Dick Jerardi Covers The Preakness Stakes

Dick Jerardi from the Philadelphia Daily News joined Jason to talk about the Preakness Stakes. First they talked about possible candidates to win the Preakness. Bodemeister and I'll Have Another are the two favorites, but Dick said that in a field of 11 horses, others can win. Bodemeister and I'll Have Another were the two there in the Kentucky Derby and will likely be near the top again.

Next, Jason asked why the field for the Preakness is so much smaller than it is in the Kentucky Derby. Dick said that 20 run in the derby because it is the only race in America that is allowed more than 14 horses. Since most owners want their horse in the Kentucky Derby, they'll put their horse in it, but realize during the race that the horse can't compete, so they don't enter it in the Preakness Stakes. There are only 6 horses from the derby that are running in the Preakness.

Finally, Jason and Dick talked about a possible Triple Crown winner. Dick said that casual fans put too much emphasis on the Triple Crown. He said that if a horse wins the Kentucky Derby, but not the Preakness Stakes, then it hurts the sport because not as many people are interested in the Belmont Stakes because there isn't a possible Triple Crown on the line.