BALTIMORE – Authentic and Art Collector both were pictures of health Thursday morning at Pimlico, where they’ll go postward Saturday as the clear-cut favorites in the 145th Preakness Stakes, the final leg of the 2020 Triple Crown.

Authentic, winner of the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby, galloped about a mile and three-quarters with regular exercise rider Beto Gomez aboard. The track was fast after having been sloppy Wednesday morning. No rain is expected through the coming weekend.

Authentic “was a little fresh the first time around,” said Bob Baffert, who will send out Authentic and Thousand Words in a field of 11 3-year-olds in the 1 3/16-mile race. “He’s doing well. They’re both doing really well. We’re just playing the waiting game.”

Both Baffert colts were scheduled to school in the indoor Pimlico paddock prior to the second race Thursday.

Art Collector, unbeaten in four starts this year, galloped about 1 3/8 miles at about the same time as Authentic, shortly before 9 a.m. Eastern. Annie Finney, an exercise rider with years of experience in Thoroughbred racing and with jumpers, was aboard for trainer Tommy Drury, who was scheduled to arrive here later Thursday from Kentucky with Bruce Lunsford. Finney also was aboard Art Collector on Wednesday and will be again Friday.

“He felt great,” she said. “The track felt like it’s dried out nicely. He’s pretty professional, pretty much knows the drill. He felt really smooth and like he’s ready to go.”

Swiss Skydiver, the first filly to contest the Preakness in six years, was out well before dawn for a routine gallop when getting further acquainted with her race jockey, Robby Albarado.

In post-position order, this is the Preakness field: Excession, Mr. Big News, Art Collector, Swiss Skydiver, Thousand Words, Jesus’ Team, Ny Traffic, Max Player, Authentic, Pneumatic, and Liveyourbeastlife.

As with the preceding two legs of the Triple Crown, no fans will be at Pimlico because of the pandemic; only essential personnel, participants, and some guests and media will be allowed inside the racetrack gates. Twenty-six party chalets, stretching from the eight pole to the finish line, have been set up for owners and guests on the track apron just outside the outer rail.

The Preakness is scheduled to be run at 5:36 p.m. Eastern as the 11th of 12 races on a sensational all-stakes card that starts at 11 a.m. NBC will carry the race on a 90-minute broadcast (4:30-6). Sunshine and a high of 68 are in the forecast.

There is no Triple Crown on the line this year, with Tiz the Law having won the first race in the reshuffled series, the June 20 Belmont Stakes. Tiz the Law is bypassing the Preakness to await the Nov. 7 Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland.