2019 Preakness Stakes Predictions
Following a dramatic and controversial finish to the Kentucky Derby, all eyes will now turn to the second jewel of the Triple Crown: the Preakness Stakes. Saturday’s edition will by the 144th of the Preakness and here are our picks for win, place and show.
WIN: Improbable (3/1)
Improbable is favored to win the Preakness Stakes at 3/1 but those odds still offer bettors plenty of value. Granted, he’s winless in three starts this year but he’s trained by Bob Baffert, who has already won the Preakness seven times in his illustrious career. Of the four Kentucky Derby starters that will race today at Pimlico, Improbable’s fourth-place finish was the highest of the bunch. Given Baffert’s pre-race efforts and with Mike Smith in the saddle, I like Improbable to get off the schnide today.
PLACE: War of Will (5/1)
Bettors might overlook War of Will because he drew the rail again after also pulling the No. 1 post for the Kentucky Derby. Some have also questioned if the mile-and-a-quarter distance caught up to him in the final furlong of the Derby. That said, War of Will was running well before the bumping from Maximum Security, who was DQ’d due to that infraction. There’s a case to be made that had War of Will not been bumped, he may have won it all.
SHOW: Alwaysmining (4/1)
Alwaysmining is one of the “new shooters” in this year’s Preakness that is gaining some hype as we draw closer to post time. He’s the hometown hero that has won six straight, all of which came at Laurel Park. Of his six-straight wins, Alwaysmining four of which came in graded stakes races, the most recent was the Federico Tesio Stakes last month. While I do consider Alwaysmining a legit contender, the reason I don’t have him higher on the board is because four out of the last five years, the Tesio Stakes winner has participated in the Preakness Stakes and of those four participants, none has placed. That said, with excellent form and good speed, I’ll take my chances that Alwaysmining has a better run today than previous Tesio Stakes winners.
