Preakness Stakes 2025: Draw, jockeys and morning-line odds
Journalism, the three-time graded-stakes winner who finished second in the Kentucky Derby, drew post 2 and was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite Monday night for the $2 million Preakness 2025.
Nine 3-year-olds including graded-stakes winners Sandman and Gosger were entered in the 1 3/16-mile classic that will be run at 7:01 p.m. EDT on Saturday at Pimlico.
Click here for Pimlico entries and results.
Trained by 2021 Preakness winner Michael McCarthy and ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Journalism is a Curlin colt whose victories in the Los Alamitos Futurity (G2), San Felipe (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) are part of his record of 6: 4-1-1. He has earned $1,638,880 for owners Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 and the Coolmore group Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith.
Preakness 2025
Sandman, who closed from 18th to finish a distant seventh in the Derby, won March 29 in the Arkansas Derby (G1). Owned by D. J. Stable, St. Elias Stable, West Point Thoroughbreds and CJ Stables, the $1.2 million gray colt by Tapit is trained by 2019 Preakness victor Mark Casse. John Velázquez, who rode National Treasure to the Pimlico winner’s circle two years ago, replaces José Ortiz in the irons. Sandman has earned $1,254,595.
River Thames, who finished a rallying third April 8 in the Blue Grass (G1), was taken out of Derby consideration in order to focus on this race. Trained by Todd Pletcher, who is 0-for-10 in the Preakness, he also placed a close second to Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth (G2) in March. WinStar Farm, CHC, Pantofel Stable and Wachtel Stable own River Thames, who has debut and allowance wins on his four-race résumé. Irad Ortiz Jr. rides the Maclean’s Music colt for the second time in a row.
Clever Again has won both his two-turn races, most recently the Hot Springs Stakes on March 30. The American Pharoah colt owned by Winchell Thoroughbreds and Coolmore is trained by 2007 and 2009 Preakness winner Steve Asmussen. He will be piloted again by José Ortiz, who has ridden both of Clever Again’s victories.
Goal Oriented drew the rail post and makes his stakes debut in only his third start for Bob Baffert, who holds the Preakness training record with eight wins. The Not This Time colt is 2-for-2 including a sloppy, 1 1/16-mile allowance score on the Derby undercard. Jockey Flavien Prat, who won the 2021 Preakness, keeps the assignment. Goal Oriented effectively replaces injured Rodríguez for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, Dianne Bashor, Determined Stables, Bat Masterson, Tom Ryan, Waves Edge Capital and Catherine Donovan. Baffert has won the Preakness from post 1, doing so with American Pharoah in 2015 and National Treasure in 2023.
Heart of Honor arrived from the Middle East for his first start since he finished second April 5 in the UAE Derby (G2). He qualified for the Kentucky Derby, but owner Jim and Claire Limited and U.K.-based trainer Jamie Osborne decided to wait for the Preakness. The colt by Honor A. P. has two wins, both in one-mile allowance races at Meydan. Saffie Osborne, the trainer’s daughter, will ride Heart of Honor for the third time.
American Promise wheels back from a 16th-place Derby finish for D. Wayne Lukas, 89, who has trained seven Preakness victors. The $750,000 Justify colt owned by BC Stables is racing for the second time since his March 15 Virginia Derby triumph and the 11th time in his career. Nik Juárez keeps the ride.
Gosger, who has raced only three times, most recently won the Lexington (G3) in his stakes debut for trainer Brendan Walsh. The Harvey Clarke homebred colt by Nyquist finished second in his six-furlong debut Dec. 14. He broke his maiden in a one-turn mile Feb. 15. Those first two races were at Gulfstream Park. Gosger will be ridden for the first time by Luis Sáez.
Pay Billy, a local hope in Maryland, has won four of his last five races. He qualified for the Preakness via the win-and-you’re-in Federico Tesio Stakes going 1 1/8 miles April 19 at Laurel Park. Owned by Nate Nelson’s RTKN Racing, the Improbable colt also won the Private Terms on March 22 at Laurel. Trainer Michael Gorham has Raul Mena riding Pay Billy for the sixth straight time.
A wet week is forecast for Baltimore. The National Weather Service said there is a 60% chance of showers Saturday, mostly after 2 p.m. EDT. The high under a partly sunny sky will be 86 degrees.