Continuation of $100k Preakness Weekender Trainer Incentive Confirmed; Kentucky Derby Champion Excluded from 'The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans' Event
Headlining the news following Sovereignty's victorious 151st Kentucky Derby performance, it turns out that this magnificent steed (owner-jockey tandem William Mott and Florent Geroux respectively) will forego the Preakness Stakes, disappointing horse racing enthusiasts across the nation. This decision ensures that, once again, the US won't witness a Triple Crown winner in 2025.
However, a glimmer of hope emerges from the shadows as Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland announces the return of the lucrative $100,000 trainer bonus for Preakness weekend 2025. Barns that field at least five horses during the racing weekend will have the chance to share a significant portion of this bonus, fostering a competitive atmosphere among trainers.
Sovereignty Turns Down Preakness Stakes, Aiming for Belmont Stakes
Three days after the Run For The Roses, Mott confirmed Sovereignty's decision to skip the Preakness Stakes scheduled for Saturday, 17th May. The last time a Kentucky Derby winner overlooked the Preakness Stakes was in 1985 with Spend A Buck.
With Sovereignty opting out, his epic rivalry with Derby runner-up Journalism in the Churchill Downs stretch will remain unchallenged, and a Triple Crown winner will continue to elude US racing fans. Instead, our eyes will turn towards the Belmont Stakes on June 7th, where Sovereignty will be fighting to clinch the last leg of the US Triple Crown series.
The last horses managing to win the Derby and Belmont were Thunder Gluck in 1995, and before that, the renowned Justify in 2018, with American Pharoah kicking off the streak back in 2015.
Preakness Stakes 2025: Key Details and Odds
With Sovereignty sitting out the Preakness Stakes, the odds have shifted, placing Derby runner-up Journalism at the front as the new favorite.
Key Dates and Broadcast Information
- 📅Date: Saturday, 17th May, 2025
- 🏇Racecourse: Pimlico
- 💰Purse/Winner: $2m / $1.2m (winner)
- 📺TV: NBC (Live Stream: You Tube, Peacock, fuboTV)
- 🎲Preakness Odds 2025: Journalism 5/2 | Rodriguez 5/1 | Sandman 8/1
Preakness Stakes Weekend Trainer Bonus to Persist in 2025
Regrettably, racing fans across the nation won't get to cheer on Sovereignty at Pimlico this year, but the track's spirits were lifted by the news that their $100,000 bonus money will persist for the ninth consecutive year. Amid the excitement, Preakness weekend 2025 will feature 16 stakes races (8 graded), creating a total purse of $4.35 million while offering exciting racing opportunities for horsemen and trainers.
Points are awarded for each trainer's horses' position across weekend races, with the barn amassing the most points taking home the Preakness trainer bonus. Though the specific scoring system for 2025 isn't widely disclosed, previous years suggest points may be earned based on placings in designated graded stakes races during the Preakness festival, ultimately rewarding competitive trainers across the weekend.
The points distribution in 2025 is not entirely clear but more details will likely be announced before or during the event itself.
The Preakness Stakes Weekend Trainer bonus rewards trainers who excel during the Preakness festival weekend, making it a prestigious bonus to win.
For an overview:
- The 2025 Preakness Bonus pool has grown significantly, now offering a whopping $7.5 million in bonuses.
- The program now includes qualifiers for important international races at Newmarket and Deauville.
- Incentives have been broadened to reward trainers more widely across multiple graded stakes races (15 stakes, 8 graded) during the Preakness festival weekend.
As track fans gear up for the highly anticipated Preakness weekend, they'll keep their eyes on the horsemen, hoping to witness fierce competition in the heart of Maryland horse racing history.
- The legendary racehorse Sovereignty, following its triumphant performance at the 151st Kentucky Derby, has decided to bypass the Preakness Stakes in Maryland, slated for May 17th, 2025.
- With Sovereignty skipping the Preakness Stakes, the odds for the competition have changed, putting Derby runner-up Journalism in the spotlight as the new favorite.
- In a move to boost competitiveness among trainers, Pimlico Racecourse in Maryland will continue to offer a $100,000 trainer bonus for the Preakness Stakes weekend in 2025.
- To amplify the excitement, the Preakness Stakes Weekend Trainer bonus has grown to a grand sum of $7.5 million in 2025, with incentives extended to reward trainers across multiple graded stakes races during the festival weekend.
