May 15, 2025
MARYLAND — By Matthew Lomon
Headline the Headliner
While there won’t be a Triple Crown winner for the seventh consecutive year (last claimed by Justify in 2018) with Kentucky Derby (G1) champion Sovereignty on a much-deserved break, the stakes remain high ahead of this Saturday’s $2 million Preakness (G1).
The 150th running of the 1 3/16-mile contest held annually at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland features nine of the Thoroughbred racing’s brightest 3-year-old contenders.
Leading the charge is Kentucky Derby runner-up, and early 8-5 favorite, Journalism.
Following a strong, but incomplete outing in the Run for the Roses, the three-time graded stakes winning colt finds himself in a prime bounce back position in the Preakness.
Other contenders joining the early favorite include River Thames (9-2), Sandman (4-1), and Clever Again (5-1).
Please, Sir
Since winning last year’s $250,000 Dinner Party (G3T) in dramatic comeback fashion, Balnikhov (IRE) has left a whole lot on his plate across six scoreless subsequent starts.
The defending Dinner Party titleholder returns to the friendly confines of Pimlico this Saturday hungry for seconds.
When Balnikhov lines up in post 6, the well-travelled 6-year-old will have made it 364 days without a trip to the winner’s circle.
In that time, the Phil D’Amato charge collected one second (Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup), two thirds (Grade 2 Eddie Read and Del Mar Handicap), one ninth (Grade 2 Elkhorn), and two 10ths (Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Turf and Grade 2 John Henry Turf Championship).
Hoping to buck the trend, Balnikhov opens at 9-2 behind leading choice Trikari (5-2).
Can’t Phase Her
A no-nonsense approach has been the key to a million-dollar career for unflappable mare, Sparkle Blue.
The highly accomplished 6-year-old still has plenty left in the tank and is ready to prove it in Saturday’s $150,000 Gallorette (G3T) at Pimlico.
Fresh off a second in April’s Dahlia Stakes at neighboring Laurel Park near Laurel, Maryland, Sparkle Blue can collect her first tally of 2025 in what will be her third start of the season.
Overall, the Graham Motion trainee is 7-4-3 with two graded stakes scores (Grade 2 Hillsborough and Grade 3 Valley View) from 22 starts.
Sparkle Blue, at 5-1, faces off against top contenders Three Heavens (GER) (5-2), Way to Be Maire (3-1), and Queen of the Mud (IRE) (4-1).
First-Class Seating
The fourth graded stakes set for Pimlico on Saturday, the $150,000 Maryland Sprint (G3), is set to feature lightning-fast colt Booth.
After uneven rookie and sophomore campaigns (6: 3-0-0), the 4-year-old Steve Asmussen charge has been on fire of late, marching to three straight victories.
Booth got the ball rolling in late February with a dynamic 4 ¾-length decision in the Commodore Stakes and carried that momentum into stunning triumphs of the Whitmore (G3) and Count Fleet Sprint (G3).
Interestingly, the Erik Asmussen mount has never finished second or third across 10 lifetime starts. He’s either won (six times) or missed the podium altogether (four times).
Recent trends take precedent, however, as Booth opens as the heavy 7-5 favorite.
Better Together
Age is nothing more than a number for veteran racer Sugoi, who at 8-years-old, is eager to maintain his reign as Louisville (G3) champion on Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs.
The $250,000 affair holds added meaning for Sugoi and trainer Michael Maker as the former captured the 2024 Louisville in his first start after being claimed by the latter for $50,000.
The immediate return on investment paved the way for what’s been a prosperous relationship through seven starts together, compiling a 2-2-0 record with two stakes wins (Louisville and John B. Connally Turf Cup).
A win Saturday would elevate Sugoi, who enters at 4-1 and currently sits just shy of $800,000 lifetime, very close to the $1 million milestone.
