2021 Preakness Stakes Odds & Predictions on Saturday, May 15, 2021

Betting sites are gearing up for the 2021 Preakness Stakes. This will be the 146th Preakness Stakes. This is a Grade I stakes race for three-year-old Thoroughbreds. It is run a distance of 1+3⁄16 miles (1.9 km).

This race is one leg of the American Triple Crown. It is held yearly at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The Preakness Stakes is held on the third Saturday in May, two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. The 2021 Preakness is scheduled for May 15 with a post time of 5:45 p.m. ET.

The Preakness Stakes returns to its traditional spot this year as the second leg of the Triple Crown. Last year, the Preakness was delayed from the spring to the fall and served as the third and final leg of the Big Three.

Swiss Skydiver won and posted the second-fastest time ever. Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit will be one of the favorites to win at the best online sportsbooks. He was 12-1 to win at Churchill Downs.

Horse Racing Bets

In addition to “straight” bets (Win, Place, Show), there are also Exacta (top two finishers), Trifecta (top three), Superfecta (top four), and Super High Five (top five). Win: wager on the horse you think will win. Place: earn the place price if your horse finishes first or second.

Show: pays the least, but you win the show price if your horse finishes first, second or third.
Exacta: Predict the first two horses in the correct order.
Trifecta: Predict the first three horses in the correct order.
Superfecta: Predict the first four horses in the correct order.
Super High Five: Predict the first five horses in the correct order.

Preakness Stakes odds are determined by the pari-mutuel system at the track. This means your potential payout depends on how much money there is in the pot overall. This is divided by how many wagers are placed. The odds will shift in the build-up to the race, especially in the last few moments before post time.

Picking a Winner

There are several ways to handicap a horse race. Handicapping horses and races takes time, work and imagination. Past performance charts, horse stats, speed figures, class ratings, tracks and bias, jockey and trainer stats, horse pedigree and post position all count.

A handicapper needs insight and ability to find horses ready to win. That’s true for Derby horses running in the Preakness. They only have a two-week recovery. You should back races and horses based on positive characteristics and not based who’s the best of the worst.

As you study betting guides and training tools, you’ll get better at analyzing races. This includes the Preakness Stakes, the Kentucky Derby and the prep races leading up to the Derby. Understanding ‘how’ a horse runs instead of ‘where’ it finishes and ‘what’ time it completes will help you.

Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Preakness a record-tying seven times. That includes 2015 with American Pharoah and 2018 with Justify. Both horses went on to win the Triple Crown.

Needing the lead

The rhythm tends to make the race. The Preakness will be no exception. Horses that “need the lead” will be forwardly placed and will press the pace. They are the ones to watch coming out of the Kentucky Derby.

Stalkers

2021 Kentucky Derby fave Essential Quality won the Blue Grass Stakes. He did so with a stalking trip right behind front runner Highly Motivated. He finished a close second. Look at the styles in the Derby, as the post draw and break from the gate is a daunting 20 horse field.

Value Horses

Known Agenda came from about three-lengths off the lead. He burst through and won the Florida Derby. He’s a son of Curlin. He could offer value in the Kentucky Derby at betting sites’ odds of +700 or higher for trainer Todd Pletcher.

War of Will was a value horse in 2019. He pulled the upset and won the Preakness at 6/1 odds. Horses who set or press the pace have dominated The Preakness as of late. But more often than not those were the best overall horses like Justify, American Pharoah, California Chrome, Big Brown and Rachel Alexandra.

Exaggerator managed to come from a hotly-contested pace to win the 2016 Preakness. An improving three-year-old or fresher and skilled runner like Swiss Skydiver can step up. She came from off the pace to reach the front at the three quarter mile marker.  Aslo she out-dueled 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic. She won the Preakness at 11/1 odds at betting sites.

Odds To Win 146th Preakness 2021 Odds