The road to the Triple Crown has seemingly been cleared for Mage to romp in the 148th Preakness Stakes. The Kentucky Derby winner’s top challenger, First Mission, has been scratched from racing Saturday at Pimlico Race Course.
Owned by Godolphin and trained by Brad Cox, First Mission was the 5-2 second choice on the morning line in the Preakness Stakes. First Mission was impressive in his last start, rallying to win in Keeneland’s Lexington Stakes. The three-year-old sired by Street Sense was sidelined due to an issue in its left hind leg.