The Triple Crown action continues this weekend, as the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown takes place at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, MD. Justify will attempt to complete the 2nd leg of the Triple Crown.
The Race
Preakness Stakes is held on May 19th at 6:48 PM Eastern. The track is 1 3/16th of a mile or 9.5 furlongs. That is about the same length as the Derby, but shorter by 1/2 furlong. Justify is trying to become the 36th horse to win the first 2 legs of the Triple Crown.
Horses
The field is much smaller than the Kentucky Derby. Only 8 horses will run on Saturday, and this gives the favorite, Justified, a huge advantage. It appears that several horses from the Derby sat out the Preakness to gear up to beat Justify in June at the Belmont. 3 other horses who ran the Derby will join Justify in running the 2nd leg of the Crown.
1 – Quip – 12-1
2 – Lone Sailor – 15-1
3 – Sporting Chance – 30-1
4 – Diamond King – 30-1
5 – Good Magic – 3-1
6 – Tenfold – 20-1
7 – Justify – 1-2
8 – Bravazo – 20-1
Reviewing the field, you have Justify, the clear favorite; Good Magic the 2nd place Derby horse, Bravazo was 6th at the Derby, and Lone Sailor was 8th.
The new horses that could make a run are Diamond King who has impressed in other races. Sporting Chance is another horse that experts like in exotic bets. Plus, Quip, who sat out the Derby and has been a strong horse with the 1 post.
However, this race is all about Justify. He is a clear favorite, and the Derby was not all that close. Can Good Magic win? Of course, he can, but he will need to make a late move on Justify.
Conditions
The rain at the Kentucky Derby probably affected a few horses. Saturday, Pimlico is supposed to get heavy rain before the race again. So, the course could be sloppy again. This should also favor Justify who was very strong on the wet track in Kentucky.
Betting the Preakness
I went over the various ways to bet horse racing in the Derby post. Check it out, if you missed it: http://wegspool.com/2018/05/03/triple-crown-general-info-kentucky-derby-preview/
It’s not exciting to bet the favorite, but at 1-2, the odds are not too much in his favor. If you are betting to win, then just go with Justify to hedge your exotics.
Here are some expert opinions:
Hammerin’ Hank’s picks – As stated on the Rich Eisen show today – Justify probably wins, but there is word that he is struggling with injuries. Good Magic was not going to run the Preakness, but his trainer saw Justify limping 1 week after the Derby. So, Good Magic entered The Preakness. The Lone Sailor trainer said that Lone Sailor lost a shoe during the Derby and still finished 8th. So, Lone Sailor is running strong. Bravazzo is another horse he liked.
Hank likes 7-Justify, 5-Good Magic and 2-Lone Sailor in an Exacta Box. He likes 7-Justify, 5-Good Magic, 2-Lone Sailor and 8-Bravazzo in a Trifecta Box and to add in 1-Quip in your Superfecta Boxes.
Here are my bets for the Preakness (note my app does not allow for a larger number of horses than the bet or wheels, which Hank suggests):
- 5-Good Magic Across the Board – $5 ($15 total)
- Exacta Box – $5 – 7-Justify and 5-Good Magic ($10 total)
- Trifecta Box – $2.50 – 7-Justify, 5-Good Magic and 2-Lone Sailor ($12)
- Superfecta Box – $0.50 – 7-Justify, 5-Good Magic, 2-Lone Sailor and 8-Bravazzo ($12)
Total Bets = $49 (I had to deposit another $50 to my $14 balance to get there)
Who are your picks?
Wegs