The 2020 Triple Crown cycle will finally come to an end today as the 145th Preakness Stakes is set for Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The winner of the Belmont Stakes, Tiz the Law, is sitting this race out ahead of November’s Breeders’ Cup, but the Kentucky Derby winner, Authentic, will race and is the first choice ahead of Art Collector. There are several intriguing horses joining the fray at Pimlico.
Take a look at the latest Odds to Win courtesy of JAZZSports.ag as well as our thoughts on the race.
Preakness Stakes – Odds to Win*
| Post | Horse | Jockey | Current Odds* |
| 1 | Excession | Sheldon Russell | +5000 |
| 2 | Mr. Big News | Gabriel Saez | +1500 |
| 3 | Art Collector | Brian Hernandez Jr | +190 |
| 4 | Swiss Skydiver | Robby Albarado | +750 |
| 5 | Thousand Words | Florent Geroux | +525 |
| 6 | Jesus’ Team | Jevian Toledo | +5500 |
| 7 | Ny Traffic | Horacio Karamanos | +1700 |
| 8 | Max Player | Paco Lopez | +1500 |
| 9 | Authentic | John Velazquez | +170 |
| 10 | Pneumatic | Joe Bravo | +1700 |
| 11 | Liveyourbeastlife | Trevor McCarthy | +4000 |
*Odds are subject to change. *Courtesy of JAZZSports.ag
Last Call: 2020 Preakness Stakes Review
Authentic is the favorite for a reason. His two workouts since the Kentucky Derby have been outstanding, with a five-furlong run in 59.20 and then, this past Monday, a four-furlong run in 47.60. Authentic’s trainer, Bob Baffert, has shown that he can make sure that his horses that win at Churchill Downs remain sharp ahead of the Preakness Stakes; this is one factor in his pursuit of the record of wins at Pimlico for a horse trainer.
Pneumatic remains an interesting sleeper, especially if you take into account the fact that the Preakness Stakes is happening four and a half months later than it usually does on the calendar. Looking at horses that are improving right now can make a smart choice when thinking about horses finishing in the money. He came in fourth at the Belmont Stakes on June 20 but improved to a victory in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park.
Art Collector missed the Kentucky Derby as a late scratch due to a minor hoof injury. He has won all four of the races that he has entered this season, running away from Swiss Skydiver at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. Some argue that Art Collector is a level below Authentic, but there were people making that argument at Churchill Downs about Authentic being below Tiz the Law, and we saw how that turned out.
Thousand Words is a bit of an enigma due to a series of issues that have happened shortly ahead of races. He flipped in the paddock ahead of the Kentucky Derby and needed to be scratched as a result. He was not injured, though, so he could look like he did at the Shared Belief Stakes, where he won over Honor A.P. I’m not sure he offers enough value for a pick to win, though.
Give an EDGE to your horse-betting with JAZZ Horse Racing’s expert betting advice. Until Next Time!
