The Preakness Stakes takes place this weekend, as the Triple Crown action moves to Pimlico. All of the talk in the build up to the huge Grade 1 has centred around Medina Spirit, and trainer Bob Baffert, as the Kentucky Derby winner failed a drug test after winning the opening race of the Triple Crown series.
However, officials have cleared Medina Spirit to compete this week, and he will be looking to follow in the footsteps of American Pharoah and Justify, as horses trained by Baffert to win the first two Triple Crown races of the season.
Preakness Stakes Schedule
- When: Saturday, 15th May 6:50 PM ET
- Where: Pimlico Race Course
- How To Watch: CBS
Preakness Stakes Odds
| Medina Spirit | 3/2 |
| Concert Tour | 5/2 |
| Midnight Bourbon | 6/1 |
| Crowded Trade | 8/1 |
| Risk Taking | 10/1 |
| Rombauer | 16/1 |
| Unbridled Honor | 16/1 |
| France Go De Ina | 25/1 |
| Keepmeinmind | 33/1 |
| Ram | 33/1 |
Preakness Stakes Preview
History & Previous Winners
The second of the Triple Crown events in the United States is one of the most popular of the season. This year’s renewal will be the 146th time that the ‘Run for the Black-Eyed Susans’ has taken place. The race is open to colts, fillies and geldings that are aged three, and the field will race over 1 3/16 miles.
The record for the fastest winning time of the Preakness over the current distance was set by Secretariat in 1973, as the legendary horse won in 1:53. Like the Kentucky Derby, Bob Baffert is one of the leading trainers in this race, as he has won on seven previous occasions. This year, he will be looking to become the outright leading trainer, as he is currently tied with R. Wyndham Walden.
Both of Baffert’s two previous winners of the Preakness Stakes have come into the race after winning the Kentucky Derby. Meanwhile, Justify and American Pharoah both concluded the season by adding Belmont Stakes success.
Leading Contenders
The inclusion of Medina Spirit after the failed drug test has raised serious questions of the sport. However, the Kentucky Derby winner remains the horse to beat if he is still at the same performance level. He is the very clear favourite in the betting, and will have the added advantage of a middle draw, after drawing post three earlier in the week. His stable mate, Concert Tour, returns after a disappointing run last time out. However, his chances of winning have been negatively impacted by drawing post ten.
Winning horses of the Preakness Stakes priced at over 10/1 have been few and far between in the past, which means that those at the bigger prices should be ruled out. Crowded Trade and Risk Taking are both trained by Chad Brown, who last won this race with Cloud Computing in 2017. Crowded Trade missed the Kentucky Derby, and should perform better following the extra break. Risk Taking was also involved in the Wood Memorial Stakes, which was Crowded Trade’s most recent run, but finished seven lengths behind the winner.
Preakness Stakes Pick & Prediction
We like the chances of Midnight Bourbon this weekend. He was a distant sixth in the Kentucky Derby, but did have strong runs before that. He finished second behind Hot Rod Charlie in the Louisiana Derby, and was a respectable third in his run in the Risen Star, behind Mandaloun, who was the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby. The conditions should suit the Steven Asmussen-trained horse this weekend, and at 6/1, he is a decent price.
