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Fri 20/05/2022 - 04:57 EDT

Preakness Stakes: Epicenter Is The Real Deal

This is the place for expert analysis and free picks for the 2022 Preakness Stakes!  It is the second jewel of the American Triple Crown, and one of the most important betting races of the year. The Preakness takes place at Pimlico on Saturday, May 21, 2022, and it drew a field of nine. They will go 1 3/16 miles for a rich $1.65 million purse and a place in racing history.

Though Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is bypassing the Preakness and going straight to the Belmont, Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath is going on to the Preakness. Two of the top four finishers in the Kentucky Derby, Epicenter and Simplification, will race in Baltimore as well. These are the odds for the horses at the top of the market:

Horses bovada betonline gt-bets

Epicenter

-125 +100 TBA

Secret Oath

+450 +550 TBA

Early Voting

+450 +550 TBA

Simplification

+750 +1000 TBA

Creative Minister

+1000 +1200 TBA

Armagnac

+1400 +2500 TBA

Betting the 2022 Preakness Online

Before you wager a single dollar on the Preakness Stakes, the first thing you should do is read our online racebook reviews. Online racebooks let you play the race from anywhere with an internet connection. It is the most convenient way to get a trusted wagering experience with the best Vegas odds on your Preakness horse, and our expert reviews help you pick the most profitable one.

These top sportsbooks are also offering excellent rebates and bonuses for betting the Preakness Stakes online. Now is the best time to find the site with the best racebook bonus offers for your betting style, and get ready for a lucrative Preakness Stakes weekend.

RankBonusReviewLink to site

Preakness 2022 Field

This is the official field for the 2022 Preakness Stakes including draw numbers, trainers, jockeys, and morning lines:

  1. Simplification (Antonio Sano/John Velazquez) - 6/1
  2. Creative Minister (Ken McPeek/Brian Hernandez, Jr.) - 10/1
  3. Fenwick (Kevin McKathan/Florent Geroux) - 50/1
  4. Secret Oath (D. Wayne Lukas/Luis Saez) - 6/1
  5. Early Voting (Chad Brown/Jose Ortiz) - 7/2
  6. Happy Jack (Doug O’Neill/Tyler Gaffalione) - 30/1
  7. Armagnac (Tim Yakteen/Irad Ortiz, Jr.) - 12/1
  8. Epicenter (Steve Asmussen/Joel Rosario) - 6/5
  9. Skippylongstocking (Saffie Joseph, Jr./Junior Alvarado) - 20/1

Preakness Jockeys and Trainers

The likely favorite in the Preakness, Epicenter, is trained by Preakness-winning trainer Steve Asmussen. He won the 2007 Preakness with Curlin and in 2009 with Rachel Alexandra. Though Epicenter’s jockey Joel Rosario has never won the race before, he has finished second three times, including with some major longshots. Rosario should be able to give Epicenter a great ride at Pimlico.

D. Wayne Lukas will attempt to tie the Preakness trainer record. Lukas has won the Preakness six times already, with his most recent score coming in 2013 with longshot Oxbow. Lukas comes into the 2022 Preakness with a very live chance: Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath.

Ken McPeek won the Preakness in 2020 with Swiss Skydiver, and returns for another try with Creative Minister. Creative Minister lacks the seasoning of many of these runners, as he will be making his first stakes start in the Preakness. But, it is a positive that his trainer knows what it it takes to win the race.

Chad Brown has also won the Preakness before, with Cloud Computing in 2017. His entrant in 2022, Early Voting, shares some characteristics with Cloud Computing: both were lightly-raced horses who had enough points to make the Derby after hitting the board in the Wood, but went to the Preakness instead.

Preakness Favorites

Epicenter will be the favorite in the Preakness, and he deserves it. He was closer to the fiery Kentucky Derby pace than Rich Strike, when finishing second to that foe. He is versatile enough to win the race from any kind of race shape, and his win in the Louisiana Derby came at the same distance as the Preakness Stakes.

Secret Oath faces boys again after a smart victory in the Kentucky Oaks. Though she was third the only other time she faced males, she ran credibly after a tough trip. Kentucky Oaks horses tend to race well in the Preakness when they are routed there, and she should enjoy being able to rally into pace set by the likes of Early Voting, Fenwick, and Armagnac.

Simplification has been extremely consistent this year. He won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and raced well in the rest of the Florida preps, and then ran a good fourth in the Kentucky Derby as well. He has the versatility to run a smart race from on the pace or well off of it, and his Kentucky Derby proved that he is not just a Gulfstream Park horse. 

Preakness Price Horses

Creative Minister has yet to face stakes company, but trainer Ken McPeek has won the Preakness, and he has been able to bring live longshots to major races before. He should be able to rally into the contested pace in front of him, and he has enough stamina in his pedigree that he should keep improving at this trip.

For the deeper exotics Skippylongstocking is worth consideration as well. He will need to improve from the Wood, where he finished third, though this race is longer than the Wood and Early Voting should have a pace at least as contested as he did that day, giving Skippylongstocking some chance to turn the tables or at least get a piece.

2022 Preakness Free Picks

Now that you have gotten to know the field, it’s time to place your bets! Here are the recommended bets for the Preakness Stakes:

  • $20 win: #8 Epicenter
  • $1 exacta key: #8 Epicenter with #1 Simplification, #4 Secret Oath
  • $1 trifecta key: #8 Epicenter with #1 Simplification, #2 Creative Minister, #4 Secret Oath
  • 20 cent superfecta key: #8 Epicenter with #1 Simplification, #2 Creative Minister, #4 Secret Oath, #9 Skippylongstocking

Preakness Post Time

Post time for the 2022 Preakness Stakes is scheduled for 7:01pm Eastern, 4:01pm Pacific. It is carded as the 13th race on a 14-race card. Nine of those races are stakes races for Thoroughbreds. The day’s final race is the UAE President Cup, a $100,000 Grade 1 race for Arabian horses.