2023 Preakness Stakes Betting Preview

A small field will try to put an end to Mage’s run for the Triple Crown this weekend in the 148th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.

With only eight horses entered into the Preakness, Kentucky Derby winner Mage will face a much smaller field than the 17 horses he defeated at the Derby. At the Bovada Sportsbook Mage is a +140 favorite to become the 37th horse to win both the Derby and the Preakness.

Mage’s win in the Kentucky Derby was the second of his racing career with his first coming in a maiden special weight race at Gulfstream Park in January. In his other two races Mage finished second in the Florida Derby and fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. Both of those races were won by Forte, who was a late scratch in the Derby and has passed on racing in the Preakness.

First Mission follows Mage on Preakness odds

In a rare occurrence Mage is the only horse racing in the Preakness this weekend that also raced in the Derby. Following Mage on the Preakness odds list is First Mission at +250. He is trained by Brad Cox who has sent horses to the winner’s circle in the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, but has missed out on the Preakness. First Mission has only three races under his belt which includes a win in the Lexington Stakes earlier this year.

Next on the Preakness odds is National Treasure at +450. He is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who will be making his return to a Triple Crown race for the first time since 2021. Baffert has trained seven Preakness winners with the last being Triple Crown winner Justified in 2018. National Treasure has yet to win a race as a three-year-old and in his last outing he finished fourth in the Santa Anita Derby.

Blazing Sevens underdog wager for weekend

The best underdog wager this weekend might be Blazing Sevens at +700. He is trained by Chad Brown, who has trained two Preakness winners including Early Voting last year. Blazing Sevens is looking for his first win as a three-year-old and finished third in his last race at the Blue Grass Stakes.

The post position draw was held on Monday and Mage ended up with the No. 3 post. That post has housed 12 previous Preakness winners. The post position for the other contenders includes First Mission at No. 8 (10 former winners), National Treasure at No. 1 (12 former winners), and Blazing Sevens appropriately at No. 7 (14 former winners).