Best Bets for 2019 Preakness Stakes

• The second jewel of horse racing’s Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes is today
• A field of 13 is set to contest a race that dates back to 1873
• What are the best bets available in the Preakness Stakes?

The Kentucky Derby had controversy and neither the winner, Country House, nor the horse who crossed the line first and was disqualified, Maximum Security, are running in today’s Preakness Stakes. That said, 13 horses are slated to race in the Preakness, and there is ample betting value available.

Let’s look at the latest win odds, and find some bets that provide value.

Preakness Stakes Win Odds

*Odds taken 05/18/19

Win

While Improbable is a deserving yet underwhelming favorite, and War of Will is a reasonable second choice, neither provides great value.

Using the theory that the highest quality Kentucky Derby prep races this year took place in Florida, a pretty reasonable concept since Maximum Security and Code of Honor were both impressive in Louisville, there is reason to consider Bourbon War and Bodexpress.

Bourbon War was fourth in the Florida Derby behind Maximum Security, Bodexpress, and Code of Honor, and was priced at 3/1 that day. He previously finished second to Code of Honor in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. He beat Cutting Humor in a race at Gulfstream Park. He is well rested and adds blinkers, so should be in the mix after the initial speed horses burn themselves out.

Bourbon War is well-rested and adds blinkers, so should be in the mix after the initial speed horses burn themselves out.

Bodexpress, who has never won a race, was taken out of contention in the Kentucky Derby when he was involved in Maximum Security’s right hand turn around the second turn. He was running reasonable well, and previously looked pretty strong in the Florida Derby. The price is certainly right.

Exacta and Trifecta

If you are interested in more risk for possibly more reward, betting an exacta (picking the horses that will finish first and second) or trifecta (horses that will finish first, second, and third) is worthwhile.

A box, whether it is an exacta or trifecta, allows you to select more than one horse and win regardless of the order they finish in, so long as the horses you choose are first and second or first, second and third.

The idea of boxing Improbable, War of Will, Bourbon War, and Bodexpress makes some sense since you get the horses most likely to run well, and if Bodexpress finishes in the money as a longshot, he will make the payout significant.

A four-horse $1 exacta box costs $12. A four horse $1 trifecta box is a $24 investment.

Daily Double

A daily double requires bettors to choose the winner of two straight races. The race before the Preakness this year, The Dixie Stakes, begins at 5:39 pm EST and has 12 horses entered.

While it is a quality group, Catholic Boy is returning to the track for the first time since running in the Breeders Cup Classic in November. If he is in good shape and ready to run even a B or B+ race, this field is inferior to the horses he normally runs against and often beats.

You can essentially bet a two-race parlay, with Catholic Boy and then all four of the horses previously mentioned in the Preakness. Each double costs $2, so Catholic Boy with Improbable, War of Will, Bourbon War, and Bodexpress is an $8 play.