On May 17, the second leg of the Triple Crown will be staged for the 138th time at the Pimlico Tracks in Baltimore, Maryland. Can California Chrome, winner of the Kentucky Derby, keep up its hope of winning the first Triple Crown since 1978 alive, or will another horse prevent him from winning the Preakness Stakes?
If you’re interested in value, we’ve already profiled three sleepers who could challenge Chrome at this year’s Preakness. Otherwise, read on for everything you need to know to bet on one of the biggest horse racing events of the year and create a betting account now to get into the action.
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2014 Preakness Stakes Betting Preview
Favorites: California Chrome, Social Inclusion
After reigning supreme in the first leg of the Triple Crown, the Art Sherman-trained colt is unquestionably the heavy favorite to finish first at Pimlico. California Chrome pulled away comfortably at the end of the Kentucky running, as you can see in the full video of the race below.
With a price of -140 to win the 2014 edition of the Preakness Stakes, California Chrome will enter the event with a five-race streak of finishing first.
[sc:horses240banner ]Since the Pimlico track is shorter, it is widely regarded as a more favorable course for speedsters, such as California Chrome. As evidenced by his acceleration out of the gate and the manner in which he pulled away from the rest of the field down the stretch in the Derby, California Chrome seems to have the right tools to dominate in Baltimore.
Social Inclusion, on the other hand, wasn’t part of the Derby but is priced +1,200 to gallop into a first place finish at Pimlico. Instead of the Run for the Roses, Social Inclusion prepped for the Preakness Stakes by joining the Grade I Wood Memorial in April 5, where he finished third.
High Value: Danza, Hoppertunity
After winning the Grade I Arkansas Derby last April 12th, Danza became an overnight sensation. However, horseracing aficionados weren’t totally convinced of the victory, thinking that they need to see more from the colt before buying the hype. When Danza finished a strong third in the Derby, any doubts about the horse’s capability of winning a big time racing event were virtually erased. In his career, Danza has won twice and finished third three times.
Another non-Derby horse, Hoppertunity, could present a stiff challenge for the favorite, California Chrome. Hoppertunity (+1,600) was a late scratch in the Derby, but is 100% healthy for the Preakness Stakes. His jockey, Mike Smith, has a winning pedigree, having won the Preakness in 1993 and almost winning it again in 2012 with Bodemeister.
Long Shots: Pablo Del Monte, We Miss Artie
Pablo Del Monte had a good long rest after choosing to skip the Kentucky Derby. The Wesley Ward-trained horse is coming off back-to-back graded stakes race finishes. In his previous outing, Pablo Del Monte finished behind Dance With Fate and Medal Count, who finished sixth and eighth in the Derby, respectively.
Though We Miss Artie (+3,500) finished 10th in the Derby, he had shown that he can win graded stakes races. Trained by future Hall-of-Famer and 2010 Derby winner Todd Pletcher, We Miss Artie has won in Grade III Spiral Stakes last March 22nd.
Writer’s Prediction
California Chrome will win the race in a more convincing fashion. He dominated the competition in the Derby and should find the Preakness Stakes, with its shorter track, even easier.
