Preakness Stakes Handicapping Picks
Horse racing gamblers are you looking for 2021 Preakness Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping Odds…plus some predictions? Need some advice on who to take? The 2021 Preakness Stakes is set for May 15 at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Here’s a preview of our top contenders.
Preakness Stakes Preview and Prediction
- Race: Preakness Stakes
- Purse: $1 million
- Track: Pimlico Race Course
- Date: May 15
- Post Time: 6:47 PM (ET)
- Live: Preakness Stakes Odds: Click Here
2021 Preakness Stakes Handicapping
Despite the cloud hanging over racing with the positive results of a banned medication in the system of Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, the Triple Crown show goes on with the running of Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.
At the time of this writing – and pending the results of this week’s testing on both Bob Baffert entries into the race – Medina Spirit will be in the field trying to win the second leg of the TC. He’ll face two others coming out of the Derby and seven new shooters.
The Preakness is run at 1 3/16 miles on the dirt.
Odds listed here are from Bovada’s racebook.
2021 Preakness Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Medina Spirit Race Odds: 6-5
The wire-to-wire winner of the Kentucky Derby, Medina Spirit got an excellent ride from veteran jockey John Velazquez, who used an ideal post position and his colt’s early speed to get in front and control the pace.
Never worse than second in six lifetime starts, he also showed a lot of grit in digging in and holding off the late challengers in the Derby stretch drive. He’ll likely have some company on the front end here, and it will be interesting to see if he can do it again off of just two weeks rest.
As stated earlier, Bob Baffert is the trainer, John Velazquez will again get the ride.
2021 Preakness Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Midnight Bourbon Race Odds: 5-1
After getting involved in some early bumping, Midnight Bourbon then got hung out four wide around both turns in the Derby, and that likely cost him as much as anything in not being in the money when they hit the wire.
He has been competitive in all his races and he’s going to get a much cleaner trip here, and also gets a jockey upgrade. The concern might be that as good as he is, he only has two wins in eight lifetime starts.
He’s trained by Steve Asmussen, Irad Ortiz Jr. gets the call to ride.
2021 Preakness Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Crowded Trade Race Odds: 10-1
The (G1) Wood Memorial was probably one of the weakest of the Derby prep races, and Crowded Trade only managed a third-place finish there, but he might have some excuse as he was floated seven wide off the turn.
Prior to that he duelled through the stretch but lost the photo at the wire and had to settle for second in the (G3) Gotham Stakes, but still managed a 104 speed figure, the highest in this field.
Chad Brown trains, Javier Castellano will be in the irons.
2021 Preakness Stakes Free Pick & Handicapping: Rombauer Race Odds: 12-1
Third behind Derby favourite Essential Quality in the (G2) Blue Grass Stakes, the late-running Rombauer doesn’t have the style that typically wins this race, but he should be charging late and has a good shot of getting in the money.
He has put together a string of very good works out in Santa Anita and could be sitting on a big effort for a trainer who is hitting 26% wins when shipping horses out of SoCal.
That trainer is Michael McCarthy, Flavian Prat will be in the saddle.
Here’s My 2021 Preakness Stakes Free Pick.
In the Derby stretch drive that was a 1/16 of a mile further than they’ll go here, Medina Spirit was able to hold off three horses in Mandaloun, Hot Rod Charlie and Essential Quality that are arguably better than any he’ll face in this field. Off that effort he is the one to beat.
But having said that, he had everything go his way in the Derby from a pace perspective, and I expect a different scenario to play out here. Along with the speedy Concert Tour (who I don’t think can get the distance) the connections of Japanese entry France Go De Ina have stated they’ll be going for the front. So if Medina Spirit wants the lead, he’s going to have to work for it.
I think a horse that can sit off the pace can take this, and I’m going circle back to Midnight Bourbon. He was one of the few that was able to make any headway from the back half of the pack in the Derby, and I think he has been running in the toughest preps in the lead up to the TC series. If the speed falters late he’ll likely be the one to pick up the pieces.
Full Field: Preakness Stakes Betting Odds
(By post position)
- #1 – Ram 30-1
- #2 – Keepmeinmind 15-1
- #3 – Medina Spirit 9-5
- #4 – Crowded Trade 10-1
- #5 – Midnight Bourbon 5-1
- #6 – Rombauer 12-1
- #7 – France Go Da Ina 20-1
- #8 – Unbridled Honor 15-1
- #9 – Risk Taking 15-1
- #10 – Concert Tour 5-2
What do you think of our 2021 Preakness Stakes Race Odds & Predictions? Weigh in below with a comment. We welcome your feedback.
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