Preakness Stakes Trends 2025 | What to Know Before You Make Your Pick

The Preakness Stakes, the middle jewel of the Triple Crown, has long been a stage for both redemption and surprise, and recent trends have only added to its intrigue. While favorites have fared well historically, upsets remain a defining feature—Charismatic’s 8-1 victory in 1999 and War of Will’s rebound from Derby controversy in 2019 serve as prime examples.

Trainer patterns also reveal compelling storylines: Todd Pletcher, despite his dominance in other classics, remains winless in over a decade of Preakness tries, while Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas continue to build legacies marked by both consistency and flashes of brilliance.

With emerging talents and veteran trainers poised for glory, the Preakness often defies expectations. Here are some of the most interesting trends and facts regarding this year’s Preakness runners and trainers.

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Journalism

From DRF’s David Grening, Journalism will attempt to become just the fourth Derby runner-up since 1960 to win the Preakness. From 1961 to 2024, 44 Derby runners-up have started in the Preakness and only three – Summer Squall (1990), Prairie Bayou (1993), and Exaggerator (2016) – have won. Only one Derby runner-up in the last six years has run in the Preakness, that being Epicenter, who finished second in the race to Early Voting.

Trainer Michael McCarthy is a perfect one for one in the Preakness Stakes, winning in 2021 when he saddled Rombauer for an 11-1 upset victory. Winning his second Preakness won’t be easy as he will encounter challenges from five Hall of Fame trainers with 18 victories in the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown among them – former boss Todd Pletcher, Mark Casse, Steve Asmussen, Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas.

Goal Oriented

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert holds the record for the most Preakness Stakes wins by a trainer, with eight victories. Of those eight wins, seven of them ran in the Kentucky Derby (five of which won) prior to winning the Preakness. The only horse who didn’t? His last Preakness winner National Treasure in 2022, who had started in four graded stakes races prior to winning at Pimlico.

American Promise

Speaking of records. Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has started a record 48 horses in the Preakness, is second to Baffert in Preakness wins with seven. Of those seven wins, only one came as a favorite with Timber Country in 1995. You can never throw out the Coach in this race!

River Thames

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher has yet to secure a victory in the Preakness Stakes. Over his career, he has entered 10 horses in the Preakness, with his best finish being a third place by Impeachment in 2000.

Despite his extensive success in other Triple Crown races—including two Kentucky Derby wins (Super Saver in 2010 and Always Dreaming in 2017) and multiple Belmont Stakes victories—Pletcher is still seeking his first win in the Preakness.

Sandman

Trainer Mark Casse has only ever entered four horses in the Preakness Stakes. His record includes one victory (War of Will in 2019) and one second place finish (Classic Empire in 2017). It’s also worth noting that both War of Will and Classic Empire ran in the Kentucky Derby two weeks prior to their Preakness finishes.

Clever Again

Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen has entered nine horses in the Preakness Stakes. Of those nine, he has won the race twice. In 2007 with Curlin and in 2009 with Rachel Alexandra. Clever Again, son of American Pharoah, will look to follow in his dad’s footsteps to give Asmussen his third Preakness win.

Also worth noting that morning line favorite Journalism, sired by Curlin, will also look to follow in his dad’s footsteps!

Gosger

Not much to go off here. Trainer Brendan Walsh has only ever entered one other horse in the Preakness Stakes. That was Multiplier in 2017, who finished sixth in the race, trailing winner Cloud Computing by 6¾ lengths.

Saturday will mark the final running of the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown at the current Pimlico facility, affectionately known as ‘Old Hilltop,’ before it is demolished to make way for a modern building that is scheduled for completion in time for the 2027 Preakness. Laurel Park will host next year’s 151^st Preakness.