The second leg of the Triple Crown descends upon Pimlico Race Course on Saturday, May 20, with the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes. In this article, we will take a deeper look into some of the horses running, their odds, and expert predictions for the race.
The Favorite: Mage
Not surprisingly, the Kentucky Derby winner is the early favorite to win the 2023 Preakness Stakes. Despite losing the Florida Derby to Kentucky Derby favorite Forte, Mage flew under the radar and bolted down the homestretch to win the first leg of the Triple Crown. Mage is currently listed at 8-5, according to Fanduel Preakness betting, and is trained by Javier Castellano, twice a Preakness Stakes winner.
Top Contender: First Mission
First Mission, sired by 2007 Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness runner-up Street Sense, is the second odds-on favorite at 5-2. Jockeyed by Luis Saez and trained by Brad Cox, the colt did not earn enough points to race in the Kentucky Derby. However, he comes in red hot, winning his last two races, including an impressive win at Lexington.
Jody Demling’s Prediction: Watch Out for National Treasure
Jody Demling, a well-known figure in the horse racing world, has an impressive track record when it comes to picking winners. He has correctly predicted the Preakness winner nine times in the previous 18 years, and he correctly predicted the exacta in the 2022 Preakness Stakes. He has also hit ten of the previous fifteen Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs.
Jody Demling has made his predictions for the 2023 Preakness Stakes, and he has some surprising picks. One of his top picks is National Treasure, whose odds have come down to 4-1. National Treasure has never finished worse than fourth in five races, and he is trained by Bob Baffert, who has won seven Preakness Stakes in the past.
Demling’s Advice: Fading Blazing Sevens
Demling also advises fading Blazing Sevens, despite his 6-1 odds. The colt finished third in the Blue Grass Stakes and qualified for the Kentucky Derby, but trainer Chad Brown opted to hold him out and target the Preakness instead. Demling says Blazing Sevens doesn’t even hit the board and advises bettors to look elsewhere.
Conclusion
While Mage is the favorite everyone wants to jump on, keep in mind that only 36 horses have gone on to win the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes over the last 150 years. The horse will face strong challenges from First Mission, National Treasure, and the other five horses. The Preakness is not the Derby; a less crowded field provides horses with more room to run, rewarding speed. Given his track record, consider Jody Demling’s predictions, but in the end, do your due diligence and pick wisely. Enjoy the race, as it will surely be a thrilling event once again.
