Bet this race at Top pick: #5 (Midnight Bourbon) (5-1) - The Preakness is the shortest of the Triple Crown races at 9.5 furlongs (1 3/16 of a mile). That will be a plus for this speedster with a big frame, the most experienced horse in this race. Midnight Bourbon is in a bounce-back mode of sorts after finishing 6th in a crowded field at the longer Kentucky Derby. Prior to that, Midnight Bourbon had finished 1, 2, or 3 in seven straight races. And just two races ago, this horse finished 2nd at the Louisiana Derby, which is the same distance as this one.
2nd pick: #10 (Concert Tour) (5-2) - Trainer Bob Baffert has a talented three-year-old Colt that has finished 1st three times, along with a 3rd place finish at the Arkansas Derby the last time out at 1 1/8. Concert Tour is the son of 2007 Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense, and he was held out of the 2021 Kentucky Derby to prep for this race. He won his first three starts, including an impressive performance in the Derby prep at Oaklawn, winning by more than four lengths.
3rd pick: #4 (Crowded Trade) (10-1) - This thoroughbred has three races under his belt, all this year, finishing 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Crowded Trade broke poorly from the gate last time out at the Wood Memorial. He was 8th at the half-mile call, but he closed to finish 3rd. Crowded Trade shouldn't have the same difficulties this time with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano, and he has drawn a strong position.