There will be no Triple Crown winner in 2022, as Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is not in the relatively small field of the Preakness. In fact, down from the 20 horses that raced at Churchill Downs, we have just nine starters for this weekend at Pimlico.
There are, however, five horses at Pimlico that also ran in Kentucky, including the runner-up to Rich Strike, Epicenter.
Post Positions and Odds to Win 2022 Preakness Stakes
- Simplification (6-1)
- Creative Minister (10-1)
- Fenwick (50-1)
- Secret Oath (9-2)
- Early Voting (7-2)
- Happy Jack (30-1)
- Armagnac (12-1)
- Epicenter (6-5)
- Skippylongstocking (20-1)
No surprise that Epicenter is the favorite in this race. He’s finished first or second in each of his last six races, including that second-place finish at the Kentucky Derby, and this is easily the best horse in the field.
Early Voting is next in the early odds, running at 7-2. He has two wins in three starts and was just a neck away from making it a clean sweep.
Trainer Chad Brown chose to skip the Derby in 2017, winning the Preakness with Cloud Computing. Early Voting was also held out of the Derby, and it’s entirely possible the strategy will also pay off this year.
Secret Oath is third on the board at 9-2. She beat a great field to win the Kentucky Oaks and is trained by D. Wayne Lukas, a six-time Preakness winner. Secret Oath is trying to become the seventh filly to win this race.
The fourth-place finisher at the Kentucky Derby, Simplification, is the fourth betting favorite at the Preakness. The first post is not an ideal spot for a horse that likes to close fast and strong and would prefer to save his speed for after he’s cleared the field.
Good Value Bets
In a small field like this, anyone can win. But there are a few long shots with a much better chance to pull off the upset and net you a tidy profit.
The best of the non-favorites is Creative Minister, who isn’t really a longshot at 10-1. He’s only raced three times in his career and won two of them. He was on the undercard at the Kentucky Derby and his trainer, Ken McPeek, was a winner at the Preakness two years ago.
Armagnac, as 12-1, has the next lowest odds. But if you’re looking to place a bet on a longer shot to win, it’s worth noting that twice this year Armagnac lost to Happy Jack, who is paying 30-1. Happy Jack finished 14th at the Kentucky Derby, and his sire, Oxbow, won the Preakness in 2013.
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