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- How To Bet Online For The Preakness Stakes
- The 2020 Preakness Stakes will take place on Saturday, October 3rd at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Post positions were drawn on Monday the 29 th and the morning line odds are now live. As race day approaches, all major horse racing betting sites will open the door for fans around the world to bet on the 2020 Preakness Stakes online.
- Preakness Stakes 2020 live stream: How to watch online Posted Oct 03, 2020 The betting lines are empty at Pimlico Race Course on Friday, Oct. 2, 2020, with no fans allowed for the races at the.
- Where to bet the Preakness Stakes and race schedule. The 145th Preakness Stakes is set for Saturday, Oct. Here is more information and tips on betting the Preakness Stakes, and how you can watch and wager on this year's event.
- The Preakness Stakes Betting Guide. Preakness Stakes is one of the hottest sports around right now, and the number of people that are getting into Preakness betting is growing every day. But if you really want to take part in the action, you've come to the right location.
The 145th Preakness Stakes will close out the reshuffled 2020 Triple Crown season. Tiz the Law won the Belmont Stakes in June, and Kentucky Derby winner Authentic is the favorite to win Saturday in Pimlico
Here is a breakdown of every horse in the Preakness Stakes, suggested plays and picks.
Note: Horses listed in order of post position (jockey/trainer in parentheses).
Chris Fallica's guide to the field
1. Excession (Sheldon Russell/Steve Asmussen) 30-1
The only two times this horse has cracked the exacta have come on sloppy tracks, including at 83-1 in the Rebel. That race was a 16-point improvement over his previous best race, so that, along with him not having run in seven months, has me a little skeptical of him belonging here. Some will point to him having talent, as he lost by only 1¾ lengths to Maxfield. I always play the all button for third in trifectas for a little bit, so if this late-runner hits the board, I'll be covered.
2. Mr. Big News (Gabriel Saez/Bret Calhoun) 12-1
Another one with little speed, but he backed up that win at Oaklawn with a very good run at 47-1 in the Derby. He wasn't going to get to the top two, but he ran well -- it was just that 1¼ was a little too far for him, and the pace wasn't as fast as he would hoped early. He has improved every race and does he have one more step forward here, or is there a regression overdue? On the negative side, he has been crushed by Art Collector and beaten by Excession. I'm guessing he'll take some money here and be an underlay. One can make a case for him, but I'm on the fence.
3. Art Collector (Brian Hernandez Jr./Tom Drury) 5-2
He has gotten really good since the barn change, romping in the Blue Grass and at Ellis Park. He unfortunately missed the Derby, which really affected the pace -- and potentially the outcome of the race. He's versatile and should be in a good spot. He crushed Swiss Skydiver at Keeneland and Attachment Rate at Ellis. He'll be at worst second choice and should have a big say in the outcome here.
4. Swiss Skydiver (Robby Albarado/Ken McPeek) 6-1
She has speed and does her best running on the front end, and I'm not sure the jockey choice is the best for that style. She was beaten in the Oaks by one of the longest shots on the board and crushed by Art Collector at Keeneland. My guess is she'll take money here, but I don't see the pace scenario fitting her here. If she wins, I lose.
5. Thousand Words (Florent Geroux/Bob Baffert) 6-1
Had a scary incident in the paddock prior to the Kentucky Derby and had to scratch. Fortunately he's OK and able to run here. There's little doubt he'll be on the front end with the addition of blinkers and an aggressive jockey, Geroux. He held on to beat Honor AP at Del Mar, but be wasn't the best horse in that race. He's game, but I'd be surprised if he held on for more than a bottom part of the trifecta.
6. Jesus' Team (Jevian Toledo/Jose D'Angelo) 30-1
This one has made quite the leap forward, going from a $25K claimer to Graded Stakes Placed at Saratoga. His top Beyer of 95 doesn't class out here, but I can't fault the connections for taking a chance in this odd Triple Crown season. It wouldn't shock me at all for these small-time connections ran to hit the board here and he outruns his odds.
7. Ny Traffic (Horacio Karamanos/Saffie Joseph) 15-1
Packed it in early after a wide trip in the Derby and was set to bounce some after running huge in the Haskell, where he nearly beat Derby winner Authentic. He has had some bad trips in many of his recent defeats. He has been right there with Authentic and Maxfield, and cutting back to a more comfortable distance he has a very big chance here from just off the pace.
8. Max Player (Paco Lopez/Steve Asmussen) 15-1
He will again be a popular price play, but I don't think he has a great turn of foot, and he has been nowhere against elite competition like Authentic and Tiz the Law. Maybe he can plod up for a lower rung of the trifecta, but that its about it.
9. Authentic (John Velazquez/Bob Baffert) 9-5
Took advantage of a lack of pace presence in the Derby and wired the field. He has run six races and won five, yet why am I skeptical of him here? I expect there will be a bit more pace pressure here, and while he has the outside draw and the speed should be to the inside, he needs the lead. I'll be betting against the Derby winner on top.
10. Pneumatic (Joe Bravo/Steve Asmussen) 20-1
Enters off his best lifetime race in an easy Pegasus win. Was competitive vs. Maxfield and Ny Traffic at Churchill and ran decently in the Belmont despite a wide trip. He should get a nice stalking spot, and from there it's just a question if he's good enough. I think he's a cut below, but it's not impossible.
11. Liveyourbeastlife (Trevor McCarthy/Jorge Abreu) 30-1
From 83-1 in an OCL in May to runner-up in the Jim Dandy in four months. Trainer doesn't really win Graded Stakes races, so I'd best leave this suddenly in-form stalker to the underneath portions of the ticket.
Fallica's suggested plays
Here are some suggested plays. I'll use a $1 base for the exotic wagers and you can hit the repeat wager button as your budget allows. Good luck!
Nuggets to know
Playing favorites
This will likely be the third straight year -- and eighth time -- that Bob Baffert has the Preakness favorite. He has won with four of the previous seven favorites, but last year Improbable finished sixth as the favorite. Baffert has won the Preakness with all three Derby winners that were sent off as the favorite in Pimlico.
Baffert with Preakness favorites:
2019: Improbable finished sixth
2018: Justify won*
2015: American Pharoah won*
2012: Bodemeister finished second
2002: War Emblem won*
2001: Point Given won
1996: Cavonnier finished fourth
*Also won Kentucky Derby
Baffert's perfect mark
Baffert is a perfect 5-for-5 with Derby winners in the Preakness. Baffert tied a record with his sixth Derby win in September and can win a record eighth Preakness this weekend.
Baffert Derby-winning horses in Preakness:
2018: Justify (2-5 odds) won
2015: American Pharoah (4-5) won
2002: War Emblem (3-1) won
1998: Real Quiet (5-2) won
1997: Silver Charm (3-1) won
Fading the favorites?
After seeing the favorite win seven times in nine years from 2001 to 2009, favorites have won just three of the past 10 and finished sixth or worse two of the past three years.
Long shots find the board
Since 2013, 11 of the 21 horses to hit the board in the Preakness were at least 10-1, and seven were at least 15-1. Take a look at the odds of the second-place finisher since 2013.
2019: Everfast (29-1 odds)
2018: Bravazo (15-1)
2017: Classic Empire (2-1)
2016: Cherry Wine (17-1)
2015: Tale of Verve (29-1)
2014: Ride on Curlin (10-1)
2013: Itsmyluckyday (9-1)
More odds and ends
• The fourth choice in the wagering hasn't won the Preakness since Bernardini in 2006.
• Since 2010, the only horse to win the Preakness that did not run in the Derby was Cloud Computing in 2017.
• Last year, War of Will became the third horse since 2010 to win the Preakness after finishing sixth or worse in the Kentucky Derby. Oxbow did it in 2013, and Lookin at Lucky did in 2010. Ny Traffic finished eighth in this year's Derby.
• Think it's as easy as Authentic over Art Collector? Think again. The last time the favorite won and the second choice ran second in the Preakness was 1981, when favored Pleasant Colony won and second choice Bold Ego ran second. Note that there have been instances since then where the second choice won and the favorite ran second, like in 2012, when second choice I'll Have Another beat favored Bodemeister.
The Preakness Stakes race card begins Saturday, Oct. 3, at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, at 11 a.m. Eastern.
The Preakness itself posts at 5:36 p.m. EST.
Although the Preakness will serve as the highlight of the day, the best wagering opportunity may very well be the 50-cent Pick 5 that begins with Race 7.
Why Pick 5 may be the best wagering opportunity of Preakness Day
The Pick 5 is an 'exotic' wager that requires you to pick the winner of five consecutive races on one ticket.
All Pick 5 wagers go into their own pari-mutuel betting pool that is separate from all the other betting pools.
The Pick 5 wager offers large payout potential.
The 2019 Preakness Day late pick 5 paid $7,353.40 on a winning 50-cent bet.
Why not the Pick 6 in Race 6?
While the 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6 that begins with Race 6 may get a lot of attention with its cheaper minimum bet size, it does not hold the same value on this particular day.
Pimlico posts a 20% takeout fee for the Pick 6. In comparison, it only charges 12% for the late Pick 5.
The track uses the takeout fee to cover the expenses of running the race. This includes purses, track maintenance and even the track employees' salaries.
With this in mind, you are essentially paying 8% higher juice to play the Pick 6 pool as opposed to the Pick 5.
How To Bet Online For The Preakness Odds
This means that if one million dollars was the total handle collected for each pool, there would be $880,000 distributed to the winners of the Pick 5 pool, while 'only' $800,000 would be distributed to the winners of the Pick 6 pool.
While there are times that a massive Pick 6 carryover makes it worth playing (even with the extra juice), that is not the case this year. So stick with the Pick 5.
How to bet the Preakness Pick 5 at online betting apps in PA
If you live in a state like Pennsylvania that allows online horse betting, you can wager from your phone or computer. Here's how it works.
Download an online wagering app like FanDuel Racing or PABets.
After funding your account, select the Pimlico racetrack from the app's homepage.
Select Pick 5 from the bet-type dropdown. Select your horse(s) for Race 7 before clicking on Race 8. Do the same for Races 9, 10 and 11 (Race 11 is the Preakness). Review your bet and click submit.
How to build an efficient Pick 5 ticket with 50 bucks
First, find a race on the card where you feel very strongly about one horse.
'Key' that horse as your only pick in one of the five races.
This all-in strategy with one race allows you to save your bullets for the other races you are less sure about.
An efficient Pick 5 ticket can look something like this:
Race 7: Horse A (one horse)
How To Bet Online For The Preakness Betting
Race 8: Horses A, B (two horses)
Race 9: Horses A, B, C (three horses)
How To Bet Online For The Preakness Picks
Race 10: Horses A, B, C, D (four horses)
Race 11: Horses A, B, C, D (four horses)
How To Bet Online For Belmont Stakes
The only two times this horse has cracked the exacta have come on sloppy tracks, including at 83-1 in the Rebel. That race was a 16-point improvement over his previous best race, so that, along with him not having run in seven months, has me a little skeptical of him belonging here. Some will point to him having talent, as he lost by only 1¾ lengths to Maxfield. I always play the all button for third in trifectas for a little bit, so if this late-runner hits the board, I'll be covered.
2. Mr. Big News (Gabriel Saez/Bret Calhoun) 12-1
Another one with little speed, but he backed up that win at Oaklawn with a very good run at 47-1 in the Derby. He wasn't going to get to the top two, but he ran well -- it was just that 1¼ was a little too far for him, and the pace wasn't as fast as he would hoped early. He has improved every race and does he have one more step forward here, or is there a regression overdue? On the negative side, he has been crushed by Art Collector and beaten by Excession. I'm guessing he'll take some money here and be an underlay. One can make a case for him, but I'm on the fence.
3. Art Collector (Brian Hernandez Jr./Tom Drury) 5-2
He has gotten really good since the barn change, romping in the Blue Grass and at Ellis Park. He unfortunately missed the Derby, which really affected the pace -- and potentially the outcome of the race. He's versatile and should be in a good spot. He crushed Swiss Skydiver at Keeneland and Attachment Rate at Ellis. He'll be at worst second choice and should have a big say in the outcome here.
4. Swiss Skydiver (Robby Albarado/Ken McPeek) 6-1
She has speed and does her best running on the front end, and I'm not sure the jockey choice is the best for that style. She was beaten in the Oaks by one of the longest shots on the board and crushed by Art Collector at Keeneland. My guess is she'll take money here, but I don't see the pace scenario fitting her here. If she wins, I lose.
5. Thousand Words (Florent Geroux/Bob Baffert) 6-1
Had a scary incident in the paddock prior to the Kentucky Derby and had to scratch. Fortunately he's OK and able to run here. There's little doubt he'll be on the front end with the addition of blinkers and an aggressive jockey, Geroux. He held on to beat Honor AP at Del Mar, but be wasn't the best horse in that race. He's game, but I'd be surprised if he held on for more than a bottom part of the trifecta.
6. Jesus' Team (Jevian Toledo/Jose D'Angelo) 30-1
This one has made quite the leap forward, going from a $25K claimer to Graded Stakes Placed at Saratoga. His top Beyer of 95 doesn't class out here, but I can't fault the connections for taking a chance in this odd Triple Crown season. It wouldn't shock me at all for these small-time connections ran to hit the board here and he outruns his odds.
7. Ny Traffic (Horacio Karamanos/Saffie Joseph) 15-1
Packed it in early after a wide trip in the Derby and was set to bounce some after running huge in the Haskell, where he nearly beat Derby winner Authentic. He has had some bad trips in many of his recent defeats. He has been right there with Authentic and Maxfield, and cutting back to a more comfortable distance he has a very big chance here from just off the pace.
8. Max Player (Paco Lopez/Steve Asmussen) 15-1
He will again be a popular price play, but I don't think he has a great turn of foot, and he has been nowhere against elite competition like Authentic and Tiz the Law. Maybe he can plod up for a lower rung of the trifecta, but that its about it.
9. Authentic (John Velazquez/Bob Baffert) 9-5
Took advantage of a lack of pace presence in the Derby and wired the field. He has run six races and won five, yet why am I skeptical of him here? I expect there will be a bit more pace pressure here, and while he has the outside draw and the speed should be to the inside, he needs the lead. I'll be betting against the Derby winner on top.
10. Pneumatic (Joe Bravo/Steve Asmussen) 20-1
Enters off his best lifetime race in an easy Pegasus win. Was competitive vs. Maxfield and Ny Traffic at Churchill and ran decently in the Belmont despite a wide trip. He should get a nice stalking spot, and from there it's just a question if he's good enough. I think he's a cut below, but it's not impossible.
11. Liveyourbeastlife (Trevor McCarthy/Jorge Abreu) 30-1
From 83-1 in an OCL in May to runner-up in the Jim Dandy in four months. Trainer doesn't really win Graded Stakes races, so I'd best leave this suddenly in-form stalker to the underneath portions of the ticket.
Fallica's suggested plays
Here are some suggested plays. I'll use a $1 base for the exotic wagers and you can hit the repeat wager button as your budget allows. Good luck!
Nuggets to know
Playing favorites
This will likely be the third straight year -- and eighth time -- that Bob Baffert has the Preakness favorite. He has won with four of the previous seven favorites, but last year Improbable finished sixth as the favorite. Baffert has won the Preakness with all three Derby winners that were sent off as the favorite in Pimlico.
Baffert with Preakness favorites:
2019: Improbable finished sixth
2018: Justify won*
2015: American Pharoah won*
2012: Bodemeister finished second
2002: War Emblem won*
2001: Point Given won
1996: Cavonnier finished fourth
*Also won Kentucky Derby
Baffert's perfect mark
Baffert is a perfect 5-for-5 with Derby winners in the Preakness. Baffert tied a record with his sixth Derby win in September and can win a record eighth Preakness this weekend.
Baffert Derby-winning horses in Preakness:
2018: Justify (2-5 odds) won
2015: American Pharoah (4-5) won
2002: War Emblem (3-1) won
1998: Real Quiet (5-2) won
1997: Silver Charm (3-1) won
Fading the favorites?
After seeing the favorite win seven times in nine years from 2001 to 2009, favorites have won just three of the past 10 and finished sixth or worse two of the past three years.
Long shots find the board
Since 2013, 11 of the 21 horses to hit the board in the Preakness were at least 10-1, and seven were at least 15-1. Take a look at the odds of the second-place finisher since 2013.
2019: Everfast (29-1 odds)
2018: Bravazo (15-1)
2017: Classic Empire (2-1)
2016: Cherry Wine (17-1)
2015: Tale of Verve (29-1)
2014: Ride on Curlin (10-1)
2013: Itsmyluckyday (9-1)
More odds and ends
• The fourth choice in the wagering hasn't won the Preakness since Bernardini in 2006.
• Since 2010, the only horse to win the Preakness that did not run in the Derby was Cloud Computing in 2017.
• Last year, War of Will became the third horse since 2010 to win the Preakness after finishing sixth or worse in the Kentucky Derby. Oxbow did it in 2013, and Lookin at Lucky did in 2010. Ny Traffic finished eighth in this year's Derby.
• Think it's as easy as Authentic over Art Collector? Think again. The last time the favorite won and the second choice ran second in the Preakness was 1981, when favored Pleasant Colony won and second choice Bold Ego ran second. Note that there have been instances since then where the second choice won and the favorite ran second, like in 2012, when second choice I'll Have Another beat favored Bodemeister.
The Preakness Stakes race card begins Saturday, Oct. 3, at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland, at 11 a.m. Eastern.
The Preakness itself posts at 5:36 p.m. EST.
Although the Preakness will serve as the highlight of the day, the best wagering opportunity may very well be the 50-cent Pick 5 that begins with Race 7.
Why Pick 5 may be the best wagering opportunity of Preakness Day
The Pick 5 is an 'exotic' wager that requires you to pick the winner of five consecutive races on one ticket.
All Pick 5 wagers go into their own pari-mutuel betting pool that is separate from all the other betting pools.
The Pick 5 wager offers large payout potential.
The 2019 Preakness Day late pick 5 paid $7,353.40 on a winning 50-cent bet.
Why not the Pick 6 in Race 6?
While the 20-cent Rainbow Pick 6 that begins with Race 6 may get a lot of attention with its cheaper minimum bet size, it does not hold the same value on this particular day.
Pimlico posts a 20% takeout fee for the Pick 6. In comparison, it only charges 12% for the late Pick 5.
The track uses the takeout fee to cover the expenses of running the race. This includes purses, track maintenance and even the track employees' salaries.
With this in mind, you are essentially paying 8% higher juice to play the Pick 6 pool as opposed to the Pick 5.
How To Bet Online For The Preakness Odds
This means that if one million dollars was the total handle collected for each pool, there would be $880,000 distributed to the winners of the Pick 5 pool, while 'only' $800,000 would be distributed to the winners of the Pick 6 pool.
While there are times that a massive Pick 6 carryover makes it worth playing (even with the extra juice), that is not the case this year. So stick with the Pick 5.
How to bet the Preakness Pick 5 at online betting apps in PA
If you live in a state like Pennsylvania that allows online horse betting, you can wager from your phone or computer. Here's how it works.
Download an online wagering app like FanDuel Racing or PABets.
After funding your account, select the Pimlico racetrack from the app's homepage.
Select Pick 5 from the bet-type dropdown. Select your horse(s) for Race 7 before clicking on Race 8. Do the same for Races 9, 10 and 11 (Race 11 is the Preakness). Review your bet and click submit.
How to build an efficient Pick 5 ticket with 50 bucks
First, find a race on the card where you feel very strongly about one horse.
'Key' that horse as your only pick in one of the five races.
This all-in strategy with one race allows you to save your bullets for the other races you are less sure about.
An efficient Pick 5 ticket can look something like this:
Race 7: Horse A (one horse)
How To Bet Online For The Preakness Betting
Race 8: Horses A, B (two horses)
Race 9: Horses A, B, C (three horses)
How To Bet Online For The Preakness Picks
Race 10: Horses A, B, C, D (four horses)
Race 11: Horses A, B, C, D (four horses)
How To Bet Online For Belmont Stakes
This ticket would represent 96 different bets, for a total cost of $48.
Keep in mind that most of the Pick 5 tickets in the betting pool will be favorite-heavy. Don't be afraid to include double-digit payout horses on your card. For some information to help you with your picks on the Preakness, check out our preview.
If one of your middle or long shots comes in and your ticket hits, you will not have to share the prize pool with many other bettors, and you may just find yourself in line for the biggest wagering score of your life!
Have fun, and remember … you can't cash 'em if you don't pick 'em!
2020 Preakness Stakes odds
How To Bet Online For The Preakness Stakes
Post Position | Horse | Jockey | Opening Odds | Morning Line Odds |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Excession | Sheldon Russell | 30-1 | TBD |
2 | Mr. Big News | Gabriel Saez | 12-1 | TBD |
3 | Art Collector | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 5-1 | TBD |
4 | Swiss Skydiver | Robby Albarado | 6-1 | TBD |
5 | Thousand Words | Florent Geroux | 6-1 | TBD |
6 | Jesus' Team | Jevian Toleldo | 30-1 | TBD |
7 | Ny Traffic | Horacio Karamanos | 15-1 | TBD |
8 | Max Player | Paco Lopez | 15-1 | TBD |
9 | Authentic | John Velazquez | 9-5 | TBD |
10 | Pneumatic | Joe Bravo | 20-1 | TBD |
11 | Liveyourbeastlife | Trevor McCarthy | 30-1 | TBD |
Lead image credit: AP Photo/Steve Helber