The coronavirus may have turned this year’s Triple Crown racing series upside down. However, the three-race event for the best three-year old Thoroughbreds in this year’s class will still be completed.
The final jewel up for grabs is this Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. There are a total of 11 contenders listed as entered for this race. The post positions have been set and the morning line odds have been released.
2020 Preakness Stakes Preview and Predictions
This year, the Preakness is the third and final Triple Crown race after the Belmont Stakes and Kentucky Derby. While there is no bid to win the Triple Crown title, the field is still deep with talent. This Grade 1 major stakes event will be run on the dirt covering 1 3/16 miles in total distance. The total prize money is set at $1 million.
Tiz the Law won the Belmont Stakes on June 20 before taking second in early September’s Kentucky Derby. Trainer Barclay Tagg decided to skip this race, which impacted the betting markets.
This opens the door for Authentic to take the final leg after winning this year’s Run for the Roses on Sept. 5 at Churchill Downs. Trainer Bob Baffert will turn to John Velazquez as his jockey for this race breaking from the No. 9 post.
As expected, the three-year old Kentucky-bred colt opened as a 9/5 favorite on the morning line. Prior to winning the Kentucky Derby, he won the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes at Monmouth Park on July 18. Over the course of his highly successful career, the son of Into Mischief has won five of six events. He placed second in this year’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby behind Honor A.P.
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The main competition for the Preakness title should come from Art Collector as a 5/2 second- favorite. Trained by Thomas Drury, he will break from the No. 3 gate with jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. on board.
The lofty betting odds for this Kentucky-bred colt are well deserved. While he did not run in the first two Triple Crown races, the son of Bernardina has won his last five events. The biggest career win was in this year’s Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on July 11.
He then went on to claim the top prize in the ungraded Ellis Park Derby in early August. He covered the 1 1/8 miles on dirt at Ellis Park in 1:48.02.
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Scanning the rest of the field for the Preakness, an interesting contender breaking from the No. 4 gate is Swiss Skydiver. Trainer Ken McPeek decided to bypass Saturday’s Black Eyed Susan Stakes and run this Kentucky-bred filly with the boys.
A sire of Daredevil, she is more than capable of winning this race at longer 6/1 odds. The three- year old filly placed second in the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks on Derby Day. She also finished second to Art Collector in the Blue Grass.
In between those two events, Swiss Skydiver won the Grade 1 Alabama Stakes on Aug. 15 at Saratoga. She has now placed first or second in her last six races including four victories.
Two more entries to add to the mix for a few exotic bets in the Preakness are Mr. Big News at 12/1 odds and Max Player at 15/1. The latter is coming off a fifth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby.
