Ron Wood
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When is the 2022 Preakness Stakes?
The 2022 Preakness Stakes is on Saturday, May 21, at Pimlico racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland.
2022 Preakness Stakes Post Time
Post time for the 2022 Preakness Stakes is 7:01 pm ET.
Preakness Stakes odds: Who is favorite to win the Preakness Stakes in 2022?
Epicenter is the current favorite to win the Kentucky Derby at 6/5, or +120 odds. Below is a list of each horse running in the Preakness Stakes and their odds.
Epicenter 6/5
Early Voting 7/2
Secret Oath 9/2
Simplification 6/1
Creative Minister 10/1
Armagnac 12/1
Skippylongstocking 20/1
Happy Jack 30/1
Fenwick 50/1
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Preakness Stakes 2022 Horses and Runner-by-Runner Guide
There are 9 horses declared to run in the Preakness Stakes. Below is the name and number of each horse, as well as our expert’s view on how they might perform.
1 Simplification
Has a versatile run style. Was a creditable off-the-pace 4th in the Kentucky Derby, 2 places behind Epicenter. More is needed but he is still improving.
2 Creative Minister
Likely to race a bit off the speed. Has had only 3 starts, winning the last 2 over 8.5f in relatively minor events, most recently an allowance race on the Kentucky Derby undercard at Churchill Downs. Subsequently supplemented for the Triple Crown (the last two legs) for $150,000. Plenty more is needed, but his trainer won this in 2020 (with a filly when the race was run in October).
3 Fenwick
The front-running winner of 1m Tampa maiden in March, he struggled to impose himself in the 1m1f Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland next time. His sire won this in 2007, but there is no evidence this colt is up to the task.
4 Secret Oath
Off-the-pace runner and the sole filly in the race. She was only 3rd against male rivals in the 1m1f Grade 1 Arkansas Derby in April, but improved to win the 1m1f Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs (when ridden by Luis Saez for the first time). Her trainer has won this 6 times, most recently in 2013.
5 Early Voting
A front-runner with only 3 starts, winning the first 2, including a Grade 3, before finishing a neck 2nd in the 1m1f Grade 2 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct (the winner finished 5th in the Kentucky Derby). He skipped Churchill Downs to stay fresh for this race. Connections won this in 2017 with Cloud Computing, who was 3rd in the Wood and also bypassed the Derby.
6 Happy Jack
An off-the-pace runner, he was a well-held 3rd in April’s 1m1f Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby and couldn’t hold his position from gate 2 in the Kentucky Derby, soon getting behind and finishing 14th of 20. He may be more competitive now, with blinkers refitted and drawn a bit wider in a smaller field. He was sired by the owner’s 2013 winner of this race and his trainer won the 2012 running, but even so, he’s hard to fancy.
7 Armagnac
A front-runner who was headstrong under restraint when 4th in the Santa Anita Derby, finishing just behind Happy Jack. Recorded a minor win from the front when going 8.5f at Santa Anita latest. Plenty more is needed.
8 Epicenter
Races prominently. Won a pair of Grade 2s at Fair Grounds before coming a fine 2nd in the 1m2f Grade 1 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, just picked off by a rival who challenged from much further off an overly fast pace. The slight concern is that this race could come a bit soon after such a hard race, but he has strong form claims. His trainer won this in 2007 (with a Derby third) and 2009.
9 Skippylongstocking
Off-the-pace runner who was an improved 3rd in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct latest, but was behind Early Voting. He needs to progress again but his sire won this in 2016.
2022 Preakness Stakes Picks, Predictions & Best Bets
Shock Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is missing for this middle leg of the Triple Crown, instead waiting for the Belmont Stakes on June 11. The Derby runner-up Epicenter does take his chance and likewise Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath. However, EARLY VOTING, absent from the action at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, appeals most. His connections resisted the temptation to go for the Derby, opting to keep him fresh for this race and that’s a tactic that worked for them with 2017 Preakness hero Cloud Computing.
Early Voting has had only 3 starts so the Derby, with its big field and fierce pace, would most likely have been too competitive an environment for him, but he has a fair opportunity now. He’s already shown a good level of ability and is open to further improvement. The only slight concern is that he could face competition for the early lead from Armagnac, but the Ortiz brothers (Jose on Early Voting and Irad on Armagnac) ought to be sensible enough.
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