How fast a pace will we see in Saturday’s 150th running of the $2 million Preakness (G1)? Perhaps analyzing the field will reveal the answer.

Nine horses are slated to race 1 3/16 miles over the Pimlico main track in the second leg of the Triple Crown. Breaking down the nine contenders into four running style categories suggests there’s plenty of speed in the 2025 Preakness field:

Pacesetters

#1 Goal Oriented

Although Goal Oriented rallied from midfield to win his debut sprinting, he raced a bit greenly and fared better when switching to pacesetting tactics for his second start, a 1 1/16-mile $125,000 allowance optional claiming win at Churchill Downs. Breaking from the rail will likely force this lightly raced colt to employ pacesetting tactics again, rather than risk getting buried in traffic (and kickback) behind horses.

#8 Clever Again

Clever Again has either set the pace or vied for the lead at every call in all three of his starts, including a gate-to-wire romp in the Hot Springs S. last time out. Expect to see this son of American Pharoah challenge Goal Oriented for early supremacy.

Pressers/Stalkers

#3 American Promise

Virginia Derby winner American Promise has done best when setting or pressing the pace. He tired to finish 13th after sticking within a couple of lengths of hot pace fractions in the Kentucky Derby (G1), but even though vying early with Goal Oriented and Clever Again could prove tricky, a switch to true rating tactics in the Preakness seems unlikely.

#5 Pay Billy

Pay Billy hasn’t settled more than two lengths off the pace in any of his last five starts. While certainly not a need-the-lead type, his pace-tracking wins in the Private Terms S. and Federico Tesio S. suggest Pay Billy will be forwardly placed at Pimlico.

#6 River Thames

River Thames has raced second or third during the early stages of all four of his races. He pressed the pace when finishing second by a neck in the Fountain of Youth (G2) against future Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, arguably his best performance to date.

#9 Gosger

Since stretching out over route distances, Gosger has pressed the pace to win a one-mile maiden special weight and tracked the pace on his way to a two-length triumph in the Lexington (G3). This stoutly bred colt figures to race prominently again in the Preakness.

Midpack Closers

#2 Journalism

Journalism isn’t a deep closer, but he likes to settle off the pace and come running down the homestretch. He closed from 2 1/2 lengths and 3 1/2 lengths behind to win the San Felipe (G2) and Santa Anita Derby (G1) against small fields, then rallied from 10th place in a 19-horse field to finish second in the Kentucky Derby.

#4 Heart of Honor

Dubai raider Heart of Honor is somewhat versatile. He rallied from well back to finish second by a head in the Al Bastakiya S., then raced more prominently when second by a nose in the UAE Derby (G2). Against a speed-packed Preakness field, Heart of Honor figures to race toward the rear of the pack early on, but without dropping too many lengths off the pace.

Deep Closers

#7 Sandman

Sandman is pretty much exclusively a deep closer. He’s dropped at least 13 lengths off the pace in each of his last three starts, including a win in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and a seventh in the Kentucky Derby. Expect to see this gray colt trailing the Preakness field down the backstretch.

Conclusions

Two-thirds of the Preakness entrants have shown a tendency to race on or near the lead. An honest pace will likely unfold in the Triple Crown’s second leg, possibly setting the stage for midpack closer Journalism to launch a winning rally in the homestretch.

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