Preakness 2015 schedule and results: American Pharoah captures second leg of Triple Crown

Yep. It’s Marlins Man.

He’s everywhere these days, even on the front page of ESPN.com

The 140th running of the Preakness Stakes was won by the favorite American Pharoah, who at even odds staved off Tale of Verve and Divining Rod to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Tale of Verve had 25/1 odds to win the race, while Divining Rod was at 12/1.

American Pharoah won the 140th running of the Preakness Stakes, edging out an eight-horse field in the middle of pouring rain to secure the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. If you missed the race or just want to see American Pharoah blow away the rest of the field from Pimlico Race Course again, you can watch the full video of the race.

American Pharoah got off to a tremendous start, breaking away from the No. 1 gate and into the lead, clearing the traffic almost immediately. Mr. Z broke out along with American Pharoah and the two were in the lead for the early going. Dortmund gained ground as they approached the far turn, but American Pharoah remained in the lead coming down the stretch. He only pulled away from there to blow away the field and take the race.

American Pharoah entered the Preakness Stakes as the heavy favorite after winning the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago. He did not disappoint, leading from the opening of the race all the way through pulling away handily at the finish. So for the second year in a row and the third time since 2012, all eyes will turn to the Belmont Stakes as thoroughbred racing looks for its first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978.

Pharoah and Mr. Z were at the front for much of the race. The weather Saturday was not pretty, and they were the two horses experienced in the elements. Damp all day, Pimlico received heavy rain just before riders were called to the post, and the race was held on a muddy track with the rain pelting jockeys and horses both.

Saturday is arguably the biggest day of the year at Pimlico, but apparently you can’t prepare for everything.

At least it doesn’t affect the horses!

No horse has completed the Triple Crown since Affirmed accomplished the feat in 1978, but if the odds prove to be true, American Pharoah will move one leg closer to accomplishing the feat on Saturday. American Pharoah is an overwhelming favorite to win the 2015 Preakness Stakes after surging late to win the Kentucky Derby.

Although he won by a comfortable margin, winning the Kentucky Derby wasn’t an easy task. American Pharoah ran in third place for much of the derby, trailing Dortmund and Firing Line until taking over at the final turn. He will have a similar challenge on his hands on Sunday at the Preakness with Dortmund and Firing Line the strongest contenders in a small eight-horse field. American Pharoah will also have to overcome a major obstacle right off the bat. He drew the No. 1 post and will start against the rail.

The second leg of the Triple Crown gets underway on Saturday afternoon as Kentucky Derby winner American Pharaoh tries to beat out a strong field at the Preakness. Pharaoh will come out of gate No. 1 and enters the race as the favorite at 10/13, according to Odds Shark.

Pharaoh will face a tough challenge from Firing Line and Dortmund, who finished second and third in the Kentucky Derby, respectively. Firing Line, who will race out of gate No. 8, is currently drawing 17/4 odds and will be manned by veteran jockey Gary Stevens. Dortmund has 9/2 odds and will come out of the second gate -- right next to Pharaoh.

Dortmund had a six-race undefeated streak snapped when he finished in third place at the Kentucky Derby. The colt will look to get back to the winner’s circle and spoil American Pharoah’s shot at a Triple Crown in Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

After starting the week off at 4/1 to win the Preakness, Dortmund is now going off at 9/2 to win Saturday at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. Dortmund and Firing Line were both at 4/1 to upset American Pharoah, but steady money coming in on the favorite has bumped Dortmund’s line down, while Firing Line has stayed steady at 4/1.

The Preakness Stakes certainly is the headliner Saturday from Pimlico -- it’s arguably the headliner of horse racing’s entire calendar except for the Kentucky Derby -- but by the time American Pharoah and seven other horses post just after 6:15 p.m. ET, 12 other races will have been run.

Even including the Preakness -- which has a heavy favorite and only eight horses total on a 1 3/16-mile track -- the Grade II Dixie Stakes may have the day’s most crowded and contentious field. Run on the grass at 1 1/16 miles, the $400,000 race for three-year-olds and up features a field full of contenders: The race is full at 14 horses, including several stakes winners and even Skywire, a five-year-old that won the Dixie Stakes in 2013 at age three.

Trainer Bob Baffert won three Kentucky Derbies before 2015 and each of those three Derby winners followed up two weeks later with a win in the Preakness Stakes. Baffert’s American Pharoah will try to make it 4-for-4 as the heavy favorite Saturday at Pimlico.

American Pharoah, currently the favorite at 10-13 odds according to OddsShark.com, will start on the inside rail out of the No. 1 post. That’s a significant obstacle, especially considering co-second choice Dortmund is starting next to him in the No. 2 gate, but Pharoah has a few factors playing in his favor despite the unkind draw. American Pharoah became only the fourth horse in 85 years to win the Kentucky Derby in the No. 17 gate or further out -- Pharoah was in the No. 18 gate.

High pressure that has been in control across the area will continue to slide east out over the Atlantic. This will allow for more moisture over Baltimore, with warm temperatures increasing the chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms for the afternoon.

SATURDAY -- PREAKNESS STAKES WEATHER FORECAST:

The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes runs Friday at Pimlico, the race for 3-year-old fillies that serves to the Preakness as the Kentucky Oaks does the Kentucky Derby. The Grade II Black-Eyed Susan doesn’t quite stand on its own as well as the Grade I Oaks does -- the Oaks had a $1 million purse this year, whereas the Black-Eyed Susan’s is $250,000 -- but the race still serves as an ample warm-up to the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

Kentucky Oaks winner Lovely Maria won’t run in the Black-Eyed Susan. Trainer Bob Baffert, whose American Pharoah is the prohibitive Preakness favorite, also trains Black-Eyed Susan favorite Luminance. Luminance finished second to Stellar Wind -- the Kentucky Oaks favorite that finished ultimately fourth in the race -- in the Grade I Santa Anita Oaks in her most recent start.