Updated 2022 Preakness Odds
*As of Saturday at 6:55 p.m. ET
| POST POSITION | HORSE | ODDS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simplification | 8-1 |
| 2 | Creative Minister | 10-1 |
| 3 | Fenwick | 11-1 |
| 4 | Secret Oath | 9-2 |
| 5 | Early Voting | 5-1 |
| 6 | Happy Jack | 10-1 |
| 7 | Armagnac | 17-1 |
| 8 | Epicenter | 7-5 |
| 9 | Skippylongstocking | 11-1 |
We have arrived at one of the biggest days in the thoroughbred horse racing season, with the 147th running of the Preakness Stakes taking place Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. The winner will capture the second leg of the sport's illustrious Triple Crown.
As I reminded everyone in Friday's story, longshot Rich Strike, who went off at 80-1 odds, shocked the world in the Kentucky Derby when he edged runner-up — and Preakness favorite — Epicenter and third-place finisher Zandon to triumph in the May 7 race at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.
However, that historic moment is behind us now as we look forward to a spectacular 14-race card at Pimlico. And the Preakness isn't the only big race on the slate. There are numerous stakes races on the schedule, giving us plenty of opportunities to hit some winners and turn a substantial profit.
Action Network handicapper Mike Conti has taken a deep dive into the lineup of top-notch races, delivering his favorite picks and exotic wagers for six stakes events.
The Preakness, which will feature nine of the top 3-year-old horses in the world going 1 3/16 miles on the Pimlico dirt track, is set for a post time of 7:01 p.m. ET, with NBC providing the TV coverage.
Earlier races from Pimlico will air on FS2 from 12-6:30 p.m. ET and CNBC from to 2-4 p.m. ET, then switch to NBC from 4-7:30 p.m. ET. You can also stream the races on NBCSports.com, the NBC Sports app and Peacock Premium.
That said, let's take a look at where he's landed with his favorite bets.
Our Top Picks for Saturday's Card
*(Races 8-13)
Race 8 — Dinner Party Stakes
Distance: 1 1/16 Miles
Surface: Turf
Post Time: 2:49 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 6 Atone (5-2) is making his second start off the layoff. Previously, he has faced much tougher competition than what he will see. There doesn’t appear to be much pace on paper, and with the favorite and few others being closer, Atone might find himself on the lead. If not, he will be just off it and get the first jump late.
Conti's Bets: No. 6 Atone (5-2)
Race 9 — Chick Lang Stakes
Distance: Six Furlongs
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 3:31 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 5 Old Homestead (2-1) is undefeated in three career starts. He was extremely impressive in his last start, winning for fun by more than three lengths. While he will have other speed to contest with here, Old Homestead has been training well leading up to this spot and the majority of the speed looks to be to his inside.
With a clean break, he shouldn’t have any trouble getting to the front and won’t look back.
Live Contenders for Exotic Wagering
No. 7 Whelen Springs (4-1) has never missed the board at this distance and should get the ideal trip with all of the speed in here. He comes in off three consecutive victories, and with his running style and post position, he should get an ideal trip to be a serious player deep in the stretch.
No. 9 Little Vic (6-1) ran huge off the bench less than two weeks ago. The question mark is the wheel-back. Will he regress off that effort or is he sitting on a monster effort? If it’s the latter, he’s a serious player at a square price.
Conti's Bets: Pick 5 — 5,7,9 | 5,7,10 | 1,8 | 2,3,9 | 4,5,8
Here's where you can catch all 14 races today from @PimlicoRC!
The G1 #Preakness comes as Race 13 at 7PM ET / 4PM PT and you can watch live on NBC or stream via https://t.co/nBYFHj6ufh & mobile app!#BetWithTVGpic.twitter.com/n4JMkaht8B
— TVG (@TVG) May 21, 2022
Race 10 — James W. Murphy Stakes
Distance: One Mile
Surface: Turf
Post Time: 4:12 p.m. ET
The Pick
No. 5 Ready To Purrform (5-2) is making the first start of his 3-year-old season after a disappointing seventh to wrap up his 2-year-old campaign. Although he finished well behind, he never really stood a chance with the combination of his running style, position position and tight turns.
Ready To Purrform gets Lasix for the first time and will be flying late to run down what looks to be hotly contested early pace.
Live Contenders for Exotic Wagering
No. 10 Joe (3-1) is trying the grass for the second time in his career. The son of Declaration of War is out of an Arch dam, so he’s bred up and down for this surface. He’s proven to have a versatile running style and has been ultra consistent in his career.
No. 7 Riot House (4-1) is coming in off two consecutive victories to start his 3-year-old season. He doesn’t absolutely need the lead, but will be right up with the pace-setters in this spot. While he only beat four other foes last time out, he will be around when it counts most if he continues to improve.
Conti's Bets: Pick 4: 5,10 | 1,8 | 2,3,9 | 4,5,8
Race 11 — Sir Barton Stakes
Distance: 1 1/16 Miles
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 4:53 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 1 Ethereal Road (3-1) is clearly the class of the field. The son of Quality Road had enough points to run in the Derby, but scratched out of that race and finds himself in a much easier spot. He’s one of only three horse in the field to win at this distance. Look for him to hug the rail early, then swing out on the far turn to make one big sweeping run.
Live Contenders for Exotic Wagering
No. 8 Unikee (4-1) looked like the winner at the top of the stretch, mid-stretch and even deep stretch last time out, but was nipped at the wire. He drifted in the lane, which might have cost him the race. He’s stretching out for the first time to two turns and will need to show the versatility he did in his maiden score to compete.
Conti's Bets: Win — No. 1 Ethereal Road (3-1)
Race 12 — Jim McKay Turf Sprint Stakes
Distance: Five Furlongs
Surface: Turf
Post Time: 5:51 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 3 Seven Scents (4-1) has had a resurgence in his 6-year-old season, winning three of six starts after not winning in 10 tries as a 5-year-old. He was right there in the other three efforts as well, finishing a combined 3 1/2 lengths back. His stalking style suits this race, with speed just to his inside and from further out.
Live Contenders for Exotic Wagering
No. 2 Carotari (9-5) looks like he needs the lead with all four of his most recent victories coming in gate-to-wire fashion. While he looks to be one of the major speed players, it will all come down to the break for him. If he breaks well and gets to the lead, there might be no looking back.
No. 9 Hollis (6-1) is getting back on the grass after his last six starts were on the dirt. He’s proven he can run big off the layoff and will need to do just that in order to factor in the outcome. He ran a disappointing seventh in this race last year, so he’s back to prove he has what it takes to win. He’s one of only two horses in the race to win over this Pimlico turf course.
Conti's Bets: Exacta Box — 2 | 3 | 9
Here is the field for the G1 Preakness
#8 Epicenter installed as 6/5 morning line favorite
TVG's on-site coverage live from Pimlico begins this Thursday, May 19th with @ToddTVG@SimonTVG@Gabby_Gaudet_@ChristinaBlackr@ScottTVG@icecoldexacta@CBredar
Presented by #Runhappypic.twitter.com/chABWSTmX5
— TVG (@TVG) May 16, 2022
Race 13 — Preakness Stakes
Distance: 1 3/16 Miles
Surface: Dirt
Post Time: 7:01 p.m. ET
Top Pick
No. 4 Secret Oath (9-2) won easy last time out in the Kentucky Oaks. She’s back in this spot to face the boys for the second time in her career; the first time coming in the Arkansas Derby, where I think she should have won, but had a really difficult trip.
Jockey Luis Saez was able to use her push-button speed to put her in a perfect spot in the Oaks on the far turn, where she put away the competition in the stretch. She should be able to get a very similar trip and will try to become the seventh filly to win the Preakness.
.@JRosarioJockey takes us through his trip aboard EPICENTER in the Kentucky Derby and tells @Gabby_Gaudet_ how he feels about their chances in tomorrow's @PreaknessStakes!
Live on-site coverage from @PimlicoRC on TVG presented by #Runhappy. pic.twitter.com/zpvRR9TxdX
— TVG (@TVG) May 20, 2022
Live Contenders for Exotic Wagering
No. 8 Epicenter (6-5) ran his race and finished second in the Derby just two weeks ago. He ran a fantastic race, but Rich Strike was just the better horse that day. Epicenter shouldn’t have to deal with the breakneck pace in the Preakness that he did in the Derby, which will make him very tough.
His off odds will most likely be even shorter than his morning-line number, making him tough to back as a win candidate. The other question is whether or not he can continue to run big number after big number, especially after the aforementioned pace last time out.
No. 5 Early Voting (7-2) had enough points to enter into the Derby, but the connections chose to wait until this spot to run him. He won’t have to deal with the amount of speed we saw two weeks ago and he should be find himself on the lead just as he did in the Wood Memorial.
With him coming in fresh second off the layoff in comparison to a few others who ran just two weeks ago, look for a big effort from this Chad Brown runner.
Conti's Bets: Win — No. 4 Secret Oath (9-2)
Exacta — 4 over 5 | 8
