2019 Preakness Stakes

The Preakness traditionally features the winner of the Kentucky Derby competing against other runners from that race as well as some "new shooters" – horses that either bypassed the Derby or did not qualify. However, Country House – the winner of the 2019 Kentucky Derby (by disqualification) – was withdrawn from consideration for the Preakness on May 7 when his trainer detected a virus; this marked the first time the Kentucky Derby winner did not race in the Preakness Stakes since 1996. Due to his absence, there was no possibility of a Triple Crown winner for 2019.{{cite web |title=Country House out of the Preakness |url=https://www.drf.com/news/country-house-out-preakness |website=www.drf.com |access-date=May 7, 2019 }} The field also did not include Maximum Security, who crossed the finish line first in the Kentucky Derby but was disqualified for impeding other horses. His owner indicated that without a chance of winning the Triple Crown, he felt that the two week gap between the Derby and Preakness was too short.{{cite web |title=Owner West Says No Preakness for Maximum Security |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/233522/owner-west-says-no-preakness-for-maximum-security |website=BloodHorse.com |access-date=May 7, 2019 }} In addition, Code of Honor and Tacitus, respectively the second- and third-place finishers in the Derby, skipped the Preakness. This meant that for the first time since 1951, the Preakness was missing the first four horses to cross the finish line in the Derby.{{cite news|url=https://www.drf.com/news/war-will-rides-rail-preakness-stakes-victory |title=War of Will rides rail to Preakness Stakes victory |first=Jay |last=Privman |newspaper=Daily Racing Form |date=May 18, 2019 |access-date=May 19, 2019}}

In their absence, thirteen horses were entered in the Preakness in what was considered a wide-open race. Contenders included:{{cite web |title=Kentucky Derby / Oaks Update – April 23 |url=https://www.kentuckyderby.com/uploads/wysiwyg/assets/uploads/20190423_Derby_Oaks_Update.pdf |website=www.kentuckyderby.com |access-date=April 24, 2019}}

• Improbable – fourth in the Derby, winner of the Los Alamitos Futurity, and second in the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby
• War of Will – seventh in the Derby and winner of the Lecomte Stakes and Risen Star Stakes
• Win Win Win – ninth in the Kentucky Derby and second in the Blue Grass Stakes
• Bodexpress – thirteenth in the Derby and second in the Florida Derby
• Anothertwistafate – automatically qualified by winning the El Camino Real Derby
• Alwaysmining – automatically qualified by winning the Federico Tesio Stakes
• Laughing Fox – automatically qualified by winning the Oaklawn Stakes
• Signalman – winner of the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
• Owendale – winner of the Lexington Stakes
• Bourbon War – second in the Fountain of Youth Stakes

After the post position draw on May 15, Improbable was made the 5-2 morning-line favorite after also being the favorite in the Kentucky Derby.

File:Preakness (46974568655).jpg

File:War of Will wins 2019 Preakness.jpg

At the start, Bodexpress dislodged his jockey, John R. Velazquez, who was not injured. Warrior's Charge set the pace, followed by Market King, Anothertwistafate, and War of Will. Warrior's Charge had the lead through three-quarters of a mile, then started to fade at the top of the stretch. War of Will, on the rail, then took the lead, winning by {{frac|1|1|4}} lengths. Everfast came from 11th place to finish in second by a nose, edging out Owendale who came from ninth to finish in third. Warrior's Charge finished fourth. Improbable, the favorite, finished sixth.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/233758/war-of-will-punches-back-with-preakness-win |title=War of Will Punches Back With Preakness Win |first=Claire |last=Crosby |website=bloodhorse.com |date=May 18, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2019}}

Bodexpress, who ran the entire course without his rider—officially a "did not finish"—captured public attention, with his name trending on Twitter.{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/sports-news/2019/05/18/jockeyless-horse-steals-the-show-at-the-preakness |title=Jockeyless horse steals the show at the Preakness |first=David |last=Ginsburg |agency=Associated Press|website=Boston.com |date=May 18, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2019}}{{cite news |url=http://www.brisnet.com/content/2019/05/bodexpress-becomes-social-media-sensation-completing-preakness-riderless/ |title=Bodexpress becomes social media sensation after completing Preakness riderless |website=brisnet.com |date=May 19, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2019}} He was finally caught and brought under control by an outrider after the race.{{cite news |url=https://www.paulickreport.com/news/triple-crown/meet-the-former-jockey-who-caught-bodexpress-after-a-wild-preakness/ |title=Meet The Former Jockey Who Caught Bodexpress After A Wild Preakness |first=Natalie |last=Voss |website=paulickreport.com |date=May 18, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2019}}

Although the attendance was 2.4% less than 2018, wagering of $99,852,653 on the Preakness fourteen race card set a new record.{{cite web |url=https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/233774/maryland-jockey-club-reports-record-preakness-weekend |title=Maryland Jockey Club Reports Record Preakness Weekend|author=BloodHorse Staff |website=bloodhorse.com |date=May 19, 2019 |access-date=May 20, 2019}}

{{dagger}} Bodexpress dislodged his jockey at the start.

• Winning owner: Gary Barber
• Winning breeder: Flaxman Holdings Limited
• Track: Fast

Times: {{frac|1|4}} mile – 0:22.50; {{frac|1|2}} mile – 0:46.16; {{frac|3|4}} mile – 1:10.56; mile – 1:35.48; final – 1:54.34.

Splits for each quarter-mile: (:23.66) (:24.40) (:24.23) (:24.92) (:18.86 for final {{frac|3|16}})

Reference: Equibase Chart

File:Preakness_(46974202915).jpg (with tie) at the trophy presentation]]

The 144th Preakness payout schedule{{cite web |url=https://heavy.com/sports/2019/05/preakness-results-betting-payouts-who-won-race/ |title=Preakness Results 2019: Betting Payouts for Trifecta, Exacta & Superfecta |website=Heavy.com |date=May 18, 2019 |access-date=May 18, 2019}}

• $2 Exacta (1–10) $947.00
• $1 Trifecta (1–10–5) $4,699.80
• $1 Superfecta (1–10–5–3) $51,924.00
• $1 Super High Five (1–10–5–3–11) no winner—$404,310 carryover

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official site|www.preakness.com}}
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMAk1_bcv90 Race replay] from NBC Sports via YouTube

{{Preakness Stakes}}

{{Thoroughbred Racing on NBC}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Preakness Stakes, 2019}}

2019

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