While Preakness 2025 is a possibility, Godolphin’s bloodstock director Michael Banahan confirmed Sunday that it would be a few days before a decision is made about the next start for Sovereignty, who scored a 1 1/2-length victory over favored Journalism in Saturday’s Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs.
The 150th Preakness, the 1 3/16-mile middle jewel of the Triple Crown, will be run May 17 at Pimlico in Baltimore.
Morning after Kentucky Derby: Reports on all 19 horses.
Mike Rogers, 1/ST Racing’s executive vice president, made the traditional Sunday morning phone call to formally invite the Derby winner to the Preakness. Rogers spoke with Banahan and Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
“Give Bill a few days with his team to assess him, see how he’s doing,” Banahan said Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. “If he’s in a great shape, we’d certainly have a look at everything. … It’s a quick turnaround as we all know. That’s what makes the Triple Crown so special. We’ll just do what’s right for him. He’ll tell us yea or nay.”
Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby winner Journalism, second as the Derby favorite, is possible for the Preakness, trainer Michael McCarthy said.
“We’ll get with everybody and talk it over in the next day or so, come up with a plan that’s best for Journalism,” McCarthy said. “We’ll give him a day or two to get his feet underneath him and see where we’re at with him. He’s run well back off a quick rest before.”
Journalism, who is owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert Lapenta, Elayne Stables 5, Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, closed from 11th over the sloppy Churchill Downs surface, going head and head with Sovereignty through much of the stretch before grudgingly giving way in the final strides.
McCarthy won the 2021 Preakness with Rombauer, who did not run in the Kentucky Derby.
Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is expected to shoot for a record-extending ninth Preakness victory with Wood Memorial (G2) winner Rodríguez, who was scratched Thursday from the Derby because of a foot bruise. Rodríguez continued to train at Churchill Downs. He is a son of Authentic, the 2020 Kentucky Derby winner who finished second behind filly Swiss Skydiver in the Preakness.
Hall of Fame Trainer Steve Asmussen will try to win his third Preakness, this time with very fast Clever Again. The son of 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah finished second at 4 1/2 furlongs in April of his 2-year-old season before returning to capture his 2025 debut in a Feb. 23 maiden race at 1 1/16 miles and scoring a six-length victory in the mile Hot Springs Stakes on March 30, both wins coming at Oaklawn Park.
Asmussen won the 2007 Preakness with Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Curlin. He did it again two years later with filly Rachel Alexandra, who had been purchased by wine magnate Jess Jackson after her record 20 1/4-length Kentucky Oaks (G1) victory. Both horses are in the Hall of Fame.
River Thames and Gosger, both of whom bypassed the Kentucky Derby, are strong candidates for the Preakness. River Thames, trained by Hall of Famer Todd Pletcher for WinStar Farm, CHC, Pantofel Stable and Wachtel Stable, was beaten by a neck while finishing second behind Sovereignty in the March 1 Fountain of Youth (G2) at Gulfstream Park. The son of Maclean’s Music finished third in the April 8 Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland. Brendan Walsh-trained Gosger, a son of Nyquist owned by Harvey A. Clarke Racing Stables, captured the April 12 Lexington (G2) at Keeneland by two lengths after breaking his maiden at Gulfstream in his second career start.
Pay Billy is Preakness-bound, having earned an automatic berth for his victory in Laurel Park’s Federico Tesio Stakes on April 19. Owned by RKTN Racing, the Mike Gorham trainee returned to the work tab with a half-mile move in 51.6 seconds Saturday at Delaware Park.
“Everything’s good,” Gorham said. “He worked fine, just nice and easy, and galloped out strong. It went the way we wanted, just kind of easy, and then probably toward the end of the week, we’ll let him get a good decent work, and he’ll be ready to go.”
A nose shy of being unbeaten in four starts at 3, Pay Billy rebounded from a second in the Miracle Wood to win the Private Terms and Tesio, all at Laurel Park. Pay Billy will have his final work at Delaware before shipping to Pimlico.
“I worked him by himself (Saturday), because he does go a lot easier and you can do what you want,” Gorham said. “In company he gets way more competitive. Next time he’ll probably work in company and get a good work under him.”
UAE Derby (G2) runner-up Heart of Honor and Bathhouse Row Stakes second-place finisher Caldera also are probable for the Preakness, according to Daily Racing Form. Sandman, seventh in the Derby, is a remote possibility for the Preakness with trainer Mark Casse saying the Belmont was more likely.
Silks Horse / Sire Rating Trainer Last start Status River Thames
Maclean’s Music 7.34 Todd Pletcher 3rd, 2025 Blue Grass G1 Probable Last race 3rd, 2025 Blue Grass G1 Rodriguez
Authentic 7.28 Bob Baffert 1st, 2025 Wood Memorial G2 Probable Last race 1st, 2025 Wood Memorial G2 Clever Again
American Pharoah 6.34 Steve Asmussen 1st, 2025 Hot Springs Probable Last race 1st, 2025 Hot Springs Heart Of Honor
Honor A. P. 6.12 Jamie Osborne 2nd, 2025 UAE Derby G2 Probable Last race 2nd, 2025 UAE Derby G2 Journalism
Curlin 7.86 Michael McCarthy 2nd, 2025 Kentucky Derby Possible Last race 2nd, 2025 Kentucky Derby Sovereignty
Into Mischief 7.79 Bill Mott 1st, 2025 Kentucky Derby Possible Last race 1st, 2025 Kentucky Derby Sandman
Tapit 7.53 Mark Casse 7th, 2025 Kentucky Derby Possible Last race 7th, 2025 Kentucky Derby Gosger
Nyquist 6.56 Brendan Walsh 1st, 2025 Lexington G3 Possible Last race 1st, 2025 Lexington G3 Caldera
Liam’s Map 6.52 D. Wayne Lukas 2nd, 2025 Bathhouse Row Possible Last race 2nd, 2025 Bathhouse Row Pay Billy
Improbable 0.00 Michael Gorham 1st, 2025 Federico Tesio Possible Last race 1st, 2025 Federico Tesio
