It’s time for the 2023 Preakness Stakes, which will be the 148th running of “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore Saturday. It’s the 2nd jewel in the Triple Crown of horse racing — post time approximately 7:01 p.m. ET (NBC).
First Mission, who had the 2nd-shortest odds, has been scratched due to a hind leg injury. With Forte also scratched late from the Kentucky Derby, and ineligible to run at the Preakness, the field for the race is down to just 7 horses.
Mage, the winner of the Kentucky Derby, is still alive to be the 14th Triple Crown winner. He remains the favorite for the Preakness at 8/5, or +160.
Let’s analyze FanDuel Sportsbook’s lines around the 2023 Preakness odds, and make our expert picks and predictions.
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2023 Preakness Stakes: What you need to know
- We had 18 horses run in the Kentucky Derby, but most of those horses elected to skip the Preakness. Mage is the only horse to run at Churchill Downs and Pimlico this season
- Javier Castellano, jockey for Mage, has won the Preakness twice before, winning in 2017 with Cloud Computing, and 2006 with Bernadini
- Bob Baffert was not at Churchill Downs due to his suspension, but he is the trainer for National Treasure (+400), with jockey John Velazquez
- Since 1997, Baffert has been to the winner’s circle 7 times, with the most recent victory in 2018 with Justify
- Blazing Sevens, ridden by Irad Ortiz, has the 3rd-shortest odds. Trainer Chad Brown won the Preakness last season, and he was the trainer for Cloud Computing in 2017
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2023 Preakness Stakes – Expert pick
Odds provided by FanDuel Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 9:50 a.m. ET.
Mage (+160) is the chalk at Pimlico, and that’s not for me. I am riding with NATIONAL TREASURE (+400), as Baffert looks for a little redemption after missing the Kentucky Derby due to his ongoing suspension from Churchill Downs.
National Treasure will send Baffert to the winner’s circle for the first time since the Santa Maria Stakes April 29, and we will have no possibility of a Triple Crown winner in 2023.
2023 Preakness Stakes – Long shot
If you’re looking for a bit of a long shot play, roll the dice on RED ROUTE ONE (+1000), the horse with the 4th-longest odds in the field of 7.
The Steven Asmussen-trained horse will have Joel Rosario on board. Rosario won the Miss Preakness Friday with Maple Leaf Mel, and he also won the Bewitch G3 at Keeneland, Oaklawn Handicap and Apple Blossom Handicap in the past month.
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