The Triple Crown action in the United States continues this weekend, as the Preakness Stakes is staged at Pimlico. This race comes two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, and three weeks before the Belmont Stakes. A total distance of 1 3/16 miles will be covered by the three-year-olds involved.
Before Betting On Preakness Stakes 2023
The 2023 edition of the Preakness Stakes has attracted a field of eight runners. The entries are headlined by Mage, who will be looking to land a second straight success in a Triple Crown race following his excellent showing at Churchill Downs in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago. Mage certainly is the contender to beat at Pimlico, as the runner holds the best speed rating, and has been handed a favorable draw.
First Mission is the standout contender against the favorite. The Brad Cox-trained runner was last seen landing success in the G3 Lexington Stakes, and the decision to bypass the Derby was a winning route last year for Early Voting. That extra fitness could be a key factor to consider for a trainer that won two Triple Crown races in 2021.
National Treasure is the runner for Bob Baffert in the Preakness this weekend. This three-year-old has failed to win on two starts this year, while he is also winless in all four starts since breaking his maiden. He was last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Santa Anita Derby.
Blazing Sevens is the runner for Chad Brown this weekend, and he also comes into this contest having failed to land a success in two attempts this season. He was last seen finishing third in the G1 Blue Grass, while he finished way back in eighth in the G2 Fountain of Youth back in March.
Preakness Stakes 2023 Odds & Pick
| Horse | Odds |
|---|---|
| Mage | +140 |
| First Mission | +265 |
| National Treasure | +550 |
| Blazing Sevens | +850 |
| Perform | +1400 |
| Red Route One | +1800 |
| Coffeewithchris | +2500 |
| Chase The Chaos | +6600 |
It certainly looks to be a battle between the top two in the betting this weekend. However, we will be siding with Mage to land victory. The three-year-old possesses excellent finishing speed, and that could be crucial in the race to the line. At a bigger price, Red Route One firmly enters calculations on speed figures after a positive showing on his previous outing.
