Florida and Kentucky Derby winner Orb is the early betting fvorite for the Preakness Stakes (photo credit: churchilldowns.com)
Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Orb is the early betting favorite in Preakness early betting odds released by Turf ‘n’ Sport handicapper Michael Dempsey on Wednesday.
A field of 12 is likely for the $1 million Preakness Stakes (G1), the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown. The Preakness will be run on Saturday, May 18 at Pimlico in Baltimore, Md.
Orb is the 8-5 betting favorite and comes into the Preakness riding a five race winning streak. The Shug McGaughey trainee won the Fountain of Youth (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) before winning the 139th Run for the Roses.
Under jockey Joel Rosario the colt sat behind a sharp early pace and rallied strongly over the sloppy main track to win by 2 ½ lengths over longshot Golden Soul, who is skipping the Preakness to wait for the $1 million Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 8.
Orb will take on seven foes that he beat on Derby Day including Normandy Invasion, who made a good middle move and had the lead in the stretch at Churchill Downs only to weaken in the final furlong to finish fourth.
The Chad Brown trainee is the 9-2 second choice on the Turf ‘n’ Sport morning line.
The co-third choices at 8-1 on the morning line are Goldencents and Departing.
Goldencents was sent off at 8-1 in the Derby but after being part of the early pace faded to finish a well beaten 17th. His trainer Doug O’Neill won last year’s Preakness with I’ll Have Another.
Departing skipped the Derby and comes into the race having won the Illinois Derby (G3) at Hawthorne on April 13. The Al Stall trainee was third in the Louisiana Derby (G2) behind Revolutionary and Mylute in his previous start.
Dempsey has four horses listed at 10-1 on the morning line: Mylute, Itsmyluckyday and Will Take Charge all exit the Derby, while the Bob Baffert trained Govenor Charlie won the Sunland Derby (G3) in his last outing. Baffert has won the Preakness five times.
D. Wayne Lukas will start three in the Preakness. In addition to Oxbow (20-1) and Will Take Charge, the hall of fame trainer will saddle Titletown Five (30-1) who was fourth in the Derby Trial in his last outing.
The field could still change, as entries for the race are not taken until next Wednesday.
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Turf ‘n’ Sport Early Odds |
| Orb |
C. McGaughey | J. Rosario | 8-5 |
| Normandy Invasion |
C. Brown | J. Castellano | 9-2 |
| Departing |
A. Stall Jr. | B. Hernandez Jr. | 8-1 |
| Goldencents |
D. O’Neill | K. Krigger | 8-1 |
| Mylute |
T. Amoss | R. Napravnik | 10-1 |
| Itsmyluckyday |
E. Plesa Jr. | J. Velazquez | 10-1 |
| Will Take Charge |
D.W. Lukas | M. Smith | 10-1 |
| Govenor Charlie |
B. Baffert | M. Garcia | 10-1 |
| Vyjack |
R. Rodriguez | G. Gomez | 15-1 |
| Oxbow |
D.W. Lukas | G. Stevens | 20-1 |
| Titletown Five |
D.W. Lukas | J. Leparoux | 30-1 |
| Street Spice |
G. Geier | J. Sanchez | 40-1 |
Michael Dempsey’s Preakness Day Report
Michael’s Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire Preakness Day card from historic Pimlico. Michael is a Maryland bred and knows the circuit from the backstretch to the finish line.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday May 18 at Pimlico. The big day of racing has five supporting stakes including the $150,000 Gallorette Handicap and the $100,000 Allare Dupont Distaff Stakes.
