Concert Tour Among Entries For Preakness Stakes

The Kentucky Derby may have only taken place this past weekend, but all attention is quickly turning towards the second of the Triple Crown races. The Preakness Stakes will take place on May 15th at Pimlico. One of the eye-catching announcements that has been made this past week regarding the huge Grade 1 is that Concert Tour has been confirmed for the second Triple Crown leg.

Concert Tour had been the long-time favorite for the Kentucky Derby in the build-up to the race but was ultimately pulled from contention after a disappointing run at Oaklawn Park. In that run, the Bob Baffert trained horse finished third and two and three-quarter lengths behind Super Stock in the Arkansas Derby. There was certainly disappointment in the three-year-old, as many expected him to claim a routine win on route to a showdown with Essential Quality in the Derby.

However, Baffert made the judgment call to pull Concert Tour from the race. This week, he has admitted that the three-year-old will line up for the second leg of the race, which would make for compelling viewing as he lines up against stablemate and Derby winner Medina Spirit. Baffert has previous of running a derby winner against a stablemate, as he opted to run Dortmund against American Pharoah back in 2015. The latter went on to win the Triple Crown that season, while Dortmund finished in fourth place in the Preakness Stakes. Could history be about to repeat itself?

Unlike the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness field is restricted to 14 entries. Among the notable horses that aren’t expected to compete in the second of the Triple Crown, races include Hot Rod Charlie and O Besos. The latter of the horses finished fifth in the Kentucky Derby, but connections have indicated that it is unlikely that the three-year-old will be lining up in either the Preakness or Belmont Stakes. Hot Rod Charlie finished in third this past weekend and could sidestep the Preakness in favor of a challenge in the Belmont Stakes in early June, according to his connections.

Other standout horses that have been teased for the Preakness include Caddo River and Crowded Trade. Crowded Trade for trainer Chad Brown missed the Kentucky Derby and will be searching for his first win on the track when he lines up for the Preakness. His most recent start saw him finish third behind Bourbonic in the Wood Memorial Stakes. Caddo River also missed the Kentucky Derby for trainer Brad Cox but will be looking for revenge after finished two and a half lengths behind Super Stock and a head clear of Concert Tour in the Arkansas Derby.

King Fury is another that is reportedly looking towards the Preakness. The three-year-old was pulled out of the Kentucky Derby at the eleventh hour on Saturday. Other likely runners that could be set to return include France Go de Ina, Ram, and Unbridled Honor.

Unsurprisingly, the current market leader for the Preakness Stakes is Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit. Concert Tour is also currently among the favorites, as the Baffert-trained horse is a 6/1 chance.