The Second Jewel of the Triple Crown is run this Saturday, as the Preakness Stakes 2022 takes center stage.
The draw for the Preakness Stakes took place on Monday, which means that we now know the nine runners that will be lining up. But which horse will come out on top in the race at Pimlico this year?
Preakness Stakes Information
The Preakness Stakes is the shortest of the three Triple Crown races. It is run over a distance of 1 3/16 miles and offers a purse of $1.5 million.
The Preakness is run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and is staged three weeks before the Belmont Stakes in New York. It was first run in 1873 and is nicknamed the ‘Run for the Black Eyed-Susans.’
The draw for the 2022 edition of the race can be found below.
1 | Simplification |
2 | Creative Minister |
3 | Fenwick |
4 | Secret Oath |
5 | Early Voting |
6 | Happy Jack |
7 | Armagnac |
8 | Epicenter |
9 | Skippylongstocking |
To date, six fillies have won the Preakness, with the most recent female winner being Swiss Skydiver in 2020. Secret Oath will be looking to become the seventh filly winner this year.
Eddie Arcaro is the leading jockey with six wins, while R. Wyndham Walden and Bob Baffert are the joint-most successful trainers with seven wins apiece.
Preakness Stakes Betting Analysis
Epicenter | 5/6 |
Secret Oath | 4/1 |
Early Voting | 9/2 |
Simplification | 8/1 |
Creative Minister | 12/1 |
Skippylongstocking | 16/1 |
Armagnac | 16/1 |
Happy Jack | 33/1 |
Fenwick | 50/1 |
The Preakness Stakes odds have been available since the day after the Kentucky Derby.
However, the horse racing odds have been shaken up over the past couple of weeks after the decisions made by connections of Rich Strike and Zandon not to run in the Preakness.
Epicenter, for Steven Asmussen, is likely to be extremely short in the betting for the race at Pimlico and may be even shorter on the day. Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath and Early Voting will be battling for the second spot in the betting.
Preakness Stakes Contenders
Epicenter
Few would argue against Epicenter being the favorite for the Preakness Stakes based on his excellent performances already this year.
The three-year-old ran a storming race at Churchill Downs for Steven Asmussen but ultimately could only finish second behind Rich Strike. However, he has already won both the G2 Risen Star and G2 Louisiana Derby this year.
But, when learning how to bet on horse racing, you realize the importance of trends. The trends certainly don’t favor Epicenter this weekend, as he will be looking to become only the fourth Kentucky Derby runner-up to win the Preakness since 1961.
Out of the 43 Derby runners-up, eleven were favorites in the betting, and only one won (Prairie Bayou in 1993).
Secret Oath
I’m such a big fan of Secret Oath, and I do get the sense that the stars have aligned for her this weekend. She will be looking to become the seventh filly to win the race while in the process giving D. Wayne Lukas a record-equaling seventh win in the race.
This three-year-old was simply sensational in the G1 Kentucky Oaks, as she battled from the rail to get away well before finishing two lengths clear of Nest.
She has already opposed the boys once this year, but she had a nightmare trip when third in the G1 Arkansas Derby. If she can overcome that bad luck to finish third in a Grade 1, then if she gets a perfect trip this weekend, she could be the one to beat.
Early Voting
It’s no surprise that the top three in the betting are all stalkers, as Armagnac is likely to set a very fast pace. Early Voting for Chad Brown opted to bypass the Kentucky Derby in favor of a run in the Preakness, and that freshness is crucial to his chances this weekend.
We last saw Early Voting finishing a very close second behind Mo Donegal in the G2 Wood Memorial, and a strong bid is extremely likely this weekend.
He has already landed the G3 Withers this year. This is a much tougher race, but the tactics could all play out in his favor to give him an excellent chance.
Preakness Stakes Betting Prediction
I’m very much on the side of Secret Oath this weekend. She was excellent in the Oaks a few weeks ago, and the early pace set by Armagnac will play to her strengths in the final stages.
D. Wayne Lukas-trained horses are firing at present, and we could potentially see the birth of another superstar this weekend.
Those looking for some value in the betting may be tempted by Skippylongstocking, who came on excellently to finish third in the G2 Wood Memorial last time. The extra rest is likely to be a factor in his favor, and I believe he is much better than his current odds suggest.
How To Bet on the Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes betting markets are open with all the leading sportsbooks online. Here, bettors will be able to make selections on the win, place, and exacta markets for the huge race being staged at Pimlico this Saturday.
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