Into Mischief duo side-by-side for Preakness (G1)

Into Mischief’s Owendale and Market King were slotted in post positions 5 and 6, respectively, for Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness S. (G1) at Pimlico.

Owendale, who won the April 13^th Lexington S. (G3) at Keeneland, was a $200,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearling sale. Owned by Rupp Racing, the bay colt is 3-1-1 in eight starts. Bred by, he is out of Aspen Light, whose brother Great Hunter was a Grade 1 winner of just under $1 million.

“I like the post with Owendale. I don’t think it matters a whole lot with him with the post. I’m happy with it,” said Owendale’s trainer Brad Cox after Wednesday’s draw. Owendale will be ridden by Florent Geroux, who was aboard for the Lexington.

Though less accomplished than Owendale, Market King is trained by Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas, who has pulled off his share of Triple Crown race upsets. Market King ran very respectably over the spring at Oaklawn Park, including a third behind division leaders Omaha Beach and Game Winner in the Rebel S. (G2).

“It’s a good spot. I think if you take out Improbable and War of Will it’s a toss-up,” said Lukas of the two likely race favorites.

Market King is owned by Robert Baker and William Mack and was bred by Flaxman Holdings. The owner paid $550,000 for Market King at the same Keeneland sale. Market King is out of Divine Presence, whose dam Divine Proportions was a champion in Europe at both two and three.

Into Mischief has accounted for seven stakes winners this year, with progeny earnings of over $5.7 million, third-most on the General Sire list. His 83 winners to date is nine more than any other North American sire.