Preakness Stakes: Can First Mission, trained by Brad Cox, beat Kentucky Derby winner Mage?

BALTIMORE — Saturday’s Preakness Stakes may be lacking big names, but there's been plenty of big talk from the connections of one contender.

Three days after the Kentucky Derby, First Mission assistant trainer Jorje Abrego raised some eyebrows back in Louisville when asked how the Grade 3 Lexington winner might fit in the Preakness field.

“Honestly, I watched the Derby and I watched the way this horse ran in the Lexington,” said Abrego, assistant to trainer Brad Cox. “I’m not scared of anybody.”

Preakness Stakes 2023 results: National Treasure wins Preakness Stakes 2023: Bob Baffert victorious in Triple Crown return

That comment was repeated during the broadcast of Monday’s draw and has added some spark to the $1.65 million, Grade 1 Preakness, the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Kentucky Derby winner Mage was set as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the Preakness and is the only contender from the Run for the Roses to make the trip to Pimlico Race Course. It will be the first Preakness to include just one horse from the Kentucky Derby since 1948, when Citation won both races on his way to the Triple Crown.

Preakness 2023: Here's why your horse can — or can't — win second leg of Triple Crown

More horse racing: Churchill Downs suffers eighth horse fatality in past three weeks

First Mission is among seven new shooters in the Preakness and is second choice in the morning line at 5-2 odds.

The Louisville-born Cox may not be as boisterous as his assistant but is confident in First Mission’s chances Saturday.

“I really believe this horse is one of the top 3-year-olds in the country,” Cox said. “He’s lightly raced but a lot of talent. A very intelligent horse, sound horse, does everything right. I think he’s only going to get better the more he does it.”

First Mission, a son of Street Sense, is a Godolphin homebred who didn’t race as a 2-year-old.

Cox said First Mission joined his barn last spring and needed extra time to develop.

“It was nothing major why we gave him time off,” Cox said. “We just thought he was a later-developing horse. Ever since we brought him back he’s impressed us and been very consistent in his training.”

First Mission made his debut Feb. 18 at Gulfstream Park, finishing second behind another Cox trainee in Bishops Bay. First Mission broke his maiden March 18 at Gulfstream — winning by 6 ¾ lengths — and then stated his case as a Preakness contender with a half-length victory over Arabian Lion in the Lexington on April 15 at Keeneland.

Sweet 16th: How Mage jockey Javier Castellano conjured drought-ending Kentucky Derby win

Meet Ramiro Restrepo: And 'four bases' of 2023 Kentucky Derby winner Mage's ownership group

As it turned out with all of the scratches, First Mission could have competed in the Kentucky Derby had Cox entered him. But the trainer isn’t second-guessing his decision.

“That would have been going a tremendous amount in a short period of time,” Cox said. “I think he matches up with the horses that ran well in the Derby. And, hopefully, we can get a good performance out of him in the Preakness.”

First Mission had three breezes at Churchill Downs following the Lexington victory, including Saturday’s bullet of 59.20 seconds over five furlongs, the fastest of 24 works at the distance that day.

“He’s gotten better as the year’s gone on,” Cox said after the work. “He seems to be thriving right now. That’s really what you want to see going up to a big race. I like quick times, but I’m more interested in how they’re doing it. And I love what we saw this morning.”

First Mission will look to be a step or two faster than his sire, Street Sense, who won the 2007 Kentucky Derby and then finished a nose behind Curlin in the Preakness.

Cox is looking to complete his own personal “Triple Crown,” having won the 2021 Kentucky Derby with Mandaloun and the 2021 Belmont with Essential Quality.

His only previous appearance in the Preakness was 2019 with Owendale (third place) and Warrior’s Charge (fourth place).

“It would be cool to win that jewel of the Triple Crown,” Cox said. “It’s a very fun week there in Baltimore. They really put on a good show. A lot of history there. … It’s a really cool experience.”

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @KentuckyDerbyCJ.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Preakness Stakes 2023: Trainer Brad Cox seeks win with First Mission