Division rankings: Preakness is 1st in producing champions

Every year around this time, like clockwork, the racing press trots out the same tired narrative: the Preakness is in trouble. It’s become trendy to treat the middle jewel like a relic in need of rescue - calls to push it back, move it around, or reimagine the Triple Crown entirely have echoed for decades. And somehow, the Preakness always ends up as the scapegoat. 

But here’s what the lazy narratives never tell you: the Preakness has been the most productive of the Triple Crown races this century. Since 2000, 14 Preakness winners have gone on to win an Eclipse Award in the same season. The Derby? Nine. The Belmont? Eight. And no, I’m not counting the 2020 COVID mess or last year’s 10-furlong faux Belmont.

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The Preakness isn’t on the ropes. It is arguably the best of the Triple Crown events, and this goes back well before this century. 

This weekend, Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism will be a heavy favorite to turn the Preakness into his second Grade 1 score - and maybe, just maybe, quiet the chorus of critics still whining about the two-week turnaround. Joining him are fellow Derby also-rans Sandman and American Promise, forming a trio that dares to do what too many nowadays won’t: show up and run back on two weeks rest. 

For old-schoolers like me, a trifecta made up of these three would be more than satisfying - it’d be a statement. 

We’ll get back to the Preakness shortly, but first, here’s how the 3-year-old male division stacks up heading into Baltimore. Should Journalism reclaim the top spot he held before the Derby? Around here, we tend to reward the ones who actually show up and run. 

3-year-old males

1. Sovereignty. Super impressive in Louisville, will now wait five weeks for the Belmont Stakes. 

2. Journalism. Ran a winning race in the Kentucky Derby but was second best. Back for the Preakness where a win puts him right back on top.

3. Baeza. Drew into the Derby field just days before the race and made the most of it, finishing a strong third and missing second by only a neck. He’ll now train up to the Belmont.

4. Burnham Square. Had a horrible trip in the Kentucky Derby but still managed to finish a better than it looked sixth. Prior to that he won the Blue Grass (G1). Will run next in the Matt Wynn at Churchill in June.

5. Sandman. Finished seventh in Louisville, and it wasn’t a bad effort.  Before the Derby, he notched his first stakes win in the Arkansas Derby (G1), capitalizing on a pace scenario that was favorable. He too makes the trip to Baltimore.

Next 7: Tappan Street, Rodriguez, Final Gambit, Tiztastic, Coal Battle, American Promise, Final Gambit, Grande.

For all the pageantry and chaos the Kentucky Derby delivers, dramatic stretch duels haven’t exactly been its specialty - at least not until last year’s blanket finish (or Rich Strike’s out-of-nowhere run in 2022) finally broke a decades-long drought. Before that, you'd have to dig back to the '90s to find a truly memorable Derby stretch run. 

The Preakness? Whole different story. 

While the Derby builds the hype, the Preakness delivers the drama. Over the last 35 years, 16 editions of the middle jewel were decided by less than a length. The Derby? Just seven. The 1989 Preakness showdown between Sunday Silence and Easy Goer remains the gold standard of horse racing battles. But it doesn’t stop there. Silver Charm’s 1997 thriller, Afleet Alex’s miraculous recovery in 2005, Curlin’s relentless run in 2007 and Rachel Alexandra’s historic 2009 victory all stand as proof the Preakness stands on its own. Even in the oddball 2020 season the Preakness stood out. Swiss Skydiver’s gutsy win against Authentic gave us a memorable performance. 

The point? The Preakness, more than either of the other two Triple Crown events, has delivered. The Preakness doesn’t need saving, rescheduling or rebranding. It’s just fine right where it is: two weeks after the Derby, serving up memorable finishes. In fact, that tight turnaround is part of what makes the Preakness so compelling. 

The two-week turnaround became the narrative because the connections of Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty opted to skip the Preakness to wait for the Belmont. I have no complaints. Their loss. 

Enter Journalism, the Derby runner-up, ready to take the baton. He’ll be a heavy favorite on Saturday, and frankly, it’s hard to poke holes. Even if he shows up with his “B” game and someone else runs the race of their life, Journalism still looks like the one they’ll all be chasing home. 

Derby also-rans Sandman and American Promise are back for more, and I expect both to show some life. That said, if the track comes up wet, Sandman might be up against it. His lone off-track try was the Kentucky Derby, where he foundered and finished over 12 lengths back. American Promise is trickier to gauge. He’s handled a wet track before, which makes his complete no-show in the Derby (16th) more than a little concerning. Still, his trainer has a knack for Preakness rebounds - Oxbow pulled it off in 2013 and Seize the Grey won it last year with just the same two weeks of rest. 

Among the new shooters, River Thames will take the most money and figures to be second choice behind Journalism. But I’m not convinced this distance is in his wheelhouse and he’s never set foot on an off track. Goal Oriented? He looks in over his head here, though the trainer’s name alone will draw wagering interest. Heart of Honor is coming off a narrow loss … to Admire Daytona, who ran dead last in the Derby. Clever Again brings a shiny speed figure to the table, but I’m skeptical of that and his chances on Saturday. As for Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Gosger, he’ll need to improve several lengths to contend here. 

So while the racing world debates spacing, reconfigurations, and what might have been with Sovereignty, the Preakness marches on - delivering what it always has: a proving ground. By the time the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans is draped, Journalism may have done more than just win another race; he may have silenced the skeptics and stolen the spotlight from a no-show Derby winner.

Older dirt males

1. White Abarrio. Added the Ghostzapper (G3) at Gulfstream to his resume, weeks after his Pegasus World Cup (G1) triumph. Up next: the Met Mile (G1) on Belmont Stakes day.

2. Fierceness. Finally returned to the races and it was worth the wait. He scored a popular win in the Alysheba (G1) run at 8.5 furlongs. Could run next in the Met Mile on Belmont day.

3. Hit Show. His win in the Dubai World Cup (G1) might have been a surprise to some, but not here. If he can bring that form back to the U.S., he will be a major player in this division.

4. First Mission. Turned in the race of his life in the Oaklawn Handicap (G2), handling a tough crew of Grade 2 and Grade 3 vets. He’s still chasing that elusive Grade 1 win, but with only 12 starts under his belt two starts into his 5-year-old season, there’s still time and now, momentum. The Stephen Foster (G1) in late June at Churchill Downs is next.

5. Locked. Turned in the worst performance of his career in the Alysheba, finishing a distant fourth and beaten over six lengths. That effort was in sharp contrast to his previous outing, a dominant win in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

Next five: Sierra Leone, Most Wanted, Mindframe, Banishing, Touchupsonastar.

Older dirt females

1. Thorpedo Anna. Can’t say I was shocked to see her finish off the board in the La Troienne (G1) - the warning signs were already there in her first two starts this year. She just hasn’t looked like the same filly from last season. No word yet on where she’ll show up next, but here’s hoping she can right the ship. For now, she still has the top spot.

2. Cavalieri. This filly means business. At 4-for-4 and only getting faster, she’s proving to be a real force in the division. Disappointed she didn't make the trip to Oaklawn for the Apple Blossom or to Churchill for the La Troienne.

3. Richi. She steamrolled the Santa Maria (G2) at Santa Anita, opening up by more than four lengths and giving a nice boost to Cavalieri, who beat her the race before. This Chilean import has done nothing but impress since arriving stateside. She has five solid efforts since June, and don’t forget that Group 1 win at 10 furlongs back home. She’s got stamina, class and momentum. A serious player in this division.

4. Raging Sea. The good news? She won the La Troienne (G1) in her seasonal debut. The bad news? From a speed figure standpoint, it was one of the slowest Grade 1 wins by an older dirt female in decades.

5. Power Squeeze. She ran surprisingly well last time out in the Ghostzapper (G3), finishing second to White Abarrio and hanging in tough with the big boy. No one in this division has tackled tougher company in 2025, having already squared off against males twice.

Next five: Gin Gin, Randomized, Free Like a Girl, Sugar Fish, Taxed.

3-year-old fillies

1. Good Cheer. Dominant winner of the Kentucky Oaks, she is now an eye catching 7-for-7 in her career. She will head to the Acorn (G1) on Belmont weekend to try and make it eight wins in a row.

2. Quietside. Didn’t look like she cared for the slop in the Kentucky Oaks, fading to sixth. Prior to that, she delivered a gutsy win in the Fantasy (G2), outdueling Simply Joking in a thrilling stretch battle. Still think she is a top three filly in this division.

3. Tenma. Ran better than I expected in the Kentucky Oaks when attending a quick pace but faltering late to finish fourth. Previously she scored in the Santa Anita Oaks (G2).

4. La Cara. She may not have handled the wet track in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing a distant ninth, but I’m not ready to drop her just yet. Her win in the Ashland (G1) and runner-up effort in the Davona Dale (G2) still carry weight, so she holds onto a top-five spot for now.

5. Drexel Hill. The Kentucky Oaks runner-up was coming off of a listed stakes win in the Busher at Aqueduct. 

Next five: Five G, Nitrogen, Simply Joking, Muhimma, Look Forward.

Turf males

1. Spirit of St Louis. Scored a popular win in the Turf Classic (G1) on Kentucky Derby day, giving him two Grade 1 wins already this season. 

2. Carl Spackler. Returned this season with authority, romping in the Maker’s Mark Mile (G1) at Keeneland and reminding everyone why he’s a force on turf. With Grade 1 wins in three of his last four starts, he is back near the top of a division that for the first time in years, looks deep.

3. Far Bridge. He scored another winin the Man O' War (G2) at Aqueduct. Previous to that he kicked off 2025 with a hard-fought neck victory in the Pan American (G2) at Gulfstream. He has won four of his last five starts in what is now suddenly a very interesting make grass division. 

4. Johannes. Kept his hot streak going with a win in the San Gabriel (G2) in December, capping off a stellar 2024 campaign with five graded-stakes victories from six starts. His only loss came as a runner-up to More Than Looks in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. Back in training now, and I'm hoping to see him back at the races soon.

5. Think Big. This turf sprinter has won the two biggest turf sprint stakes in the U.S. this season, the Shakertown (G2) at Keeneland and the Turf Sprint (G2) at Churchill Downs.

Next five: Formidable Man, Integration, Dashman, Atitlan, Utah Beach.

Turf females

1. She Feels Pretty. Kicked off her 2025 campaign in style with an easy win in the Modesty (G3) at Churchill on Kentucky Oaks day. She ended her stellar 3-year-old season with back-to-back Grade 1 victories in the Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland and the American Oaks at Santa Anita. She picks up right where she left off, reclaiming the top spot in the division.

2. Choisya. Hard to say she was truly best in the Jenny Wiley (G1), considering the interference with runner-up Excellent Truth. After an objection and steward’s review, she stayed up, and that's a call I wouldn’t have made. Still, she’s 3-for-3 this season. But unless she returns to race in the U.S., that spot won’t last long.

3. Excellent Truth. She was clearly best in the Jenny Wiley but had to settle for second behind Choisya in her seasonal debut. If she doesn’t resurface on U.S. soil soon, expect her to slide down these rankings in the coming weeks.

4. Kehoe Beach. Ran a career best race in the Jenny Wiley, where she finished a good third in her seasonal debut. Big things are expected from this daughter of Omaha Beach in 2025.

5. Saffron Moon. Didn't run that bad in the Modesty, finishing third beaten around three lengths by She Feels Pretty. Previously she won the Endeavour (G3) and Hillsborough (G2) at Tampa.

Next five: Gimme a Nother, Beach Bomb, Sacred Wish, Ag Bullet, Lady Claypoole.

Male sprinters

1. Straight No Chaser. The reigning Breeders’ Cup Sprint champion disappointed in Dubai, finishing eighth in the Golden Shaheen (G1). Before that he kicked off 2025 with a win in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (G2) in Saudi Arabia. Targeting the Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar in late July for his next start.

2. Raging Torrent. Scored a big win in the Godolphin Mile (G2) at Meydan and before that he collected a win in the Malibu (G1) in  December. He faced Straight No Chaser in the Breeders' Cup Sprint last fall and finished well back.

3. Mindframe. I’m going to go ahead and slot him into this division - because, let’s be honest, his only stakes win came sprinting. And last time out, he beat a tough field in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1), so he’s earned his spot here.

4. Book'em Danno. Suffered a brutal beat, losing by two heads and a neck to finish fourth in the Churchill Downs Stakes (G1). But he showed he belongs with the division's elite, and that’s enough to keep his spot in the rankings intact

5. Mullikin. He too ran a bang up race in the Churchill Downs Stakes, losing by a little more than a length when fifth. 

Next five: Big City Lights, Nakatomi, Booth, Bentornato, Mufasa.

Female sprinters

1. Kopion. Made a mockery of her 8-1 morning line in the Derby City Distaff (G1), storming home with authority and leaving no doubt who rules this division. That’s three graded stakes wins in a row, each faster than anything we’ve seen from any division this season 

2. Nic's Style. This Florida-bred is 7-for-8 in her career, her only loss a runner-up to Ways and Means last year in the Gallant Bloom (G2). She won the Hurricane Bertie (G3) last out for her fourth win in a row. A serious player in this division.

3. Hope Road. Second best once again to the division leader in the Derby City Distaff (G1) for her second straight runner-up finish. But this time she outran several other top members of this division, cementing her place in this top five.

4. Richi. Turned in a facile win last out while stretching out in the Santa Maria (G2), showing she’s just as effective going longer. Earlier in the season, she was runner-up to Cavalieri in the Beholder Mile (G1) and third behind Kopion in the Santa Monica (G2), after kicking off her campaign with a win sprinting in the Las Flores (G3). 

5. Emery. Has run first or second in five straight major races in this division, all graded stakes. Off the board in the Derby City DIstaff when fifth and prior to that she was runner-up in the Madison (G1).

Next five: Ways and Means, Positano Sunset, Scylla, Pleasant, Spirit Wind.