPeek Sunthunder came out of the race well type of runner

and let Mage and team Delagado romp


set up for a title fight vs Forte and Repole in NY for the Triple Crown

that would be cool, as well

Smile Happy just ran a 110 Beyer in the Alysheba and Repo Rocks a 109 in the Westchester. Taiba also worked yesterday and is presumably being pointed there. Not that there is any chance Forte would even be considered for the race, or be remotely competitive, but if they actually wanted to cut him back and run on Belmont Day, wouldn't they run in the Woody Stephens?

Pletcher already announced that Forte won't be in the Belmont Stakes.

Thanks.

soul crushing news

need health, luck, and no G1 performances from rivals,


a Triple Crown winner wouldn't hurt the sport right now.


I wouldn't even set odds at this point.

I just read that Two Phils won't be going to Preakness. Myself, if Forte shows
up he will be the fav

Actually, if he shows up he will be denied entry.

Unfortunately the scratch of Forte runs up against a rule where a horse must wait '14' days and then after 14 days perform a work for the stewards.

So Forte basically can't run in the Preakness.

I haven't counted the exact number of days but unless they transfer Forte to Rick Dutrow, they aren't going to try to do a work on the morning of the race or whatever.

Stinks, but it sounds like Forte will hopefully stay racing and re-group for later races.

Is Cave Rock running? Because if he does, I would assume he would be the best shot to beat Mage after Mage's huge Derby effort.