Baltimore ( Associated Press) — Latest on the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes (local all time):
3:15 pm
Fenwick is no longer Preakness’ biggest long shot.
The odds for the Triple Crown’s middle gem, updated less than four hours before post time, put Fenwick down 7-1. He started 50-1 at the Morning Line.
Fenwick could be a popular underdog option for bookies after Rich Strike won the Kentucky Derby 80-1. Rich is not in strike predicament when his boss decided he needed more rest to prepare for the Belmont Stakes on June 11.
There’s also an emotional story behind the Fenwick, which was named after the mother of owner Jeremiah Ruden, who died when she was 19. Fenwick is running for trainer Kevin McCathn, who lost his brother to a heart attack three years ago.
Fenwick started the week as the longest shot on the board, largely due to his 11th place finish in his most recent race on April 9. He was also bought as a one-year-old for the nominal amount of $52,000 and was not sold as a 2-year-old. ,
Epicenter, who was second in the Derby to Rich Strike, remains the favorite at 9-5. Philly Secret Oath leads 9-2, followed by Early Voting and Fenwick 7-1, Simplification and Happy Jacks 8-1, Creative Minister and Skippylongstocking 9-1 and Armagnac at 18-1.
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1:05 pm
Standing outside the stakes at Pimlico Race Course earlier in the week, trainer Kenny McPeak brushed off concerns about the heat and how it might affect the creative minions at Preakness.
“He goes out there and never flinches,” McPeak said. “I don’t think the heat will bother him at all, and I don’t worry about what I can’t control, but I hope the weatherman is wrong.”
The meteorologist was not wrong.
The 147th Preakness may have been run in some of the warmest weather in Triple Crown race history.
After 1 p.m. at Pimlico Race Course, the temperature went above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. When the horses enter the starting gate just after 7 pm the forecast is expected to be 90 degrees. The post time is scheduled for 7:01.
The record high on Preakness Day is 96 set in 1934. Favorite Epicenter trainer Steve Asmussen said he was as worried as he could possibly be about the heat.
“We know it can get very sticky when it’s hot in Baltimore, so I guess they all have to deal with it,” Asmussen said. “He’s a big horse at 14 days, so make sure he’s drinking plenty of water and hydrated, like your kids.”
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