Journalism leads talented field of horses ready to step up at 2025 Preakness Stakes - NBC Sports
Without Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, the 2025 Preakness will feature a talented and interesting field of horses.
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Journalism leads talented field of horses ready to step up at 2025 Preakness Stakes
By
Al Bernstein,
By
Al Bernstein
Published May 15, 2025 10:07 AM
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For the second year in a row, racing fans were treated to an outstanding stretch run in this year’s Kentucky Derby. Sovereignty and Journalism battled down the lane with Sovereignty winning in the final strides by a length and a half. It wasn’t 3 horses racing down the lane as we had last year, but considering the sloppy track and a 19-horse field, it was pretty cool that two of the most highly regarded horses decided the outcome at the finish.
Now, it’s time to deal with the “800-pound gorilla” in the room, which is the disappointment that some fans might feel that Sovereignty, the Derby winner, will not be in the Preakness, thus eliminating the possibility of a Triple Crown title this year. From the moment they crossed the wire, it became highly unlikely that Sovereignty would run two weeks later. Consider that his owners (Godolphin) take a conservative approach with their horses. Also consider the fact that they had been seeking a Kentucky Derby win for over 20 years, and now that they had one, they were likely to view entering the Preakness as a move that might not have been in the best interest of the horse. Finally, consider the fact that Sovereignty’s trainer, Hall of Famer Bill Mott, is known for taking time with horses. It would have been totally out of character for him to run the horse back in two weeks.
Naysayers might assume that without the Kentucky Derby winner, the Preakness Stakes would be a bland affair. In this case, they couldn’t be more wrong. In fact, the race is shaping up as a fascinating clash between some established horses on the 3-year-old trail and some horses on the rise who come from some of the top trainers in the business. If you’re thinking that this race could be a 2-horse affair between Journalism and Sandman (a tough-trip 7th in Louisville), I suggest you look a little closer.
First, the obvious: When he finished 2nd in the Derby, Journalism did himself proud. He had never raced on a wet track, and his average field size in his previous races was six horses. Nevertheless, he was a constant factor throughout the race, and was denied victory by the fast-closing Sovereignty, who benefitted from a fast pace and the fact that he seemed to like the wet track. Journalism should be a deserving favorite in the Preakness, as he was in Louisville.
Then there’s Sandman, who was the 2nd choice in the Derby. He endured a couple of bumping incidents in the race and was forced to go 9-wide in the stretch, resulting in a 7th-place finish. Trainer Mark Casse is a very smart horseman, and if he’s coming back on short rest, I would tend to trust his judgment. Casse says the horse has been training well, and the race evidently did not take too much out of him. I would not be surprised to see Journalism and Sandman go to the post as the favorite and second choice once again.
Rating: 5