Betting guide to Preakness 2023 with expert predictions, past performances, analysis
BREAKING PREAKNESS NEWS: The second favorite in the morning line, No. 8 First Mission, has been scratched. Read on for updated race analysis and selections.
When the racing world turns its attention to Pimlico each year for the second leg of the Triple Crown, there's only one horse with a chance to achieve immortality.
But while Kentucky Derby winner Mage will be a solid favorite when they load the field for the 148th Preakness into the starting gate Saturday, there are seven fresh challengers looking to end the quest to become the first Triple Crown winner since Justify in 2018.
And that means plenty of options for bettors in what looks to be an interesting race, with Mage as the lone Kentucky Derby entrant opting to run back two weeks later.
Who will be looking to hit the wire first at the end of the 1 3/16-mile test?
Here are the selections from our USA TODAY Network/Northeast Region staff and experts who have been top finishers at the NTRA/National Horseplayers Championship and Horseplayers World Series.
2023 PREAKNESS FIELD
PP Horse (Jockey) Odds
1. National Treasure (Velazquez) 4-1
2. Chase The Chaos (Russell) 50-1
3. Mage (Castellano) 8/5
4. Coffeewithchris (Rodriguez) 20-1
5. Red Route One (Rosario) 6-1
6. Perform (Lynch) 15-1
7. Blazing Sevens (I. Ortiz Jr.) 6-1
8. First Mission (Saez) SCRATCHED
Brisnet past performances via Horse Racing Nation
Preakness 23 by Asbury Park Press on Scribd
OUR PREAKNESS CHOICES
Steve Edelson, USA TODAY NETWORK NJ racing writer
1. National Treasure is the latest Bob Baffert trainee to head to Pimlico, with seven having already emerged victorious. Expect National Treasure to be coming from just off the pace as Baffert returns to the Triple Crown scene for the first time since 2021.
5. Red Route One got off to a terrible start in the Arkansas Derby and ended up sixth. Throw that start out and you have a horse that always hits the board, regardless of the level of competition, and will be closing fast in the stretch.
3. Mage ran huge in the Derby, obviously, picking up a gaudy 105 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort. Can the colt summon that same kind of effort two weeks later, against a group of fresh challengers? Look for Mage to run hard but come up short.
Bob Jordan, Asbury Park Press sports editor
6. Perform didn't set the world on fire as a 2 year old but has won two of three starts this year, including taking the Federico Tesio at Laurel on April 15 with a huge run in his last start. How good was his Tesio? The connections spent $150,000 to enter the Preakness, almost $20,000 more than the colt's career earnings.
3. Mage the other day in a workout over 1 1/2 miles picked it up at the end, running the final three furlongs in 41.76 seconds. If the Derby took something out of him, it's not showing.
7. Blazing Sevens is from the barn that won the 2022 Preakness with Early Voting.
5. Red Route One is also going to come running if the flow sets up for our top pick.
Steven Falk, Asbury Park Press sports writer
3. Mage ran great in the Kentucky Derby after he got away poorly. However, the poor start probably benefitted him because of the crazy pace. He has to get away better here because the pace will be more moderate. He is clearly the best horse here.
1. National Treasure is from the Bob Baffert barn as Baffert makes his return to a Triple Crown race for the first time since the 2021 Preakness. Two straight bullet workouts and the rail post indicate he will be the pacesetter.
6. Perform is not fast enough based on past Beyer Speed Figures, but he is an improving horse and he won the Federico Tesio at Laurel despite a nightmarish trip.
Ken Jordan, five times among top finishers at NTRA/National Horseplayers Championship, four Top 10s at Horseplayers World Series
3. Mage is making his fifth start and Derby winner should be much closer to pace today. Has shown the most ability in this field, only a repeat of his bad breaks stops him from going for the Triple Crown in three weeks.
1. National Treasure "moved" to Tim Yakteen barn for Santa Anita Derby when Kentucky Derby was still the goal but is back with Bob Baffert now. Although he really has not improved as a 3 year old he is still a pace factor today.
4. Coffeewithchris might be left alone on the front end at a big price; use in tris and supers.
Sean Nolan, 16-time National Handicapping Championship qualifier with four top 20 finishes, including a second place
3. Mage gets a very modest field in his quest for the Woodlawn Vase. His Derby win was very impressive after eating some dirt and encountering some traffic on the far turn. He can regress a bit and still have this field at his mercy. Expect Castellano to have him mid-pack down the back stretch and move to the lead on the turn. Belmont, here we come!
6. Perform is undefeated at two turns and this improving colt should take another step forward after taking down the local prep. Has a trio of lively works for Shug, which indicates he will show more pace. Provides value to the exotics.
7. Blazing Sevens has been pointed to this race by Brown and appears on edge. The only other Grade 1 winner in this field is 2nd-time blinkers, which is often a profitable betting angle. Completes the Good Magic trifecta.
Greg Giombarrese, Director of Communications for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws
3. Mage did capitalize on a fast pace and tremendous ride by Javier Castellano to win the Kentucky Derby, but it was a strong, fast race off which he can even regress and still win here. He'll be closer here with a more moderate pace expected and has a good chance to earn a run at history in three weeks.
5. Red Route One is a deep closer and comes in for trainer Steve Asmussen from Arkansas where he had a solid winter. He did capitalize on some strong paces but should be coming late and has a chance to pick up some pieces
1. National Treasure showed some promise at 2 but hasn't taken a step forward this year. That said, he missed some training time going into the Santa Anita Derby and has been pointed here since that race. He should be up on the lead or sitting just off longshot Coffeewithchris
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Betting guide to Preakness 2023 with expert picks, past performances
