From a Maryland Jockey Club release

While the Preakness is the centerpiece of the spring meeting, fourteen other stakes races and two Maryland-bred starter handicaps will provide a weekend full of excitement for racing fans. A total of 483 horses were nominated to those added-money races.  That number is slightly down from the 499 nominated a year ago.

Pimlico will debut a $100,000 trainer bonus next weekend with trainers earning points based on finishes in 15 stakes races.

  • May 16—Black-Eyed Susan, Pimlico Special, Miss Preakness, Jim McKay Turf Sprint, Hilltop, Skipat, Rollicking
  • May 17—Preakness, Dixie, Maryland Sprint, Gallorette, Chick Lang, James Murphy, Sir Barton, The Very One

Trainers will receive points for finishing first (10 points), second (7), third (5), fourth (3) and starting a horse (1 point) in each race. The winner will earn $50,000. Other prize money: $25,000 (second), $12,000 (third), $7,000 (fourth), $4,000 (fifth) and $2,000 (sixth). Trainers must have started five horses in the stakes combined to be eligible.

The $500,000 Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) and $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3) headline the Friday, May 16 card that features six other stakes races. Twenty-nine three-year-old fillies were nominated to the Black-Eyed Susan, including expected starters America, Euphrosyne, Fortune Pearl and Joint Return. Thirty-right runners were nominated to the Pimlico Special, including Moreno, Frac Daddy and Carve.

Thirty-eight fillies were nominated to the $100,000 Miss Preakness Stakes. Thirty horses were nominated to the $100,000 Jim McKay Turf Sprint, including defending champion Ben’s Cat, a winner of 20 lifetime stakes races. Thirty-eight three-year-old fillies were nominated to the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes, while thirty-one fillies and mares were nominated to the $100,000 Skipat Stakes. Twenty-five two-year olds were nominated to the $75,000 Rollicking Stakes and another eleven to the $40,000 Kattegat’s Pride Starter Handicap for Maryland-breds.

The Pimlico racing office will draw the May 16 card on Sunday afternoon.

The Preakness undercard features eight added money races, including three graded. Forty-five top grass specialists were entered in the $400,000 Dixie Stakes (G2). Forty-three fillies and mares were nominated to the $150,000 Gallorette Handicap (G3). The $150,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3) features thirty-five nominations. Twenty-nine three-year-old sprinters were nominated to the $100,000 Chick Lang. Forty-two three-year-olds were nominated to the $100,00 Sir Barton Stakes. Thirty-four turf specialists were nominated to the $100,000 James Murphy. Thirty female turf specialists were nominated to the $100,000 The Very One Stakes. There were twenty-one Maryland-breds on the list for the $40,000 Deputed Testamony Starter Handicap.

The Pimlico racing office will draw the May 17 card on Wednesday, May 14.