First of all, there certainly wouldn’t be a Triple Crown winner this year – unless the team of 2022 Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike changes direction and decides to join the 2022 Preakness Stakes. Nevertheless, the absence of Rich Strike shouldn’t take away much excitement from the upcoming race at Pimlico Race Course. And with that said, check out our prediction along with the favorites, a sleeper, and a long shot below for the 2022 Preakness Stakes.
Epicenter was so close to winning taking home the crown at the 2022 Kentucky Derby, as it finished second behind long-shot winner Rich Strike. Nevertheless, Epicenter should be a horse to watch again this week, as he still has not placed outside of the podium in all races since a sixth-place debut back in September 2021. After that, Epicenter finished either first or second in the six succeeding races, a stretch that includes his wins at the Grade 2 stakes Louisiana Derby and at the Grade 2 stakes Risen Star.
Early Voting only has three races under its belt, but it hasn’t disappointed yet. It broke its maiden in its very first race in December 2021. That was followed by another win at the Grade 3 Withers last February. In its most recent start, Early Voting went second at the Grade 2 Wood Memorial last April, finishing behind Kentucky Derby fifth-placer participant Mo Donegal.
Like Early Voting, Secret Oaths did not race at the 2022 Kentucky Derby. However, she’s got a ton of experience. Secret Oaths has raced a total of eight races. She finished third in his debut and has consistently gotten better ever since. Secret Oaths, trained by D. Wayne Lukas, has finished first in four of her last five races, including at the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks earlier this month.
Here’s what we said about Simplification in our 2022 Preakness Stakes sleepers preview:
Simplification raced at the 2022 Kentucky Derby and nearly had a podium finish if it weren’t for Rich Strike coming out of nowhere to pull the rug under from the rest of the field. In the end, the 3-year-old colt finished fourth behind Rich Strike, Epicenter, and Zandon. But Simplification has shown much promise in the previous races, having won the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park and third at the Grade 1 Florida Derby. At the Grade 3 Holy Bull, Simplification started badly but regained his pace just enough to finish runner-up and collect four points to qualify for the 2022 edition of the Run for the Roses.
Here’s what we said about Armagnacin in our 2022 Preakness Stakes sleepers preview:
Armagnac recently turned heads with a win at an allowance race at Santa Anita Park earlier this month. That was his first win since breaking his maiden in his second career start back in January. Armagnac, who has not raced outside of Santa Anita Park so far in his competitive career, is said to have a notable front-end speed. In the saddle for Armagnac at Pimlico Race Course will be Irad Ortiz. Jr., who has won a total of three Eclipse Awards. He was also the jockey of Midnight Bourbon when it finished runner-up at the 2021 edition of the Preakness Stakes.
The longest shot on the field won the 2022 Kentucky Derby? If that’s going to continue, Fenwick could be the horse to keep an eye on. Fenwick took five races to break his maiden, and in his first graded stakes race, he finished last at the Grade 1 Blue Grass Stakes this month.
