It’s Preakness Stakes week, and our consideration shifts to the short-term dwelling of the second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Laurel Park, not Pimlico, is the location of Preakness week festivities, and big playing cards Friday and Saturday will present loads of possibilities to take swings with stay longshots.
We did fairly properly with these on Kentucky Derby weekend two weeks in the past, because the part included Longines Kentucky Oaks winner At all times a Runner. As with that article, this one options two horses on each Friday and Saturday which are candidates to outrun their seemingly odds. Let’s have a look…
FRIDAY
Laurel Park, Race 9, $125,000 Hilltop Stakes, 3:54 ET
#6 Unmiztaken (10-1 morning line)
This race revolves across the return of #2 Final Love, however whereas I respect that one, I’ll take a shot in opposition to her. She hasn’t run since October and whereas she’s clearly the one to beat, the seemingly race form doesn’t cater to her late-running model. At her seemingly odds I can’t endorse her.
#6 Unmiztaken, in the meantime, goes second off the layoff for coach Keri Brion, and her 2026 debut was fairly good, ending second by making up a substantial quantity of floor late after ranking behind a gradual early tempo. She confirmed some velocity final 12 months as a 2-year-old and I’m anticipating her to be on or close to the lead on this spot given the seemingly tempo. The addition of jockey Jose Ortiz definitely helps.
I’m unsure we’ll get the 10-1 morning-line odds on Unmiztaken come publish time, however the extra seemingly 6-1 or so nonetheless represents a very reasonable worth. She’s a logical candidate to enhance and if she does, I believe she’ll stand an enormous likelihood.
Laurel Park, Race 11, $100,000 The Very One Stakes, 5:02 ET
#6 Somnium (15-1)
Like within the Hilltop, I’m going in opposition to a heavy favourite. #5 Saturday Flirt was superb final 12 months however she didn’t run a soar in her seasonal debut. Maybe she wanted a race, nevertheless it was a really uninspiring effort. Perhaps she’s simply not the horse she was final 12 months as a 3-year-old.
#6 Somnium comes into this race off an enormous profitable transfer in opposition to allowance horses at Penn Nationwide in her final race. Sure, it was in opposition to weaker horses, however she additionally confirmed some again class in 2025. Her lone effort in opposition to stakes firm was an excellent one when fourth within the Grade 3 Glen Cove Stakes after making a major center transfer and encountering some hassle.
Jockey Jose Ortiz exhibits up right here, too, and horse and rider ought to have loads of tempo to chase. If the Penn type maintain up at Laurel, I believe she may mild up the tote board.
SATURDAY
Laurel Park, Race 8, $150,000 Grade 3 Maryland Dash Stakes, 2:48 ET
#8 Slam Notion (5-1)
This can be a tempo play for me. Many of the 9 horses on this race need to be on or close to the lead and there are some quick sprinters with some critical zip on this bunch. I desire a horse that has proven it could actually cross others and #8 Slam Notion ticks that field.
His run within the Common George Stakes final trip wasn’t inspiring however his wins two and three races in the past have been very sharp. He ought to sit an identical profitable journey on this race. Moreover, not like many on this area, he’s proven he doesn’t want Lasix to be able to run his greatest race in order that issue received’t damage him as a lot because it may affect others. The quicker they go early, the higher his possibilities will probably be to upset.
Laurel Park, Race 13, $2 million Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, 7:01 ET
#8 Bull by the Horns (30-1)
We’ll shut with a bomb in the principle occasion, and this one’s a doozy. I respect horses like #9 Iron Honor and #12 Incredibolt, and I’ll use them each, however I believe there are a number of causes to be…properly, bullish… about Saffie Joseph Jr. trainee #8 Bull by the Horns.
Bull by the Horns didn’t run properly two again within the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, however if you happen to draw a line by that race, you may have a more in-depth that hasn’t completed a lot else mistaken. He beat an honest area within the $245,000 Rushaway Stakes final time over a area that included Trendsetter, who got here again to win the Grade 3 Stonestreet Lexington Stakes after which ran third within the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes. He ought to get an identical race form on Saturday as he did within the Rushaway, and he has been working very properly in preparation for this race down at Gulfstream Park. The Preakness will probably be an enormous soar in school, and maybe he wants to enhance to issue into this outcome, nonetheless, he looks as if an bettering kind of horse who is probably going get the tempo circumstances he must upset at an enormous worth. There’s lots of early velocity within the Preakness which ought to set issues up for closers.
