BALTIMORE -- It’s been close but no cigar for Nagirroc since his win in the Grade 3 Futurity during the Belmont at the Big A meeting last fall, but the Lea colt has run nothing but good races since and is the deserving 8-5 favorite in the James W. Murphy Stakes for 3-year-olds at one mile on turf. Nagirroc finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, then was third again, beaten only a length, in Santa Anita’s Eddie Logan on Dec. 30. He made his seasonal debut in Keeneland’s Transylvania last month and finished second behind gate-to-wire winner Mo Stash. “The form from his race at Keeneland has come back pretty strong,” said trainer Graham Motion as he referenced next-out stakes winners Webslinger and Mi Hermano Ramon. “We did decide to put blinkers on him. He’s worked in them, and I think he’s worked well.” Funtastic Again returns to turf after finishing third behind subsequent Kentucky Derby runner-up Two Phil’s in the Grade 3 Jeff Ruby at Turfway Park. A speedy type breaking from the inside post under John Velazquez, he’ll race with Lasix for the first time. :: Get ready to bet the Preakness! Join DRF Bets and score a $250 Deposit Match + $10 Free Bet + Free PPs - Promo code: WINNING Wonderful Justice won his first two starts for trainer Brad Cox, including the Black Gold Stakes on March 4 at Fair Grounds. He then finished a troubled ninth facing Nagirroc in the Transylvania. A Western Yarn, third in Tampa Bay’s Columbia Stakes on March 11, should add to the pace picture. “He’s been a little bit of an underachiever, but he’s a very game horse,” trainer Arnaud Delacour said. “We’ve freshened him up a little bit after the last race, which was a good performance. Hopefully, he can take a step forward.” Fadethenoise stretches out around two turns for the first time while both Top Recruit and Circling the Drain switch from dirt to turf. Moonstrike and Kingfish Stevens complete the field. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.