The sun dipping low over Pimlico Race Course, the crowd buzzing, and nine 3-year-olds itching to bolt from the starting gate at the 150th Preakness Stakes. It’s a big stage, but one star is missing—Kentucky Derby champ Sovereignty, who’s sitting this one out for a shot at the Belmont Stakes. That leaves the door wide open for Bob Baffert’s Goal Oriented or a new hero to emerge in this 1 3/16-mile showdown. So, who’s ready to steal the spotlight?

The field is stacked with talent, led by Journalism, the Derby runner-up who owned the G1 Santa Anita Derby in April. Sandman and American Promise, also Derby veterans, are back too—Sandman charged from 18th to seventh, while American Promise set the early pace before fading to 16th.

But the real buzz, as Racebuzz pointed out on X, is around the underdogs chasing greatness. Their X handle tweeted, “Underdogs and overseas dreams 🌍✨ Meet this trio chasing greatness in the Preakness 150: ❤️ Heart of Honor – British contender with Saffie Osborne in the irons 💵 Pay Billy – The sleeper pick with Raul Mena aboard 🌊 River Thames – Irad Ortiz Jr. guides this Pletcher-trained powerhouse Dark horses or future legends? The run for the Black-Eyed Susans begins now 🌼” Let’s meet the trio turning heads.

First up, Heart of Honor, a British contender with Saffie Osborne in the saddle. This horse nearly snatched the G2 United Arab Emirates Derby in April, missing by a nose. Fresher than the Derby runners, Heart of Honor could bring some overseas flair to Pimlico. Then there’s Pay Billy, the sleeper pick with Raul Mena aboard. Fresh off a Federico Tesio Stakes win, this colt’s on a two-race streak and ready to surprise. Rounding out the trio is River Thames, a Pletcher-trained powerhouse guided by Irad Ortiz Jr. Beaten by just a neck by Sovereignty in the G2 Fountain of Youth Stakes, this G1 Blue Grass Stakes third-place finisher is no stranger to big moments.

But the horse everyone’s whispering about is Goal Oriented, Bob Baffert’s latest shot at a record ninth Preakness win. This Not This Time colt, lightly raced with just two starts, shone in an allowance/optional claiming race on Derby Day at Churchill Downs. Stepping up to the stakes company for the first time, Goal Oriented’s raw talent makes him a serious threat. Baffert’s Preakness legacy—kicked off with Silver Charm in 1997 and capped (so far) with National Treasury two years ago—adds weight to this colt’s chances.

Don’t miss the other new shooters either. Gosger, winner of the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes, and Pay Billy are both riding two-race win streaks. Clever Again, who wired the Hot Springs Stakes in March, could set the pace and dare the field to catch him. Will an underdog bloom among the Black-Eyed Susans? Saturday’s race will tell the tale.

Win contenders other than Bob Baffert’s Goal Oriented to look out for at Pimlico

The Preakness Stakes at Pimlico is shaping up to be a thrilling showdown, and while Bob Baffert’s Goal Oriented is stealing headlines with his lightly raced resume and jaw-dropping 109 Equibase Speed Figure from his last outing, there are a few other horses you’d be wise to keep an eye on. Let’s dive into the contenders who could make some noise in this classic race.

Goal Oriented’s recent romp on Kentucky Derby day showed he’s got the goods. Starting fourth in a 10-horse field, he cruised to the lead with an effortless stride, holding off challengers to win by three-quarters of a length. That 109 figure? It outshone the 103 posted by Derby winner Sovereignty later that day. With only two starts under his belt, this colt’s got room to grow, especially in his second go at two turns. Expect him to stalk the pace, likely hugging the rail behind the early speedsters, ready to pounce when the moment’s right.

But don’t sleep on Clever Again. This guy’s got front-running written all over him after wiring the field in the Hot Springs Stakes. He’s likely to bolt out of the gate and set the tempo, daring others to keep up. American Promise is another speed demon who’ll probably join the early fray, looking to dictate terms from the start. If these two burn each other out, it could set the table perfectly for a closer like Goal Oriented—or someone else entirely.

Take Journalism, for instance. Ranking him third feels almost unfair after his electric Kentucky Derby run. Starting 10th, he roared up to third in the third quarter mile, slicing through 7 1/2 lengths to sit just a half-length off the leader at the Preakness distance. He was ahead of Sovereignty at that point, only losing ground late. With Sovereignty skipping this race and Journalism cutting back to a distance close to his 108-figure win in the Santa Anita Derby, he’s got a real shot to steal the show.

Then there’s Sandman, a Tapit colt who’s no slouch. His 104 figure from the Arkansas Derby win was solid, and his rally from 18th to seventh in the Kentucky Derby, despite traffic and a wide trip, showed grit. The shorter Preakness distance could play to his strengths, making him a sneaky contender.

So, while Goal Oriented is the hot name, Clever Again, Journalism, and Sandman are ready to make their case. This Preakness is anyone’s race, and Pimlico’s about to light up.