2022 Preakness Stakes Betting Preview and Odds

The $1.5 million Preakness Stakes take place at Pimlico Race Course and handicapping the second jewel in the Triple Crown may be a bit easier than in past years, with Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike remaining in the barn this weekend.

Dimers.com horse racing contributor Kimberly French gives you all the details you need to know before placing your Preakness Stakes bet this Saturday.

This betting preview is proudly presented by TVG. Find out how to use promos to reduce your risk when betting on the 2022 Preakness Stakes.

2022 Preakness Stakes Field and Odds

1. Simplification (6-1)
2. Creative Minister (10-1) 
3. Fenwick (50-1) 
4. Secret Oath (9-2) 
5. Early Voting (7-2) 
6. Happy Jack (30-1) 
7. Armagnac (12-1) 
8. Epicenter (6-5) 
9. Skippylongstocking (20-1) 

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When Rich Strike hit the line in front to spring the second largest upset in Kentucky Derby history, bettors were dumbfounded and were anxious to see all their questions about this unknown horse in the Preakness.

However, they will have to wait until the chestnut appears in New York at Belmont Park on June 11 for the Belmont Stakes. What is surprising is people are so shocked Rich Strike will not be in Baltimore. It would be a bigger stunner if he was, as three of the last four Derby winners have not appeared in the Preakness Stakes.

So, let’s take a look at the Preakness Stakes best bets in the field of nine that remains.  

2022 Preakness Stakes: Main Contenders

Epicenter (6-5)

The favorite on the morning line and deservedly so. The Steve Asmussen trainee won three consecutive graded stakes including the Grade I Louisiana Derby prior to finishing second to Rich Strike in the Kentucky Derby. The son of emerging new stallion Not This Time will leave from post position eight in the field of nine. He definitely is an include on all tickets as he raced fairly close to the early suicidal pace in the Derby and was only beaten three-quarters of a length.  

Also, Asmussen is the all-time winningest trainer in North America and has won this race twice with Hall of Fame members Curlin (2007) and Rachel Alexandra (2009). 

Although Epicenter looms large, he is an extremely short price on the morning line and will take much more cash prior to the gates springing open on Saturday evening. Therefore, he will not return large dividends on wagers so the best choice would be use to him on top in exactas, trifectas and superfectas.  

There are plenty of quality options to use with Epicenter if you would like to place something other than a straight win bet.  

Early Voting (7-2)

The colt, who is post position five, dominated the Withers Stakes (G3) before just getting beat on the wire by a neck in the Wood Memorial (G1) by multiple graded stakes winner Mo Donegal. Mo Donegal encountered plenty of trouble in the Run for the Roses and still came home fifth.  

Early Voting has trained exceptionally well since the Wood Memorial and his connections did not run in the Kentucky Derby although they had a spot in the gate because they wanted to give him more time before this next start. Trainer Chad Brown used the same approach with 2017 Preakness Stakes winner Cloud Computing and you can see it was successful.

Secret Oath (9-2)

Secret Oath (at left in photo) enters the Preakness Stakes after a powerful victory over one of the deepest Kentucky Oaks fields in recent memory. The daughter of Arrogate has simply dominated her division this year and won the Oaks after finishing third against males in the Arkansas Derby. Although Cyberknife, the horse that won that race, finished up the track in Louisville, Barber Road, the second-place finisher was sixth with a wide trip.  

Also, Secret Oath had an absolutely horrendous trip in the Arkansas Derby. She had a terrible break, was wide throughout and had a very questionable ride when making her bid going into the stretch.

The filly, who will leave from post position four, definitely belongs here. Her Hall of Fame conditioner, D. Wayne Lukas (at right in photo) has won this race on six occasions and a win here would tie him for the most Preakness Stakes wins all time.  

If Secret Oath were to receive the blanket of black-eyed Susans, she would be seventh filly to do so and the last filly to win the Preakness Stakes since Rachel Alexandra, did so from the same post position in 2009.

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2022 Preakness Stakes: Value Plays

Simplification (6-1)

Simplification has been overlooked throughout the entire season. He is 6-1 on the morning line and leaves from post position one. The rail is often not ideal but with a field of only nine horses it should not be too much of a handicap. Especially since this horse, who has not failed to hit the board in five starts in stakes company this year has tactical speed.  

Simplification is one of the few horses from the Kentucky Derby to return in the Preakness Stakes. Only two horses in the Kentucky Derby traveled farther than he did and he still closed to finish a strong fourth. He must be respected.  

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Creative Minister (10-1)

Creative Minister will leave from post position two for trainer Ken McPeek. He is very short on experience as he has only raced three times and made his career bow in March when he lost by a neck. In his next two starts, however, the colt has looked like a superstar in the making. So much so, his connections opted to supplement to this race for $150,000.  

McPeek is not afraid to swing for the fences and has been rewarded for it as he won this race with the filly Swiss Skydiver in 2020. She defeated eventual Horse of the Year Authentic after finishing second in the Kentucky Oaks.

RELATED: Preakness betting picks, box exacta and trifecta box

Kimberly French is a freelance horse racing writer and Assistant Director and Production Manager at the New York Racing Association (NYRA) at The New York Racing Association.