Bob Ehalt and Tom Pedulla became fast friends when they met on their first day at Fordham Preparatory School in the Bronx, N.Y., in 1970. Bob soon introduced Tom to the joys of Thoroughbred racing.

They have endured some rough moments at the track, with Tom taking exception when Bob repeatedly smacks him on the back with a program as one of their horses launches an all-out drive. Much to Tom’s chagrin and the amusement of onlookers, Bob has been known to call for security as he proceeds to cash a $27 triple.

They have owned a number of horses together and were part of the group that owned 1998 Whitney runner-up Tale of the Cat. They are often seen carrying on as if they never left their teenage years.

Here is their take on the 150^th Preakness Stakes, to be run at a mile and three-sixteenths on Saturday  at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course:

PEDULLA: Bob, I do not need to remind you that I am riding high into the Preakness after being spot on with Sovereignty in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve. I am looking to take another step toward a handicapping Triple Crown and see the Preakness as all but a gimme with Journalism. He has the right style for this and I think the pace scenario will be ideal. Time has taught us that there are no mortal locks in racing. This is close to that.

EHALT: Thomas, congrats on picking the Kentucky Derby winner and cold exacta. Nicely done, my friend. As for me, I had the boxed exacta and triple. I keep finishing second so often, I’m thinking of having my name changed to Alydar. Well, this time I’m very confident. Journalism turned in a superb effort in the Kentucky Derby when he was the runner-up and he has a big class edge over his rivals. If we can get the 8-5 morning-line price, it’s a steal.

Goal Oriented at Pimlico. (Eclipse Sportswire)

PEDULLA: As we know, Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher is typically conspicuous in his absence from the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. This year, he targeted the race with River Thames. That says plenty. It also is worth noting that River Thames finished a mere neck behind Sovereignty in the Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes, so the quality is there.

EHALT: Thomas, are you looking over my shoulder? I’ve got River Thames for second as well. I think skipping the Derby and pointing to the Preakness will work out well for him. He has the perfect running style for this track.

PEDULLA: Bob, our many years together at Old Hilltop tell us that Derby runners tend to make strong showings in the Preakness. Deep closer Sandman is better than his seventh-place Derby finish and will get a piece here.

EHALT: The people around Goal Oriented say trainer Bob Baffert is not here for the crab cakes. Maybe I am, but he isn’t. Baffert likes what he sees in this lightly raced, unbeaten colt and that’s enough for me to include him in my exotics.

PEDULLA: I sure wish Goal Oriented had more than two starts under his belt. At the same time, Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert’s willingness to run him back in two weeks after an allowance victory on the Derby undercard tells us he came out of that race really well and Baffert thinks highly of his talent. I anticipate a strong pace, however, and see that working against this speedster.

EHALT: Speed can be dangerous here, which leads to a hundred jokes about the soon-to-be-demolished facility that I will leave to the reader’s imagination. So I’ll include Clever Again. He looked very good in winning the Hot Springs Stakes on the front end and could get brave here if no one pushes him hard in the early stages. So long, “old” Pimlico.