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Triple Crown 2018: 5 reasons you should watch the Preakness

By Zoe West

Spectators line the fence to watch the 7th race, the James W. Murphy Stakes, prior to the running of the 136th running of the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, May 21, 2011. (Robert K. Hamilton/Baltimore Sun/MCT via Getty Images)
Spectators line the fence to watch the 7th race, the James W. Murphy Stakes, prior to the running of the 136th running of the Preakness at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, Saturday, May 21, 2011. (Robert K. Hamilton/Baltimore Sun/MCT via Getty Images) /
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06 JUN 2015: American Pharoah with jockey Victor Espinoza celebrate after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes and with it, Thoroughbred Racing’s Triple Crown at Belmont Park in Hempstead, NY. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images)
06 JUN 2015: American Pharoah with jockey Victor Espinoza celebrate after winning the 147th running of the Belmont Stakes and with it, Thoroughbred Racing’s Triple Crown at Belmont Park in Hempstead, NY. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire/Corbis via Getty Images) /

3. Triple Crown watch

This is generally the No. 1 draw for the Preakness. Before the Kentucky Derby there were (theoretically at least) 20 horses with some shot to win the Triple Crown. Following Justify’s victory, there is only one.

While the likelihood that Justify will actually win the Triple Crown is pretty low, remember that it always is, statistically. Regardless of how fast or how talented a horse is, they are still subject to the same issues as human athletes. It sounds bad, but simply waking up on the wrong side of the stall can be a legitimate excuse for a bad race.

But, no one wants to win because the opponent failed. You want your horse to win because they are the best. That might be a bit a bit different because of the prize money situation. It may not matter quite as much if you win the right way when the winner is rewarded by about $1,000,000.

But any horse beating Justify on even ground now will have the bragging rights of beating the Kentucky Derby winner. So there should be plenty of motivation for the challengers regardless.

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