Preakness (G1) Graded Handicap & Wagering Line

By Jude T. Feld

Saturday’s $1,000,000 Preakness (G1) is upon us and the three-year-old picture is still a little fuzzy. Team Valor’s obscurely bred colt Animal Kingdom was an impressive Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and finds little to be scared of in Maryland.

Horses that win by open lengths, earning a higher speed figure than any of their competition’s last race speed figure win way more than their fair share of races. The H. Graham Motion trainee fits that pattern to a tee.

Animal Kingdom has already beaten Mucho Macho Man and Dialed In with aplomb, so new shooters King Congie, Astrology and Dance City might be his biggest fears in this next step towards Triple Crown immortality.

Here’s our graded handicap with a wagering line:

#11 Animal Kingdom Can reprise his big Kentucky Derby victory 8-5

#3 King Congie Has improved in every start and should again 6-1

#1 Astrology Regally bred colt may have finally caught up 8-1

#8 Dance City Tactical speed should provide an excellent trip 12-1

#10 Dialed In Should be tighter and goes for a $6 million payday 15-1

#6 Sway Away Still learning to run but will need his best 15-1

#5 Shackleford A huge candidate to bounce 15-1

#9 Mucho Macho Man Derby training and racing has left him squeezed 15-1

#7 Midnight Interlude Baffert is his best friend 25-1

#13 Concealed Identity Local challenger on a mini roll 25-1

#14 Mr. Commons Hung outside with weak speed figures 30-1

#2 Norman Asbjornson Needs the power of Thor 40-1

#4Flashpoint Unlikely to get the distance 40-1

#12 Isn’t He Perfect Isn’t he too slow? 99-1

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