Pimlico Race Course announced the schedule for the May 20-21 Preakness weekend: a slate featuring 16 stakes – 10 graded – worth $3.8 million.
Headlining that weekend, of course, is the 147th running of the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of America’s Triple Crown for 3-year-olds. The 1 3/16-mile Preakness is the crown jewel of the May 21 card. That card offers horseplayers 10 stakes – six graded – worth $2.75 million in purses.
Already, Bob Baffert’s Blackadder has his spot in the Preakness field, courtesy of his victory in the Feb. 12 El Camino Real Derby at Golden Gate Fields. That race gives its winner a berth in the Preakness. Last year, it sent Rombauer east from California. He came home with the Preakness trophy in impressive fashion at 11/1.
The marquee race on the Preakness Day undercard is the Grade 2 $250,000 Dinner Party, Pimlico’s oldest race. Dating to 1870, the 1 1/16-mile turf jaunt for 3-year-olds and up predates the Preakness by three years.
Plenty of appetizers on Preakness/Dinner Party card
Joining the Preakness and Dinner Party on the Pimlico’s Preakness Day card are three Grade 3s and the Grade 1 1 1/16-mile Arabian Derby for older Arabian horses. The Grade 3s are the six-furlong Chick Lang for 3-year-olds, the 1 1/16-mile Gallorette for fillies and mares 3-and-up and the six-furlong Maryland Sprint for 3-year-olds and up.
There are four ungraded stakes on that day’s card: the Sir Barton, James W. Murphy, Jim McKay Turf Sprint and Skipat.
Headlining the Friday, May 20 card is the 98th Black-Eyed Susan, on the short list of top events for 3-year-old fillies. That 1 1/8-mile event and its $250,000 purse leads a card offering six stakes, four graded and $1.05 million in purses.
Pimlico Special comes at the Preakness distance
On the Black-Eyed Susan undercard are the Grade 3 Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up at 1 3/16 miles, the Grade 3, six-furlong Miss Preakness for 3-year-old fillies and the 1 1/8-mile Grade 3 Allaire du Pont for fillies and mares 3 and up.
Two ungraded turf stakes complete the Black-Eyed Susan card: the mile Hilltop for 3-year-old fillies and the five-furlong The Very One for fillies and mares 3-and-up.
Pimlico’s Preakness Meet opens Thursday, May 12 and runs through Tuesday, May 31.
