Wise guys who liked Stradivari in the Preakness have every right to maintain their enthusiasm for the Todd Pletcher-trained colt in the Belmont Stakes where the intriguing runner will likely make his next start.
Sent to post at odds of 8/1 in the Preakness, Stradivari was the only logical contender in the field to pose a legitimate threat to the top two of Nyquist and Exaggerator. The apparent recipient of a large win bet several hours before the big race at Pimlico, Stradivari was listed at one point as the pre-race even-money favorite on Preakness day, generating more than a little buzz around the country from the tote board-watching faithful. While it may be foolish to extrapolate much about a single wager, Stradivari's Preakness run was sneaky good considering the circumstances and a sloppy track he may not have cared for.
Giving away a ton of experience to his main rivals in the Preakness, Stradivari was not helped by drawing a wide post (11) in a race that also featured a suicidal early pace between Nyquist and Uncle Lino. The lightly-raced colt was probably taken out of his best game while being forced to rate while staying very wide through the first 300 or so yards of the race. Stradivari's game is early speed - a commodity that figures to be very scarce from his Belmont Stakes rivals, and one that enabled the strapping colt to romp so effortlessly in a late-April allowance race at Keeneland while earning a 100 Beyer Speed Figure.
A closer look at Stradivari's Preakness effort also reveals that he was only truly outrun by Nyquist and Exaggerator despite finishing fourth. Around the final turn, Stradivari made an adequate move, but was outgunned by the slop-loving Exaggerator. Still, he was able to keep churning late and looked like a lock for the show spot before being outfinished by another sloppy track Specialist in Cherry Wine who managed to nick Nyquist for the second spot. Bottom line handicapping suggests that Stradivari is the kind of long-striding colt who will show up with a big race in the mile and one half Belmont over a dry track. His natural speed will be a huge asset and this colt is plenty fit to pull the mild upset in the Test of Champions.
The 2023 Preakness Stakes is coming up Saturday, May 20 at Pimlico! It is one of the most eagerly-awaited events of the racing year, and this is the place to […]
The Preakness Stakes is coming up on Saturday, May 15, 2021. The second jewel of the American Triple Crown drew a field of 10 top three-year-olds. Find out the top contenders in the race, and learn the best places to place your bets!
After all the drama of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the racing scene shifts to Pimlico Race Course in anticipation of the running of the 2019 Preakness Stakes. A couple of the high-profile contenders from the Derby are expected in the field, as well as a number of new shooters that add to the handicapping puzzle and could provide good betting value.
The field has been established for the 2016 running of the Belmont Stakes and of the thirteen contenders, there are four horses who competed in the Preakness Stakes (G1) and are moving on to the third jewel of the Triple Crown.
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