The Preakness Stakes might not have a points system to sort out which horses make the gate like the Kentucky Derby, but that doesn't mean the second jewel of the Triple Crown doesn't have its own unique prep schedule.
Three horses earned automatic berths to Saturday's Preakness Stakes after taking “win and you're in” races around the country. In the opening edition of the Preakness Stakes News Minute, bloodstock editor Joe Nevills spoke with connections from all three automatic qualifiers, each looking to crash the party at long odds.
The road to the Preakness started on Feb. 11 at Golden Gate Fields, when Chase the Chaos kicked clear to clinch the first spot. Though the gelding has gone unplaced in his two subsequent efforts, trainer Ed Moger Jr. felt confident that his charge could outrun his 50-1 morning line odds.
On April 15, Perform rallied from far back, and overcame punishing traffic to get up at the wire and win the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park for an ownership group that includes Bill Farish of Lane's End. While the automatic berth grants the winner immunity from being excluded from the field if the Preakness oversubscribes, Perform's connections still had to pay a $150,000 late nomination fee to make the horse eligible for the Triple Crown, putting even higher stakes on Saturday's race.
Rounding out the trio is Red Route One, who rallied furiously from his usual dawdling start to nip the Bath House Row Stakes on April 22 at Oaklawn Park. David Fiske, racing and bloodstock manager for owner Winchell Thoroughbreds said watching the colt race is never a dull experience.
Watch the first installment of the Preakness Stakes News Minute below.
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