Social Inclusion made big noise when he broke his maiden by 7 ½ lengths and followed it with a 10-length victory in a $75,000 allowance a few weeks later. He earned a Brisnet speed rating of 106 for that effort. He finished third in the Wood Memorial (G1), his first stakes appearance, after fading on the lead to closer Wicked Strong and a gaining Samraat. His lack of experience is his downfall, but if he can get to the lead early and set his own pace, the field would have to chase him down. The problem is that there are others with early speed that could challenge him early, setting up a similar scenario as that in the Wood Memorial. If that happens again, he’ll be lucky to hit the board.
In addition to California Chrome, only three other Preakness contenders raced two weeks ago—General A Rod, who finished 11th and was beaten by 8 ½ lengths in the Kentucky Derby, Ride On Curlin, who finished seventh and was beaten 6 ¾ lengths in the Kentucky Derby, and filly Ria Antonia, who was beaten 15 lengths to finish sixth in the Kentucky Oaks. The most interesting of this trio to challenge California Chrome is Ride On Curlin. If Ride On Curlin can show the versatility, speed and heart that he showed in the Kentucky Derby, he could give California Chrome a run for his money.
Ride On Curlin, whose trainer Billy Gowan and owner Dan Dougherty both call Louisville home, was given the Borel trip in the Kentucky Derby. Jockey Calvin Borel broke from post 19 in the Kentucky Derby and immediately banked his Curlin colt to the rail, likely expecting to cruise through a tiring field around the far turn and snake up the rail as he’d done in two of his Kentucky Derby victories. However, the slow early pace did not string the field out as expected and Borel was unable to get through the traffic, forced to veer his mount sharply to the outside and take him down the stretch with all the run he could gather. After the trip he took, seventh place was an impressive finish, but it cost Borel the mount on the colt in the Preakness. Borel’s been replaced by Joel Rosario. Borel will ride the filly Ria Antonia.
The field from the rail out, with odds, is: Dynamic Impact 12-1, General A Rod 15-1, California Chrome 3-5, Ring Weekend 20-1, Bayern 10-1, Ria Antonia 30-1, Kid Cruz 20-1, Social Inclusion 5-1, Pablo Del Monte 20-1, and Ride On Curlin 10-1.
The Preakness Stakes is the 12th race on Pimlico’s stakes-filled Saturday card with a scheduled post time of 6:18 p.m. EST. It can be seen on NBC (programming begins at 4:30 p.m.). Preakness Saturday coverage can be found on NBC Sports Network beginning at 1 p.m. until NBC picks up the broadcast, but returns for post-race analysis at 6:30 p.m. Taped delays of the race can also be seen on HRTV and TVG. Free PPs provided by Brisnet.
