Journalism closes as 5-1 favorite in Preakness Future Wager

Before he finished second in the Kentucky Derby, three-time graded-stakes winner Journalism closed as the 5-1 favorite Saturday in the Preakness Future Wager.

Run by the Maryland Jockey Club and 1/ST Racing, the early betting pool for the May 17 race at Pimlico closed as scheduled Saturday at 6 p.m. EDT, 65 minutes before the start of the Derby. It attracted $347,666, up 38% from the second of two wagering periods last year.

Sovereignty, who won the Derby but is not confirmed to go to Baltimore, closed as the eighth betting choice at 19-1 in the Preakness futures.

Rodríguez, who was scratched from the Derby with a foot bruise, was the best-backed horse among potential new shooters. Trained by eight-time Preakness winner Bob Baffert, the Grade 2 Wood Memorial winner closed at 11-1.

The pool opened April 25 showing 40 betting interests, including a mutuel pool of all 3-year-olds other than the 39 individuals who were listed. Cornucopian, Poster and Tappan Street were scratched

The Preakness Future Wager, which opened April 25, was run as a separate wagering pool from the traditional pari-mutuels which open next week. The wagers had a $2 minimum and 18% takeout with simulcast and advanced-deposit wagering settled at the Pimlico host-fee rate.

This is the third year Preakness futures have been offered up to the final hour before the Kentucky Derby. In 2023, the win pool totaled $304,326. Last year there were two wagering windows with $136,608 collected Feb. 29 to March 2 and then $251,829 in a second pool that was run closer to the Derby. The early wager was not repeated this year.