Preakness Stakes 2015 post positions: American Pharoah, Dortmund open along the rail

Winner of the Kentucky Derby a little less than two weeks ago, American Pharoah will open nearest to the rail at post 1 on Saturday at the 2015 Preakness Stakes. Dortmund, who may again be his chief competition, will begin directly to his right in the No. 2 gate. Meanwhile the second-place finisher in Kentucky, Firing Line, will open on the outside of the eight-horse field.

American Pharoah was set at overwhelming 4-5 morning line odds with Kentucky Derby third-place finisher Dortmund opening at 3-1 and Firing Line 4-1.

Bob Baffert trained both American Pharoah and Dortmund. “I was surprised I drew 1-2,” Baffert said on DRF Live after the draw. “I hate drawing next to each other but they’ll be easier to watch now. With eight horses it’s a different vibe but they still have to break well. You don’t like to be down on the inside but unless you can redraw it or something we’re just going to have to deal with it.”

The Preakness will feature a field less than half as large as the Kentucky Derby. Churchill Downs had 18 of 20 gates filled at the start of the Run for the Roses. The owners and trainers of many horses choose to simply skip from the Kentucky Derby, traditionally held the first Saturday in May, to the Belmont Stakes, held five weeks later in New York. Trainer Todd Pletcher, who had four horses at Churchill Downs, will not run any at the Preakness, saying it’s too risky to run on two weeks of rest.

The 1-3/16-mile Preakness post time is scheduled for 6:18 p.m. ET on Saturday. The race can be viewed on NBC.