Horse Racing continues to be an exciting addition to online sports betting in the month of May, and for today’s 137th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, get set for yet another great showdown at another historic horse racing venue with post time starting at 6:18 PM ET tonight!
The odds-on favorite at 3/2 odds for the 9.5 furlong race today at the Intertops Sportsbook is legendary owner/trainer Bob Baffert’s entry Bodemeister, who was also the favorite heading into the Kentucky Derby just a few weeks ago. Bodemeister broke strong in the Derby’s cluttered field of 20 horses, but was overcome down the final stretch by a surging I’ll Have Another, who had the kick to break away from the pack and cross the finish line in 1st place. What will be interesting for Bodemeister today is whether he can get off to another fast start, considering that nearly half of the horses running are new shooters, horses that didn’t run in the Kentucky Derby. There is a slight advantage for those 5 horses who didn’t have to deal with the stress of running in the crowded Derby field just two weeks ago, and if Bodemeister is held up from the start out of the number 7 post, he may not be able to have the final push towards the finish line. Bodemeister has to avoid being pushed to the inside rail, but if jockey Mike Smith can get off to a good start on the shorter track at Pimlico and the pack keeps the pace relatively subdued, this horse could end up proving skeptics wrong with energy in reserve to make the final push he couldn’t muster at the Derby.
I’ll Have Another, the Kentucky Derby Winner, comes in as second favorite at 9/4 odds to win the Preakness. The final stretch of the Derby showed just what this horse is capable of, coming out of the middle of the pack to snatch victory from the grasp of Bodemeister. One concern, same as those around Bodemeister, is whether the two-week turnaround time from the Kentucky Derby to the Preakness will have a negative impact on his race today. After scoring a small victory banking on I’ll Have Another to show in the derby, we like this horse to be amongst the top two finishers, and many will hope to see him win to have a chance to grab the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes.
Went the Day Well is another one of the favorites at the Preakness, with 6/1 odds to win at Intertops Sportsbook. Went the Day Well was hampered by a tough No. 13 starting position in the Kentucky Derby, and finished nearly 3 lengths shy of I’ll Have Another. However, with a field half as large in the Preakness, and a shorter distance giving an advantage to this quick colt, a good start out of the more favorable No. 5 post today could find Went the Day Well. Remember, this horse is trained by Graham Norton, who won the Kentucky Derby last year with Animal Kingdom. Expect a strong finish for this horse, and a great chance at least for a place in the top three.
Creative Cause rounds out the favorites for the Preakness Stakes, getting 7/1 odds currently at Intertops Sportsbook. Finishing 5th in the derby, the one main concern for this horse is the amount of travel that he’s endured since, going from California to Kentucky, back to California and then to Maryland for today’s post time. However, with 4 wins in 9 starts and a shorter track lying ahead of him, Creative Cause could be a good possibility to show in today’s race, running right in the middle of the pack at the No. 6 post. Note however that Creative Cause has not been able to overcome a race when Bodemeister or I’ll Have Another is involved, so expectations of a win today for this colt should be tempered.
The Long Shot: Cozzetti. This horse has been talked up a bit for his excellent training under Dale Romans, who won the Preakness last year with Shackleford. While Cozzetti is primarily a turf horse, Trainer Dale Romans has insisted he’s running even better on dirt right now, though includes his own skepticism in saying, “I don’t know if he’s good enough to win, but he’s going to run a big race.” With odds falling on Cozzetti to 40/1, this horse running from the far outside post at No. 11 could be an exciting inclusion to your betting ticket today.
Make sure to take a broad look at all 11 horses that are entering the field for this historic race at Pimlico Race Course for the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes, as the short 1.18-mile course will see the action and excitement grow to a fever pitch in just a few minutes. Betting on horse racing is always a great addition to the sports betting options at one of the best reviewed sportsbooks found here, and with the Preakness being one of the three top events during the year, make sure you’re included in the all the excitement today.