Miss Preakness Stakes Among Three Grade 3s Taking Place At Pimlico On Friday

The action at Pimlico on Preakness Stakes weekend steps up a gear on Friday with four huge Graded races. The action on Friday will be headlined by the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, but there is set to be some compelling Grade 3s, including the Miss Preakness Stakes. Below, we will go through the Grade 3s taking place on Friday and assess the runners involved.

The Grade 3 Miss Preakness Stakes will see a rematch between Abrogate and Joyful Cadence. The two met in the Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park in March, with Abrogate winning by half a length from his rival this weekend. Both horses will once again be among the leading contenders this weekend. Steven Asmussen last won this race in 2017 with Vertical Oak, and Abrogate could be great value for a second victory. She last ran in the Grade 2 Eight Belles Stakes, but she finished in fifth.

It would be unwise to rule out Joyful Cadence, as she won by over eight lengths before the Purple Martin Stakes and could return stronger after just over two months off the track. Street Lute for trainer John Robb could be among the leading contenders to upset the odds. She has been in excellent form recently, as she has won seven from nine starts. This year, she has already won the Xtra Heat Stakes and Wide Country Stakes. Meanwhile, she finished third in her most recent start in the Beyond The Wire Stakes. The step back in trip will make her a major player at Pimlico.

Breeders’ Cup contender Horologist will be looking to continue her comeback on Friday, as she will be among the favorites for the Grade 3 Allaire DuPont Distaff Match Series Stakes. She returned to the track in April after finishing ten and a half lengths behind Monomoy Girl in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff in November. She looked back to her best as she won the Top Flight Invitational Stakes, and with proven Graded form behind her, she will be the one to beat. Mrs Danvers and Lucky Stride were also among the runners in the Top Flight Invitational Stakes, but it looks challenging to see them reversing the form.

It is a compelling race, with Spice Is Nice and Getridofwhatailesu both also involved. Spice Is Nice, for trainer Todd Pletcher has won three from six career starts. The four-year-old comes into this after winning an Allowance at Keeneland. Getridofwhatailesu has an excellent form, as she finished third in the Azeri Stakes and fourth in the Grade 1 Apple Blossom. There was no shame in finishing behind Letruska, Monomoy Girl, and Swiss Skydiver last time out, and she should be one of the first to finish here.

One of the most competitive betting races of the day will be the Grade 3 Pimlico Special. Horses that placed in the Oaklawn Handicap and New Orleans Classic will both be lining up in this, with Fearless for Todd Pletcher looking to go one better after finishing as the runner-up in the prior mentioned race. He did, however, get a win in the Gulfstream Park Mile. Enforceable was a strong finisher in the New Orleans Classic, while Max Player still has leading claims despite finishing eleventh in the Saudi Cup.

Modernist, for trainer William Mott, showed huge improvement last time out by winning the Grade 3 Excelsior, while Cordmaker will come into this after winning the Harrison E. Johnson Memorial. Alwaysmining, Prioritize, and Last Judgement could also have leading chances.