Preakness Stakes 2018 day results, payouts and more
Weather conditions for Preakness Stakes 2018 don’t appear any better than Kentucky Derby day. Rain has drenched Pimlico Race Course throughout the week and is predicted to continue on and off through the day. Justify and Good Magic, the top two Kentucky Derby finishers, proved themselves in the slop two weeks ago and will have another go at each other in a smaller field today.
The Preakness is slated as race 13 and post time is 6:48 p.m. Weather forecasts predict the rain will start moving out of the Baltimore area around race time. The sloppy track has created several scratches throughout the card, including multiple Grade 1 turf winners World Approval and Divisidero. There are no scratches from the eight Preakness horses.
We’ll keep you updated with Preakness day results and payouts here.
Scratches and other late changes can be viewed on Equibase.
Race 13 (Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, 1 3/16 miles)
Justify will be the first horse since American Phaorah in 2015 attempting to sweep the Triple Crown.
The Bob Baffert trainee did not disappoint in the Preakness. Good Magic, runner-up to Justify in the Kentucky Derby, took it to Justify and jockey Mike Smith from the start and the two raced head-to-head throughout. Bravazo and Quip were next in line, with Tenfold, Diamond King, Sporting Chance and Lone Sailor rounding out the field.
Good Magic fought down the stretch but folded near the end. Bravazo and Tenfold came running late to catch second and third respectively, looking like they could spoil the win for Justify. The Derby winner had plenty of fight left to stay in front, while Good Magic finished fourth.
The time was 1:55.93.
It was the seventh Preakness win for Baffert, the second for Smith and the first for owners WinStar Farm China Horse Club, Head of Plains Partners and Starlight Racing. The Scat Daddy colt also remains undefeated in five starts.
As the 2-5 favorite, Justify paid $2.80, $2.80 and $2.60. Bravazo, 15-1, returned $7.60 and $4.80 and Tenfold, 25-1, was worth $6.80.
$2.00 Exacta: $27.40
$.50 Trifecta: $74.15
$1 Superfecta: $372.50
Race 12 (Sir Barton Stakes , 1 1/16 miles)
Trainer Bob Baffert sent Ax Man out to pick up his first stakes victory in the Sir Barton Stakes. Mike Smith was aboard the Misremembered colt owned by Patti and Hal Earnhardt III. Baffert and Smith will also try to take the middle jewel of the Triple Crown with Kentucky Derby winner Justify.
Ax Man was a debut winner in Southern California before finishing fourth in the Grade 2 San Vicente Stakes and returning to win an allowance race. In the Sir Barton, only his fourth start, Ax Man went straight to the lead. Title Ready, Prince Lucky and Navy Commander were close behind while Pony Up and Dream Baby Dream trailed through the fog.
The race was consistent throughout. Ax Man, the 3-5 favorite, returned $3.20, $2.40 and $2.20 for the win. Title Ready, 5-1, remained second for $4.20 and $3.20 and Prince Lucky, 10-1, kept third for $4.00.
$2.00 Exacta: $11.60
$.50 Trifecta: $14.25
$1 Superfecta: $62.80
Race 11 (The Very One Stakes, five furlongs off the turf)
Off as the even-money favorite, Girls Know Best and jockey Javier Castellano battled with Victoria’s Fire at the front with Chanteline close behind. Girls Know Best peeled off around the turn and left her challenger behind. Pretty Perfection rallied from mid-pack and Anna’s Bandit made her move on the inside. Pretty Perfection passed everyone but Girls Know Best, who finished with no real threats. Anna’s Bandit got up for third and Chanteline held for fourth.
Girls Know Best was claimed by trainer Eddie Kenneally with Brian Chenvert during Keeneland’s fall meet. The Caleb’s Posse filly won the Ladies’ Turf Sprint Stakes in January and picked up her second stakes win with The Very One.
Girls Know Best paid $4.00, $3.00 and $2.60. Pretty Perfection, 6-1, placed for $5.40 and $4.00 and Anna’s Bandit, 15-1, showed for $5.80.
$2.00 Exacta: $18.40
$.50 Trifecta: $49.85
$1 Superfecta: $228.10
Race 10 (Grade 3 Maryland Sprint Stakes, six furlongs)
Switzerland gave trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. their third win on the Preakness undercard, with Tenfold in the big event three races away. Although it took Switzerland eight races to break his maiden, the Maryland Sprint marks his fourth straight victory.
By Speightstown and owned by Woodford Racing LLC, Switzerland sat behind pacesetter Red Dragon Tattoo and just ahead of Long Haul Bay. Santana asked his mount to move in the turn and they burst to the lead. Long Haul Bay gave chase but only managed a distant second. Lewisfield ran on for third and Irish Colonel was fourth.
At 5-2, Switzerland returned $7.80, $3.80 and $3.00. Long Haul Bay, 8-5, paid $3.40 and $2.60 and Lewisfield, 9-2, gave back $3.40.
$2.00 Exacta: $22.40
$.50 Trifecta: $15.75
$1 Superfecta: $220.30
Race 9 (Grade 3 Gallorette Stakes, 1 1/16 miles on the turf)
The Gallorette was the one turf race left on it’s original surface on the Preakness day card. Ultra Brat, who missed the break and finished 10th in her last race, returned in the Gallorette and picked up her second Grade 3 win this year. The Uncle Mo daughter earned her first in her 2018 debut, the Marshua’s River Stakes.
Off at 8-5 with jockey Jose Ortiz, Ultra Brat sat it second behind Stallion Heiress and ahead of Brooks House, Elysea’s World, Blessed Silence and Lake Ponchatrain. The opening half-mile went in a crawling :25.12 and :51.56 over a soft turf course. Ultra Brat then began grinding away at the lead Stallion Heiress had with Elysea’s World chasing. Ultra Brat was at the front when she straightened in the stretch and remained unthreatened, finishing in a slow 1:53.72. Blessed Silence rallied for second and Brooks House ran down 6-5 favorite Elysea’s World for third.
Last year’s winner Cambodia was scratched.
Trained by Graham Motion for Alex Campbell Jr., Ultra Brat’s wins was worth $5.40, $3.20 and $2.60. Blessed Silence, 7-2, placed for $4.20 and $3.20 and Brooks House, 18-1, showed for $4.40.
$2.00 Exacta: $25.80
$.50 Trifecta: $42.20
$1 Superfecta: $136.10
Race 8 (Chick Lang Stakes, six furlongs)
Trainer Steve Asmussen and jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. picked up their second win of the day with Mitole in the Chick Lang, this time with owners William and Corinne Heiligbrodt. Asmussen and Santana will try to add another win with Tenfold in the Preakness.
Off as the heavy 2-5 favorite, Mitole led every step of the way and set a new Chick Lang record in 1:09.29. The 3-year-old Eskendereya colt put away a pressing Curly’s Rocket in the turn and left everyone else chasing him to the wire. Still Having Fun rallied for second and Clouded Judgement came up the rail for third over Pure Shot, all far back from Mitole.
The Chick Lang was the third straight win for Mitole and his second stakes win. He returned $2.80, $2.40 and $2.20. Still Having Fun, 9-1, paid $5.40 and $3.60 and Clouded Judgement, 25-1, was worth $5.40.
$2.00 Exacta: $14.60
$.50 Trifecta: $45.00
$1 Superfecta: $484.80
Race 7 (Grade 3 Dixie Stakes, 1 1/16 off the turf)
Half the field scratched with the move from turf to dirt, including multiple Grade 1 winners World Approval and Divisidero and multiple graded stakes winner Frostmourne. Unbridled Juan took the lead with Just Howard, Fire Away and O Dionysus close behind. The order stayed relatively unchanged until the four horses lined up in the homestretch. Manuel Franco saved ground aboard Fire Away and stuck to the rail. Trained by Shug McGaughey, the Phipps Stable homebred proved best over Unbridled Juan and Just Howard. O Dionysus failed to get going in the slop and finished fourth.
It was the third stakes win for Fire Away, who won the Danger’s Hour Stakes last out, and his first graded score. While the Dixie was originally a Grade 2, graded turf stakes moved to the dirt are automatically downgraded one grade until further review by the American Graded Stakes Committee.
The winning son of War Front paid $4.60 and $2.60 at 6-5. Unbridled Juan, 8-5, returned $2.60. There was no show wagering in the four-horse field.
$2.00 Exacta: $12.20
$.50 Trifecta: $4.70
Race 6 (Allowance, 1 1/16 miles)
Uncle Mojo, the 1-2 favorite, almost had an easy lead at the break. Instead, Deal Driven made a speedy dash to the front from the outside. Jockey John Velazquez settled Uncle Mojo into second over Belfour and Lucky Kick. Deal Driven tried to save ground on the rail but Uncle Mojo began to creep up to his outside in the turn. The Uncle Mo colt was loaded. Velazquez hardly asked his mount to go and the pair won by a double-digit margin under wraps. Belfour and Hollywood Strike emerged to round out the top three with Sidewalk Prophet in fourth.
Trained by Todd Pletcher for JSM Equine LLC, Uncle Mojo’s win was worth $3.00, $2.20 and $2.10. Belfour, 5-2, placed for $3.00 and $2.20 and Hollywood Strike, 9-2, showed for $2.40.
$2.00 Exacta: $7.00
$.50 Trifecta: $4.10
$1 Superfecta: $58.20
Race 5 (James W. Murphy Stakes, 1 1/16 miles off the turf)
Originally scheduled for one mile on the turf, Tap Daddy broke through in the James W. Murphy to pick up his first stakes win. Trained by Steve Asmussen, ridden by Ricardo Santana Jr. and owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC, the same connections will try to upset the Preakness later on with Tenfold.
Tap Daddy went straight to the lead with California Night to his outside. Takedown and Threes Over Deuces paired up behind the leaders with Magicalmeister and Whirlin Curlin trailing the field. Tap Daddy and California Night came off the rail turning for home and the California Night lost all momentum. Threes Over Deuces and Takedown tried to rally up the rail but Tap Daddy won by open lengths down the center of the track. Whirlin Curlin was able to get up for fourth.
Tap Daddy, a 3-year-old Scat Daddy colt, delivered $5.80, $3.00 and $2.40 at 9-5. Threes Over Deuces, 2-1, returned $3.20 and $2.60 and Takedown, 5-1, paid $3.00.
$2.00 Exacta: $18.80
$.50 Trifecta: $14.30
$1 Superfecta: $102.90
Race 4 (Allowance Optional Claiming, five furlongs off the turf)
The fourth race was another to lose most of its entrants because of the surface change, dropping from 12 entries to five. American Sailor took a shot at Square Shooter from the break but had no answer turning for home. Jorge Vargas Jr. was aboard the winning mount and the pair kicked away in the slop. American Sailor fell back to finish fourth as Big Bella Brown and Grandiflora ran on for second and third respectively.
Trained by Jeremiah Englehart for Gold Square LLC, it was Square Shooter’s first winner’s circle visit since December 2016. The 4-year-old Trappe Shot gelding paid $5.60, $3.20 and $2.40 at 9-5. Big Bella Brown, 7-2, returned $3.80 and $2.40 and Grandiflora, 6-1, was $2.80.
$2.00 Exacta: $23.40
$.50 Trifecta: $14.75
$1 Superfecta: $46.80
Race 3 (Allowance Optional Claiming, six furlongs)
Longshot Willie B Mine beat Forge to the lead but it was Forge who was in front when it mattered. Irad Ortiz Jr. was aboard Forge and stalked the pace ahead of Pop Keenan and Happy Farm. The frontrunners were the ones to prevail in the final furlongs. Pop Keenan, who was three-wide through the race, challenged Forge on the outside as Willie B Mine dropped back. Pop Keenan kept pushing Forge but the winner fought harder with every step. Forge, a 4-year-old colt by Harlan’s Holiday, extended his win streak to three since being claimed for $40,000 by trainer Rudy Rodriguez and owner Michael Dubb in December.
At 2-1 the winner returned $6.20, $3.00 and $2.80. Pop Keenan, 9-5, placed for $3.20 and $2.80 and Willie B Mine, 30-1, showed for $8.00. Happy Farm was fourth.
$2.00 Exacta: $16.20
$.50 Trifecta: $72.15
$1 Superfecta: $340.60
Race 2 (Allowance, 1 1/16 miles off the turf)
The second race went from a 12-horse field to four due to it’s surface change. Conjecture was able to take an easy lead over Clare’s Dowery, Critical Humor and Bring Me Answers. Jockey Gilberto Delgado only had to ask his mount to finish down the homestretch. Conjecture splashed down the rail and pulled away from Clare’s Dowery with ease. The winning daughter of Great Notion earned her fourth win in 18 career starts. Harbortown Stable and trainer Noah Abramson picked up Conjecture up from an October maiden claiming race at Laurel Park before winning with her next time out.
There was no show betting with four horses. Conjecture was worth $4.20 and $2.60 as the even money favorite and Clare’s Dowery, 5-2, placed for $3.40. Bring Me Answers and Critical Humor ran third and fourth respectively.
$2.00 Exacta: $11.40
$.50 Trifecta: $7.35
Race 1 (Allowance, six furlongs)
Hill Shadow took the opener on the Preakness day undercard with jockey Xavier Perez aboard. The 6-year-old Macho Uno gelding battled for the lead with Beeks and R Hot Twentys, settling in between the two. Turning for home it was Beeks and Hill Shadow together on the rail. The two pulled away but Flash Attack started to gain down the center of the track. Hill Shadow ultimately pulled ahead of his challenger and picked up his second career win since hitting the track in 2016. The Robin Graham trainee is a homebred for Mrs. Frank P. Wright.
Hill Shadow paid $3.60, $2.60 and $2.10 as the 4-5 favorite. Beeks held for second at 8-1 and returned $7.20 and $3.40. Flash Attack, 8-5, showed for $2.10 and Wildcatpleasures was fourth.
$2.00 Exacta: $33.00
$.50 Trifecta: $15.35
$1 Superfecta: $139.30