Preakness could be two- horse race
Always Dreaming, Classic Empire class of field in 2nd jewel
BALTIMORE Anytime a trainer of one of the favorites says it’s not a two- horse race, you can bet it’s probably a twohorse race.
The 142nd Preakness Stakes, set for a 6: 48 p. m ET post time Saturday at Pimlico Race Course, has nearly morphed into a match race between Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming and Classic Empire.
At Churchill Downs in Lousiville, Always Dreaming glided down the stretch ahead of the pack, with barely a speck of mud on him. Classic Empire, having been throttled out of the gate and bumped at every turn, was coated and fatigued and trudged to a fourth- place finish.
Now, everyone wants to see whether Classic Empire, a 3- 1 choice on the morning line, can stop 4- 5 favorite Al- ways Dreaming’s Triple Crown chase before reaching the Belmont. And yet. “Gates open, things happen,” Always Dreaming trainer Todd Pletcher said.
“It’s not a two- horse race,” Classic Empire trainer Mark Casse said. “There’s some other nice horses in this race. If there is too much concentration ( on the two favorites), it could set it up for somebody else.”
The No. 2 finisher in the Derby, a sturdy and consistent colt named Lookin At Lee, is here. He’s a 10- 1 third fa- vorite, starting from the No. 9 post. In Kentucky, he worked his way up the rail late, almost unnoticed. He hasn’t won since August, but if Classic Empire and Always Dreaming exert too much energy early, he’ll likely be there at the end.
“Lee is going to run his race every time,” said Scott Blasi, assistant trainer to Steve Asmussen, who also has Hence, at 20- 1, in the race. “He always does. He tries so hard.”
Blasi said the Preakness has traditionally had a faster early pace — in part because other horses are gunning for the Derby winner — and Saturday’s weather is expected to be dry and in the 70s. That could mean Always Dreaming and Classic Empire, breaking from the Nos. 4 and 5 posts, respectively, will duel early and fade later. That’s a perfect scenario for Lookin at Lee.
Lookin At Lee jockey Corey Lanerie said his horse will need help and luck because Always Dreaming “looked mighty tough.”
But he likes where he’s sitting and knows that when you’re dealing with 3year- old horses, there’s so much you don’t know.
“Always Dreaming hasn’t had many obstacles to face,” Lanerie said. “Maybe he’s that good that he won’t encounter trouble. But you never know.”