Tired of reading and hearing about Justify’s greatness after the 2018 Kentucky Derby? Then here’s a list of three underappreciated horses, who could be serious contenders to win the 2018 edition of the upcoming Preakness Stakes.
Can horses feed off the energy of the crowd? We’re not experts in animal behaviors nor did we major in equine psychology since all we know about horses’ mental tendencies are based on hours of watching BoJack Horseman, but we’ll tell you this: Diamond King is going to be hometown favorite at the 2018 Preakness Stakes. Diamond King did not gallop in the Kentucky Derby, but it won its last race, topping the rest of the field in the Federico Tesio on Apr. 21. Prior to that, it finished third in the Swale Grade 3 Stakes on Feb. 3.
Like Justify, Magnum Moon went unraced as a2-year-old. Unlike Justify, Magnum Moon did not win the Kentucky Derby. It was a very frustrating race for Magnum Moon, which came entered the “Fastest Two Minutes in Sports” undefeated in all of its previous four races. What made it even more disappointing was that Magnum Moon finished 19th. Still, the Todd Pletcher-trained colt is a tasty sleeper bet in the Preakness Stakes, knowing that it topped the Arkansas Derby Grade 1 last month and the Rebel Stakes Grade 2 back in March. The Kentucky Derby was ran on a wet surface so perhaps drier conditions at the Pimlico Race course would result in a much better finish for Magnum Moon.
Runaway Ghost was a ghost in the Kentucky Derby, as it did not appear in the race due to shin soreness. Fortunately for the 3-year-old horse, the injury won’t require any surgery and only needs time to heal, thus its absence in the Run for the Roses, according to trainer Todd W. Fincher via Jeremy Balan of Bloodhorse.com:
“The bad news is we’re missing the big dance,” Fincher said. “The good news is there will be no surgery, and he’s going to be fine. He’s going to heal up fine. It’s a good thing that it came up now, because if it didn’t show until the Derby, they can snap right off.”
Runaway Ghost is probable for the Preakness, but if it secures a green light, then it’ll be a nice sleeper pick. For one, it won its last race – the Sunland Derby Grade 3 back in March. It has won two of its last three races, which also includes the Riley Allison on Jan. 28. Sandwiched between that race and the Sunland Derby win was a second-place finish in the Mine That Bird Derby on Feb. 25.
