Preakness Stakes Bets: If You can’t Beat Em (Baffert), Join Em!
Not only is TVG offering new customers a huge risk-free bet, but they’re also giving back to their current customers with their Money Back Special all day at Pimlico. If the horse that you bet to Win takes second or third, depending on field size, you get your money back (up to $10)! Selections for Money Back Specials will be below our Preakness Stakes analysis.
Preakness Stakes Field:
The real question betting the Preakness Stakes this weekend is simple: Do you believe in karma? Medina Spirit, as of now, has passed all tests and seems prepped and ready to run drug-free at Old Hill Top. Trained by Bob Baffert, this horse will get the lead like he did in the Kentucky Derby, but this time, there should be some speed challengers who go with him. Pimlico is a very speed-heavy course. As at Churchill Downs, speed seems to hold at Pimlico, unless a truly special horse can close into a frantic pace upfront.
At the front with Medina Spirit will undoubtedly be his stablemate, Concert Tour. “Big Money” Mike Smith gets the ride and knows how to win Triple Crown Races. Concert Tour passed on the Kentucky Derby, even though he was one of the leading points receivers and would have been somewhere in the range of 7 to 12 to 1 odds. Look for Concert Tour’s odds to drop, as I believe he will be the favorite come post time. If you throw out his last race, a 3rd place finish in the Arkansas Derby, the horse looks like a world class athlete, winning with ease.
Another horse who should go early is Midnight Bourbon, who had a troubling trip through the Kentucky Derby. He adds the best jockey in North America to his saddle, and look for Irad Ortiz Jr to get this horse in the right place going into the first turn.
Preakness Bet:
We hate to look at this race and focus only on the top three favorites. However, the rest of this field is severely outclassed. Most don’t even have stakes race experience, let alone stakes wins.
If you are an exotics player, playing a large exacta or trifecta box could prove worthwhile, as a lot of public money should be wagered into these pools. 3-5-10 exacta box and trifecta box seem to be the right play.
Pimlico Saturday Money Back Win Selections for TVG’s Moneyback Specials:
Race 1- (4) Hozier- 2/5, this horse isn’t losing
Race 2- (12) Daddy’s Cozy: Forgive his last effort, and the layoff, horse could be ready to fire at 5-1
Race 3- (2) Mighty Mischief: Trainer Jockey combo is hot, and won easy last two times out priced at 5-2
Race 4- (12) Out of Sorts: 6-1 morning line for this stakes placed horse with family trainer/jockey combo.
Race 5- (5) Going to the Lead: At 5-1, look for this horse to do exactly what his name says.
Race 6- (5) Mean Mary: 6/5 heavy favorite who will be ready to roll first off the layoff.
Race 7- (2) Burning Bright: 8/1 with consistent in the money finishes, should fire.
Race 8- (2) Outadore- 7/5 odds but this horse is the class of the field.
Race 9- (5) Chub Wagon- 8/5. Best bet of the day and gets best jock in the world? Undefeated. Snug.
Race 10- (5) Hollis- 6/1. Will prove with Irad that they can compete at this level.
Race 11- (11) Seven Nation Army- We going to fight them off, 5-1 odds wouldn’t hold me back.
Race 12- (8) Bye Bye Melvin- Longshot time, 10-1 could be right for this consistent stakes runner.
Race 13- (10) Concert Tour- (5/2) See above…
Race 14- (3) Uptown Sandy Girl- 4/1 in an Arabian bred race, like the early speed.