Sports Interaction Staff
May 15, 2019

2019 Preakness Stakes: Predictions and Betting Odds

The 144th Preakness Stakes is the second leg of the Triple Crown, the legendary horse racing trilogy that starts off with the Kentucky Derby and ends with the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York. The winning pony earns $1.5-million if it conquers the 1 3/16-mile track in Maryland.

Country House isn’t the only Derby horse that will be missing from the track this weekend. In fact, of the top-six finishers at Churchill Downs earlier this month, only Improbable will be taking part in the race at Pimlico. It’s the first time since 1996 that the Derby winner has not gone on to race the Preakness. Improbable is the race favorite.

This might be the one of the last years that the Preakness Stakes is held at Pimlico in Maryland. Pimlico was built in 1870, making it the second-oldest track in the United States after Saratoga in New York. The first Preakness was held there in 1873, and it’s been hosted there ever since. Sadly, the track is in a state of disarray so dire that owners believe it will cost close to half a billion dollars to bring it back to it’s former glory.

Let’s take a look at the current odds for the Preakness and at the horses competing this weekend.

144th Preakness Stakes Betting Odds

Improbable has been the favorite since the Preakness lineup was announced, but be sure to keep an eye on the current Preakness betting odds, as they may shift as the race date approaches.

2019 Preakness Stakes Horses

Improbable

Improbable is the only Bob Baffert-trained horse running at Pimlico in the 144th Preakness. The three-year-old son of City Zip and Rare Event came in fourth at the Kentucky Derby and will be ridden by Mike Smith, who you may remember as the jockey who rode Justify to the Triple Crown.

War of Will

War of Will was our early pick to win the Kentucky Derby, but a slight injury, the worst post position (No. 1) and the fact that Maximum Security drifted into his path all factored into his seventh place finish at Churchill Downs. War of Will is a son of War Front and Visions of Clarity.

Alwaysmining

Alwaysmining is a hometown favorite, bred in Maryland and a son of Stay Thirsty. He’s coming in on a six-race win streak and he’s won those races with jockey Daniel Centeno, who will ride him again at Pimlico on Saturday.

Win Win Win

Win Win Win raced in this year’s Kentucky Derby, where he placed ninth. A son of Hat Trick and Miss Smarty Pants, Win Win Win will be ridden by Julian Pimintel.

Bourbon War

This son of Tapit and My Conquestadory won his first start this year at Gulfstream Park, and came in second in the Xpressbet Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream. He will be ridden by Irad Ortiz Jr., who is the most recent Eclipse Award-winning jockey.

Owendale

A son of Into Mischief, Owendale will be ridden by Florent Geroux, who rode him for the first time in the Lexington. Owendale and Warrior’s Charge are both trainees of Brad Cox.

Anothertwistafate

Anothertwistafate is a son of Scat Daddy and is a horse to watch in this race. He was very close to qualifying for the Kentucky Derby and is ridden by Jose Ortiz, who is making his third Preakness start in a row.

Signalman

Sired by General Quarters and Trip South, Signalman is another horse who just missed his chance at the Kentucky Derby when Win Win Win beat him by a nose at the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes. Signalman will be ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr.

Bodexpress

Bodexpress is the son of Bodemeister and Pied a Terre by City Zip. Although he was one of the longest shots at the Kentucky Derby, Bodexpress finished 13th in the controversial race. He’ll be ridden by Hall of Famer John Velazquez.

Warrior’s Charge

Warrior’s Charge biggest advantage in the Preakness is his rider. Javier Castellano has won the Preakness twice in seven starts and is a four-time Eclipse Award-winning jockey. Warrior’s Charge is a son of Munnings and Battling Brook.

Laughing Fox

Laughing Fox earned his place in the Preakness by winning the fist ever running of the Oaklawn Invitational Stakes on the same day as the Kentucky Derby. Laughing Fox has the right pedigree for this race, as a son of Union Rags and Saskawea.

Market King

The son of Into Mischief and Divine Presence by A.P. Indy, Market King sold for the highest price among all of the Preakness contenders, selling for $550,000. Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas is looking for his sixth Preakness win with Market King.