Preakness

GI Preakness Stakes winner Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map) has been sold to ESPOIR USA, Inc. for an undisclosed amount, according to a report by the Daily Racing Form's David Grening. Previously owned by Al Golds's Gold Square LLC, the two-time Grade I winner will remain with trainer Chad Summers who told Grening, "Very appreciative of everything that Al did to get us to this point. It's going to feel awkward putting different blinkers and different silks on him, but Napoleon's still Napoleon and we're excited to make him champion 3-year-old...

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has raised concerns about the winning Preakness ride by Paco Lopez on Napoleon Solo, suggesting that Lopez raised his whip above his helmet on three different occasions before striking his horse, in violation of HISA regulations. HISA announced Monday night that they were investigating the concerns. "The Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority (HISA) is aware of the concerns raised regarding Paco Lopez's ride in the referenced race at Laurel Park," the organization wrote in an email. "In accordance with the standard...

With on-track attendance limited to about 4,800 fans at Laurel and with this year's GI Preakness Stakes drawing a weak field that was missing the GI Kentucky Derby winner and runner-up, there appeared to be a strong likelihood that betting handle would plummet at the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. But that did not turn out to be the case. According to Equibase charts, the all-sources handle for Saturday's 14-race card was $106,982,107. That was a drop of just 2.8% from the $110,043,794 wagered last year when 14 races...

The field for the GI Preakness Stakes, ranked in "likeliest winner" order (program number after each horse's name). 1) INCREDIBOLT #12 (c, Bolt d'Oro--Sapphire Spitfire, by Awesome Again). O-Pin Oak Stud LLC; B-Deann Baer & Greg Baer DVM (KY); T-Riley Mott. Sales history: $75,000 Ylg '24 KEESEP. Lifetime record: GSW, 6-3-0-0, $498,681. Last start: 6th May 2 GI Kentucky Derby. In the GI Kentucky Derby, Incredibolt was off a beat slow, got pinched down toward the inside, then had the reins shaken at him to hustle up into a spot...

The leaders of Maryland's Thoroughbred industry are not resigned to the fact that racing in their state has reached a watershed moment. They see it as the catalyst that will mark the beginning of a large-scale resurgence in the coming years. Churchill Downs Incorporated's acquisition of the intellectual property rights for the Preakness Stakes and the legislative review of the Maryland Stadium Authority's proposed purchase of Laurel Park, as well as the ongoing Triple Crown schedule debate, have all been recent hot-button issues sparking industry-wide conversation about the future of...

The TDN Writers' Room crew sits down ahead of this weekend's GI Preakness Stakes to handicap the race, but also lament the quality of the field. Donna Barton Brothers joins the show on her last Triple Crown trail as an NBC racing analyst.

Having last week celebrated a first GI Kentucky Derby winner carrying the venerable black-and-cherry silks of the Phipps family, today we remind ourselves that the man who postponed that moment for 37 years has since built an iconic legacy of his own. In thwarting Easy Goer with Sunday Silence, in 1989, Arthur B. Hancock III secured parallel boons for the modern breed. One, of course, required the agency of those far-sighted Japanese breeders who made Sunday Silence one of its most vital influences. But the other is Hancock's own farm,...

Dr. Dionne Benson and Cricket Goodall will each be honored with the Special Award of Merit on Thursday, May 14 at the Alibi Breakfast at Laurel Park. The Special Award of Merit is given to those who have made a positive impact on the racing industry. Previous recipients have included Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, Jim McKay, Ellen Charles, Beyond the Wire, D. Wayne Lukas and Jerry Bailey. The Alibi Breakfast, which began in the 1930s on the porch of the historic Pimlico Race Course, features a gathering of owners, trainers, jockeys,...

As the industry-wide debate over the Triple Crown's spacing grows increasingly loud, Whit Beckman is choosing to listen to his horse. Ocelli (Connect), the gutsy colt who defied 70-1 odds to finish third in the GI Kentucky Derby after drawing into the big event just two days beforehand, is one of three Derby contenders preparing to take on the second leg of the Triple Crown. Should he find the winner's circle, he would become the first maiden to win the GI Preakness Stakes since 1888. Beckman's confidence to swim against...

In a statement posted Tuesday afternoon on X, trainer Cherie DeVaux announced that the GI Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo (Curlin) will not be running in the GI Preakness Stakes. It's another blow to the race that has clearly become the weak link in the Triple Crown. The only horse who ran in the Kentucky Derby to commit to the Preakness at this point is the maiden, Ocelli (Connect), who was a surprising third. "After much thoughtful discussion as a team, we have decided that Golden Tempo will bypass the...

 Ocelli (Connect), third in the GI Kentucky Derby as a maiden and the biggest longshot in the field of 18 at odds of 70-1, is now under consideration for the 151st GI Preakness Stakes May 16 at Laurel Park. Trainer Whit Beckman on Tuesday upgraded Ocelli's likelihood for the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown from "extremely unlikely" on Sunday to "maybe" Tuesday. "If you look at it from a pace perspective, it could go as fast as the Derby," Beckman said. "He's doing great. That's the only reason I'm...

Childs Walker, who has covered Thoroughbred racing in Maryland and nationally for nearly 20 years, has been named recipient of the Old Hilltop Award for covering the sport with excellence and distinction, the Stronach Group announced Tuesday. Walker will be presented with the Old Hilltop Award Thursday, May 14 at the Alibi Breakfast at Laurel Park. The Alibi Breakfast, which began in the 1930s on the porch of the historic Pimlico Race Course, features a gathering of owners, trainers, jockeys, media and fans to celebrate the Preakness and gain interesting...