Kentucky Derby Winner RICH STRIKE is not running in the Preakness in order to rest up for the Belmont Stakes.

Regardless, the 147th running of the $1.5 million dollar Grade 1 Preakness May 21st at Pimlico should still be an exceptionally exciting race.

Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks Winner SECRET OATH will attempt to become the seventh filly in history to Win the race, following in the footsteps of recent Winners SWISS SKYDIVER (2020) and RACHEL ALEXANDRA (2009), who both contested the Kentucky Oaks before Winning the Preakness.

One of the horses attempting to spoil SECRET OATH accomplishing the Oaks–Preakness double is Kentucky Derby runner-up EPICENTER, who Won the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby in March prior to his 2nd-place Derby effort. 

EARLY VOTING is another horse capable of denying the filly as he finished 2nd by a neck in the Grade 1 Wood Memorial Stakes at Aqueduct in April. His connections then made the conscious decision to skip the Derby and point to the Preakness. 

SIMPLIFICATION rallied from 15th in the early stages of the Derby to finish 4th and is another with strong form at this level.

CREATIVE MINISTER makes his Stakes debut in the Preakness. His connections felt strongly enough about his chances here that they paid a $150,000 supplemental nomination fee in order for him to run. 

3rd-place finisher in the Wood, SKIPPYLONGSTOCKING hopes/needs to improve markedly to be a contender. 

On Friday the Daily Racing Blog will take a closer look at those horses and the remainder of the field in this year’s edition of the Preakness Stakes.

So stop back and see who we like.