By Ryan Bologna
The Preakness Stakes is this weekend and while there is no triple crown watch as Rich Strike will not be participating, there is plenty to consider from a betting standpoint.
The Favorites
Epicenter
Odds: 6-5
Trainer: Steve Asmussen
Jockey: Joel Rosario
The runner-up from the Kentucky Derby takes the top odds for the Preakness Stakes. Trainer Steve Asmussen is looking for his third win at the event — he has won the Preakness Stakes twice in 2007 and 2009, and the Belmont Stakes once in 2016. While the Kentucky Derby showed that it is anyone’s race, Epicenter has as good a chance as any of winning.
Veteran jockey Joel Rosario has also won the Belmont Stakes twice in 2014 and 2019 — he has also finished second three times — but is looking for his first Preakness win with Epicenter.
Early Voting
Odds: 7-2
Trainer: Chad Brown
Jockey: Joe Ortiz
Trainer Chad Brown once again has a horse that is one of the top contenders this weekend. At the Kentucky Derby it was Zandon, for the Preakness it is Early Voting. Brown’s only triple crown win came at the Preakness Stakes in 2017 with Cloud Computing. While not the top favorite according to the odds, Early Voting should be a contender at the event.
Jockey Joe Ortiz’s best career finish at the Preakness Stakes took place in 2018, finishing fourth with Brown-trained Good Magic. With 2,500 career wins, Ortiz has the resume that shows he can win the event given the right circumstances and he certainly has a horse capable of getting it done.
Secret Oath
Odds: 9-2
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Jockey: Luis Saez
Hall of fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas will be looking for his 7th win at the Preakness Stakes with Secret Oath. While the horse is a filly, Lukas has the track record to show that he knows what a winning horse looks like. Coming in with the third-best odds, Secret Oath should be heavily considered when betting on this weekend’s event.
Jockey Luis Saez rode longshot horse Charge It at the Kentucky Derby, so it is understandable that many think he has a better chance of winning this event. Saez ran the Preakness Stakes twice before, with a second-place finish in 2018 aboard Bravazo.
A Longshot Pick
Skippylongstocking
Odds: 20-1
Trainer: Saffie Joseph Jr.
Jockey: Junior Alvarado
Skippylongstocking has an outside chance at the Preakness Stakes, but if the 2022 Kentucky Derby proved anything, it’s that anything can happen. Trainer Saffie Joseph Jr.’s horse comes in as much less of a longshot pick so keep an eye out for the horse coming from the 9th post position.
Jockey Junior Alvarado has not raced in the event since 2012, which was his only start. Despite that fact, Alvarado is a respected jockey and has finished in the top ten in national earnings for jockeys three times before, so he is capable of taking a horse to victory.
Photo Credit: Cheryl Ann Quigley
