Preakness Stakes Betting Tips

The second leg of the US Triple Crown takes place at Pimlico this weekend.

Only three who ran in the Kentucky Derby go to post here and the winner of the Kentucky Derby isn’t one of them, so we know we won’t have a Triple Crown winner this year, but this is an extremely prestigious race in its own right and a chance for someone to have their name in the history books forever.

Adding further interest to the race, Britain is represented with Heart Of Honor for Jamie and Saffie Osborne.

Our tipster provides their best bet and next best for the race.

Preakness Stakes (Grade 1) (3yo) (Main Track) (Dirt) (1m1½f)

Without Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty, Journalism can take full advantage and land the spoils. He has comfortably the best form in the race with both his win in the Santa Anita Derby and runner-up effort in the Kentucky Derby, and a repeat of either of these efforts should be more than good enough to win. Going into the Kentucky Derby he was favourite for the race and had proven himself to be the standout three-year-old colt up to that point. He likely would have been better last time out had conditions been in his favour and not run on a sloppy surface. Provided the rain stays away from Pimlico the fast surface will be much more to his liking and he can return to winning ways. Both Sandman and American Promise reoppose from Kentucky, but it is highly unlikely either of them will be able to improve enough to get close to Journalism, who can get back on track and return to winning ways.

Best Bet: Journalism

Of those going up against Journalism, Heart Of Honour is of obvious interest being UK trained. Not only this, but he put up a good performance on the dirt at Meydan through the winter, and a US campaign has likely always been in his owner’s thoughts. He will likely find this his toughest task yet though and he is likely to find things difficult. River Thames finished just a neck behind Sovereignty in March, but the winner improved on that to land the Kentucky Derby, and River Thames still has a bit to prove if he is going to be up to winning here. The most likely to spoil the party for Journalism is Clever Again for Steven Asmussen and Jose Ortiz. While he is yet to run in a race at the highest level, his success in a conditions race at Oaklawn Park last time, beating Gaming by four lengths, looks a strong piece of form, and the manner of victory suggests there is plenty more to come. Further to this, he is by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah and from what we have seen so far, will have no problem handling both the track and conditions.

Next Best: Clever Again