Although it’s time for the second jewel of the Triple Crown, the impact and controversy from the first still loom large over the 2019 Preakness Stakes. The best horses in world will head to Baltimore, Maryland and the Pimlico Race Course where the 144th edition of the Preakness Stakes will take place.
The field is projected to be the biggest since 2011 but it won’t have the Kentucky Derby winner – Country Home – or the horse who was originally deemed the winner – Maximum Security. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best bets in this year’s race:
War Of Will
Preakness Odds: +275
War of Will looked very good early on in the Kentucky Derby despite being under restraint from his jockey. He eventually was the horse who ended up impeded by Maximum Security. He’s actually had some bad luck a couple of times in a row now as he pulled up lame in the Louisiana Derby. However, this horse had won three in a row to start his 2019 campaign. Following back-to-back disappointing outings, look for the colt to bounce back in a shorter race.
Alwaysmining
Preakness Odds: +650
Alwaysmining is going to be a popular bet heading into the Preakness Stakes. This horse has won six races in a row and has increased his distance each time over the course of those races (1 1/8 miles was the last win). While his last five wins came in stakes races, he hasn’t really faced graded company yet, so that’s a concern. He should benefit from a lot of the big-name horses that were in the Kentucky Derby either passing or pulling out of the Preakness.
Bourbon War
Preakness Odds: +700
Bourbon War is coming off a fourth-place result at the Florida Derby. Keep in mind, though, that three of the horses in front of him raced in the Kentucky Derby and two finished first and second (Maximum Security and Code of Honor). The bay son of Tapit, Bourbon War also placed second to Code of Honor at the Fountain of Youth Stakes. None of those horses are set to run in the Preakness, so he could be a decent bet at the sportsbook from the mid-range of options.
Signalman
Preakness Odds: +1200
If you are looking to take a long shot to win outright, then you might want to consider Signalman. This is a horse who has shown plenty of flashes. This includes a second-place result at the Blue Grass Stakes (lost by a neck) and a third-place result at the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last fall and a win the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes.
Overall, he’s finished in the money in all but one of his seven starts in his career. The lone outlier was a seventh-place result at the Fountain of Youth. He barely missed qualifying for the Kentucky Derby, which means he should be fresh for this race. He ran five furlongs in 59.60 in preparations and could push for the win on Saturday.