This is the place to find Preakness Stakes Vegas odds for the second jewel of the American Triple Crown. The Preakness Stakes is one of the major horse races of the annual calendar in the United States. It is run over 1 3/16 miles for three-year-olds with a purse of $1 million. The 2023 Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday, May 20.

The 2022 Preakness Stakes (G1) was won by Early Voting!

The Vegas odds for the Preakness Stakes 2023 are still to be announced. In the weeks leading up to the race, as horses are announced probable, sportsbooks begin offering Vegas odds on the Preakness. The best Vegas odds on the Preakness are subject to change, as such we’ll ensure to keep this page updated accordingly. This page was last updated on September 9, 2022: 

Preakness Stakes odds 2023
Epicenter	TBA	TBA	TBA
Secret Oath	TBA	TBA	TBA
Early Voting	TBA	TBA	TBA
Simplification	TBA	TBA	TBA
Creative Minister	TBA	TBA	TBA
Un Ojo	TBA	TBA	TBA

Preakness Line Up

If you are interested in Preakness Stakes betting, knowing the lineup is a good place to start. Typically, the Kentucky Derby is held every year on the first Saturday in May. So, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course is contested mid-month. The 2023 Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday, May 19-20.

The field for the second jewel of the Triple Crown is usually much smaller than the 20 three-year-old thoroughbreds who partake in the Run for the Roses. Those seeking racing glory will leave Churchill Downs and head about 600 miles east to Pimlico for what’s also called the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans. 

First held in 1873, the Preakness was named by a former Maryland governor after the colt who won the Dinner Party Stakes on the first day Pimlico opened in 1870. Attendance for this major racing event ranks second in North America, only surpassed by the Derby. It is usually even more than the Belmont Stakes or Breeders’ Cup. The party in the infield is often a raucous and entertaining event, and live bands play at InfieldFest.

Secretariat holds the Preakness track record of 1:53, which he set in 1973. And, like the Derby, all of the horses will carry 126 pounds in the $1 million event — the shortest of the three Triple Crown races at 1 3/16 miles, about 100 yards less than the Kentucky Derby.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby is always given a special stall in the “Stakes Barn” at Pimlico, which is where all the Preakness starters are housed unless they are local Maryland-based runners. The Derby winner stands in the very first stall with a plaque of names of the other Derby winners who have stood there above the stall. It is considered an honor to be housed in that stall. This year, Rich Strike will occupy that stall.

Morning Line

The Preakness Stakes does not draw as much betting handle as the Derby since the field is much smaller, but it is still an excellent betting opportunity. The number of starters is restricted to 14 horses, although fewer than that often enter the starting gate. The program for the Preakness Stakes will list the horses from No. 1 on out based on the post position draw earlier in the week, taking place the Wednesday before the race.

The post-position draw and Preakness Stakes morning line odds are set at the same time, and the horses’ connections gather around to hear the announcement of who is in the race and where they will break from the gate.

An important Preakness Stakes betting tip is that when looking at the program or past performances for the Preakness, beside each horse’s name are the pedigree, owner, breeder, trainer, and jockey. The information also includes past race charts, win/loss records, and career earnings. There is also information on if the horse has run over the track or distance before.

Some important angles to look for when trying to pick the winner include top jockey, top trainer, recent performances, post position, and track condition. The runner’s history at Pimlico and in Grade 1 company should also be a consideration.

If all else fails, you can always go with your lucky number or the name that appeals to you the most.

Preakness Online Betting

Preakness Stakes online betting is an important part of your annual wagering plans. Betting on the Preakness today does not require you to be at Pimlico Racetrack: it can be done online with these top online sportsbooks.

There are many off-track venues throughout the U.S. where you can get the best Vegas odds on the Preakness Stakes. You can play the Preakness at Las Vegas sportsbooks like the Bellagio, or from the comfort of your own home at these trusted Vegas betting sites.

Preakness Horse Betting

There are several available bets on the Preakness wagering menu. The win, place, and show bets are common bets to place on any horse race. A win bet is exactly that — pick the winner of the race. To cash a place ticket, your horse must finish first or second. To cash a show ticket, your horse must finish first, second, or third. Published payoffs on winning tickets are based on a $2 bet.

Often the Kentucky Derby is a heavy favorite in the Preakness. In 2014, Kentucky Derby champion California Chrome went off at 1-2 in the Preakness. That means a $1 profit was made on every $2 bet on the overwhelming favorite that day. For example, on a $200 bet on California Chrome, the winning ticket returned $300 ($200 originally bet, plus $100 profit). If you think the Kentucky Derby winner can lose, you will get great odds on whoever you pick.

As for Preakness exacta, trifecta, and superfecta bets, these betting options are called “exotics.” A bettor is attempting to pick the exact order of finish of multiple horses. In an exacta, you must pick the exact order of finish of the first two horses. In a trifecta, it’s the exact order of finish of the first three horses. With a superfecta, it’s the exact order of finish of the first four horses.

Exotics can pay well in the Preakness even if the favorite finishes in the money but does not win. Even though 3-2 favorite Authentic finished second in the Preakness, the 4-9-6-3 superfecta with Swiss Skydiver, Authentic, Jesus’ Team, and Art Collector returned $5,053 for only a $1 wager.

There are also multi-race wagers, such as Daily Double, Pick 3, Pick 4, Pick 5, and Pick 6 betting. A daily double is a bet where you have to pick the winner of two separate races. The Preakness is often coupled with the race before or after it. A Pick 3 is a bet where you have the pick the winner of three consecutive races. The more races you have to pick the tougher it gets, but the more it pays if you win!

Predictions for the race

Only three favorites have won the Preakness in the last 10 years, which is below the historical average of 50.3%. The public’s choice has won the Preakness far more often than the Derby (35.7%) and the Belmont (42.1%). The betting favorite has won 14 of the last 36 editions of the race. The second betting choice has won the race nine times.

Legendary trainer Bob Baffert has won the second jewel of the Triple Crown a record-tying seven times. R. Wyndham Walden is the other trainer holding that record, from 1875 through 1888, including five editions of the Preakness in a row.

Three active jockeys have won the Preakness three times — Kent Desormeaux, Gary Stevens, and Victor Espinoza. Recently, jockeys have been getting their very first Preakness wins, such as Tyler Gaffalione in 2019 on War of Will and Javier Castellano in 2017 with Cloud Computing. In 2018, Mike Smith rode Justify to win the Preakness; that was his first Preakness win as a jockey since 1993.

Knowing the Preakness jockeys and trainers can help you make a good wager. Track condition often plays a role at the Preakness as well, with the track often turning up muddy and wet due to weather. That can help horses like Exaggerator, who splashed home in the slop in 2016. Some horses don’t like the slipping of a muddy track, so keep an eye on the weather and their performances over previous wet tracks in their lives. 

Preakness Stakes Festival

The Preakness Stakes meeting is usually run over three days, with stakes races increasing in stature and purse through the Saturday races. Throughout the week of the Preakness, the best horses in every division make their way to Pimlico. There are exciting finishes and excellent betting opportunities.

Major races other than the Preakness include the $250,000 Black Eyed Susan Stakes (G2), the $250,000 Dinner Party Stakes (G2), the $200,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (G3), the $100,000 Hilltop Stakes, the $150,000 Gallorette Stakes (G3), the $100,000 James Murphy Stakes, the $150,000 Laurel Futurity, the $150,000 Miss Preakness Stakes (G3), the $150,000 Selima Stakes, and the $100,000 Skipat Stakes.

This is going to be one of the biggest and most important betting weeks of the year at any track in the world, so make sure you are ready to place your bets.

Online Preakness Betting Sites

What would a Preakness Stakes betting guide be without connecting you to the top racebooks for this event? Check out our list of recommended racebooks here:

Preakness FAQs