- The 147th Preakness Stakes will take place at Baltimore’s Pimlico Race Course on May 21, 2022.
- Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike will be 8-1 or ‘a touch higher’ when Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle releases his morning line odds.
- Entries for the Preakness Stakes will be drawn on Monday, May 16.
Longshot Kentucky Derby winners seldom get any respect when they wheel back for the Preakness Stakes two weeks later. Rich Strike won’t be anywhere near 80-1 when the morning line is released for the second leg of the Triple Crown but, then again, he won’t be priced as to break that ‘no respect for longshot Derby winners’ trend.
Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle told the Daily Racing Form that Rich Strike will be priced around 8-1 ‘or maybe a touch higher’ when he releases the morning line odds for the Preakness Stakes on Monday, May 16. Obviously, much of the pricing dynamic depends on which horses eventually wind up in the field. The Preakness is limited to 14 starters but unless something changes dramatically the 2022 field won’t be anywhere near that. In 2021, 10 horses entered the field with Rombauer emerging victorious as a 12-1 choice. The last time the Preakness had a full field of 14 horses was 2011 when Shackleford won priced at 12-1.
Feustle thinks that the betting public will gravitate toward some of the higher profile entrants:
“From the public’s perspective, I think Rich Strike will fall through the cracks again a little, even as the Derby winner.”
The DRF article gave a quick history of long shot Kentucky Derby winners in the Preakness:
There’s precedent for bettors to view a bombs-away Derby winner with skepticism when he runs back two weeks later in the Preakness. It’s been more than 50 years since Canonero II – a stunning winner of the 1971 Derby as a member of the mutuel field – was bet down to $3.40-1 in winning the Preakness that fans have shown that much respect for a Derby winner who had been so lightly regarded beforehand.
Since then, three horses have run back in the Preakness following similarly huge Derby upsets. Charismatic (31-1 in the Derby) won the 1999 Preakness at $8.40-1, Giacomo (50-1 Derby) was third in the 2005 Preakness at 6-1, and Mine That Bird (50-1 Derby) was second in the 2009 Preakness at 6-1.
There have been some additional developments on the field for the 147th Preakness. Simplification is in and already at Pimlico. Simplification finished fourth in the Kentucky Derby for trainer Chad Brown but will have a jockey change for the Preakness with John Velasquez picking up the mount. Just a few hours ago the Bloodhorse reported that Epicenter and Secret Oath are also now confirmed. Trainer Steve Asmussen made the call after watching Epicenter jog at Churchill Downs this morning. He’ll work again on May 16 before vanning to Pimlico the following day.
In addition, D. Wayne Lukas has confirmed Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath for the Preakness Stakes. Separately, the Daily Racing Form reported that Lukas will run Ethereal Road in the Sir Barton at Pimlico on the Preakness undercard. Lukas has won the second leg of the Triple Crown six times. Secret Oath also jogged at Churchill Downs this morning under exercise rider Danielle Rosier. Secret Oath faced male horses earlier this year at the Arkansas Derby, finishing third. The article also reported that Chad Brown’s Early Voting is being pointed to the Preakness though a decision is still forthcoming on Derby third place finisher Zandon.
Pimlico oddsmaker Feustle will most likely install Epicenter as the favorite at a price around 9-5. Should Zandon run he’d be the second choice and the price on Epicenter might be a touch higher. Early Voting and Secret Oath would probably be next on the odds board followed by Rich Strike.
