Preakness Stakes odds for the second race in horse racing’s Triple Crown will be on the board for the race on Saturday, May 15th. Preakness Stakes betting will likely favor the Kentucky Derby winner as the horse looks to break the more than 30 year Triple Crown drought.
Preakness Stakes odds point to the Derby winner for good reason. The horse wins more than a third of the time. Normally that horse is also the favorite in the race. It is important to remember that the Preakness is run at a mile and 3/16th at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The field is smaller than the one from the Derby and realistically only a few horses have a chance to win the race.
Preakness Stakes odds begin with the Derby winner. As you handicap the race you must start with the Derby winner. Oftentimes this horse will be the best one in the field. That is not always the case though. In 2005, 2007 and last year, the Derby horse was not the best horse in the field. Giacomo was a fluke winner of the Derby in 2005. Street Sense won in 2007 and although he was not a fluke, Curlin was the better horse. Last year Mine That Bird was another fluke winner of the Derby and in the Preakness the better horse was Rachel Alexandra.
When you look at the history of Preakness Stakes betting you will find that the winner of the race is normally a horse coming out of the Derby. Even though last year Rachel Alexandra won the Preakness she still raced basically at the same time as the Derby horses as she ran in the Oaks.
The track at Pimlico is known for being more of a speed track than the Derby so speed horses can have an advantage. The horse that wins though is usually one coming from just off the pace. Rarely does a horse wire the field in the Preakness and rarely does a closer come from the clouds to win.
As you look at the Preakness remember not to get caught up in the Triple Crown hype. The Derby winner may very well have a chance to win the Triple Crown but it has been more than 30 years since a horse has done it. What you want in the Preakness is a winning ticket. Oftentimes that will involve the Derby winner but not always. History can change as was proven last year with the filly Rachel Alexandra.