Preakness Stakes Contender Profile: River Thames
Preakness Stakes Contender Profile
Pletcher’s River Thames Looks to Make History
Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is back at Pimlico with one of his most promising Preakness starters yet. Instead of taking a shot in the Kentucky Derby, River Thames was held back in favor of a focused run at the 150th Preakness Stakes, a decision that may pay off with a well-rested and steadily improving colt.
Bettors looking to bet on Preakness value may find this pacesetter an attractive option in a year where the Derby winner is absent. At 9-2 River Thames is quickly gaining traction in Preakness Stakes odds.
Skipping the Derby has become a winning formula for several recent Preakness champions. Each of the past five winners, from Swiss Skydiver to Seize the Grey, followed that alternate path to success. River Thames hopes to keep that trend alive for Pletcher, who seeks his first win in this leg of the Triple Crown.
Career So Far: Speed and Consistency
Through just four starts, River Thames has already built a reliable track record, picking up two victories along with a second and a third-place finish. He broke his maiden impressively at Gulfstream Park on January 11, cruising home by 4¾ lengths in a six-furlong sprint.
He returned three weeks later and dominated again, stretching out to a mile and winning an allowance race by 6½ lengths.
His first major test came in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2), where he dueled with Sovereignty and finished second by just a neck. That runner-up effort aged well after Sovereignty went on to win the Kentucky Derby. In his most recent start, River Thames held his own against a deeper field, placing third in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and earning a career-best 103 Equibase Speed Figure.
Pedigree and Training Insight
River Thames is by Maclean’s Music, a sire known for producing fast, front-running types, including Preakness winner Cloud Computing. His dam, Proportionality, adds balance to his pedigree with distance-influencing bloodlines that suggest River Thames can hold his own at 1 3/16 miles.
Trainer Todd Pletcher has emphasized how pleased he is with River Thames’ progress and conditioning, explaining that skipping the Kentucky Derby was a calculated move. “He’s been consistent every time he’s run,” Pletcher said. “We’re thinking a fresh horse might give us a slight edge.” Despite his decorated career, Pletcher remains winless in the Preakness, with his best finish coming in 2000 when Impeachment ran third.
River Thames has been training sharply at Belmont Park, most recently breezing four furlongs in 48.75 seconds on May 2. That work suggests he’s peaking at the right time.
Top Jockey Aboard
Five-time Eclipse Award winner Irad Ortiz Jr. takes the reins for the first time aboard River Thames. Ortiz has had close calls at Pimlico, finishing second in the Preakness with Midnight Bourbon in 2021 and Blazing Sevens in 2023. He enters with six previous Preakness mounts but no wins, something he’ll aim to change with this live mount.
Ortiz’s tactical riding style matches well with River Thames’ preferred front-running approach. If the colt can break cleanly and control the pace, he may dictate terms and hold off closers down the stretch.
Preakness Stakes Outlook
With Sovereignty, Baeza, and Sandman skipping the race, the Preakness Stakes betting picture has opened up considerably. River Thames, who closed at 28-1 in the Preakness Future Pool, now looks poised to go off at a much shorter price. His blend of speed, consistency, and freshness gives him a profile similar to recent Preakness upsets.
If you’re seeking a colt with early speed, strong past performances, and a top jockey-trainer duo, River Thames deserves a long look. A clean break and clear lead could put him in perfect position to carry his speed all the way to the wire.
To view updated Preakness Stakes odds, expert picks, and full betting analysis, visit our racebook today and get ready to wager on the action at Pimlico.
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