The 144th running of the Preakness Stakes was held last Saturday at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland. The Preakness is the second leg of the Triple Crown of Horse Racing for 3yo horses. The Preakness is run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby and what made this year’s Preakness interesting was the fact that none of the top 4 finishers in the Kentucky Derby were running in this year’s Preakness. Additionally, Maximum Security, who crossed the line first in the Derby and was disqualified for interference, did not run in the Preakness. Nonetheless, the Preakness was a great betting race with thirteen horses entered. The post time favorite was Bob Baffert’s Improbable. These horse racing wagers can be made through horse race betting sites such as TVG and Derby Jackpot:
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The following analysis is by long-time horseplaying enthusiast Michael Sherman. Michael has been involved with horse racing for over 25 years. You can follow Michael on Twitter @msherman85.
2019 Preakness Results
- War of Will (6-1)
- Everfast (29-1)
- Owendale (7-1)
- Warrior’s Charge (12-1)
- Laughing Fox
- Improbable
- Win Win Win
- Bourbon War
- Signalman
- Anothertwistafate
- Alwaysmining
- Market King
- DNF: Bodexpress
Preakness Stakes Payouts
- War of Will: $14.20 (win), $7.40 (place), $5.40 (show)
- Everfast: $32.00 (place), $14.40 (show)
- Owendale: $6.00 (show)
Payouts for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets:
- Exacta: War of Will/Everfast $947.00 on a $2 bet
- Trifecta: War of Will/Everfast/Owendale: $4,699.80 on a $1 bet
- Superfecta: War of Will/Everfast/Owendale/Warrior’s Charge: $51,924.00 on a $1 bet
Preakness Recap
This years Preakness saw a lot of horses with speed early ensuring an honest pace. In the end, as was predicted here, War of Will, #1, sat the perfect trip in behind the speed horses to come through on the rail in the stretch. There were plenty of horses coming on late as predicted due to the early contested pace. Based on my predictions, I just missed out on the exacta by a nose (longshot #10 came in second).
In my opinion this result is exactly what horse racing needed now and going forward. The horse most affected by the interference in the Kentucky Derby was War of Will. We will never know if that interference cost him the Derby, but as the Preakness proved, War of Will can get the distance needed in these races and did so under ideal circumstances. The race set up perfectly for him. War of WIll winning this Preakness was redemption for him and horse racing should bill it that way.
What this does for the 3yo division is make it a little clearer as to where we stand going forward to the final leg of the Triple Crown, The Belmont Stakes (June 8th) as well as the 3yo year going forward. Hopefully down the line, War of Will and Maximum Security face off again or maybe there will be another 3yo that steps up in the division. Regardless, The Belmont Stakes which is now a little less than three weeks away should be a great race in helping to sort out this 3yo class of 2019. I am looking forward to breaking down The Belmont as the race approaches. The Belmont is run at one of my home tracks here in NY and it is a great NY event and day of racing. Look for a complete and detailed synopsis for that race card on Saturday, June 8th and Belmont Park.