The 147th Preakness Stakes (G1) may have lost a bit of its buzz when Kentucky Derby (GI) winner Rich Strike was declared out of the race to await the 1 1/2 mile Belmont, but there remains some intrigue in the nine-horse field. There is a purse of $1.5 million available for the 1 3/16 miles on the dirt. Post time for the Preakness is 7:01 p.m. Saturday. The race will be televised live by NBC.

EPICENTER will be heavily favoured and deservedly so, as this Not This Time colt did everything right in the Derby and arguably ran the best race despite being passed very late by Rich Strike. Epicenter’s 100 Beyer Figure from the Derby and 102 from his Louisiana Derby (G2) are the only triple-digit Beyer Figures to be found from any race run by the nine entrants and is a “double advantage” horse in the field.

If Epicenter is just as sharp and strong as he was two weeks ago, he will be tough to defeat. Interestingly, he had a workout between the Derby and the Preakness.

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