The second leg of the Triple Crown is here, with the 2023 Preakness Stakes set for Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. Kentucky Derby winner Mage headlines the seven-horse 2023 Preakness Stakes field. He was a 15-1 longshot in the Run for the Roses, but rallied and edged runner-up Two Phil's in the final furlong to establish himself as the 8-5 favorite in the 2023 Preakness Stakes odds. Mage is the only Kentucky Derby entrant who will be participating in Saturday's Preakness Stakes 2023, as the rest of the field either bypassed Churchill Downs or did not earn enough qualifying points. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert is returning to the Triple Crown series with National Treasure after wrapping up his two-year suspension. National Treasure, who finished third in the 2022 Breeders' Cup Juvenile, is 4-1 among the 2023 Preakness Stakes horses.
Post time is scheduled for 7:01 p.m. ET at Pimlico Race Course. With so much to consider while making your 2023 Preakness Stakes picks, a little expert help can go a long way.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown is the shortest race of the series, which also includes the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes. The Preakness Stakes was established at Pimlico in 1873 and is often called "The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans." It has been held on a Saturday every year since 1931. There have been eight Maryland-bred winners in the state's signature race, but the latest example came with Deputed Testamony in 1983. Coffeewithchris can become the ninth Maryland-bred winner if he wins as a 20-1 longshot on Saturday.
Given all the history, there's a method to picking which horses to focus on for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets in a Preakness Stakes like this, and SportsLine expert Jody Demling knows what it is. He can help you make the best 2023 Preakness Stakes picks possible.
A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling has called the Preakness winner nine times in the last 18 years, and nailed his 2022 Preakness exacta. Demling also enters the 2023 Preakness Stakes having nailed the winner of the Belmont Stakes four of the last five years, including an exacta in 2022 with Mo Donegal and Nest. He also called Flightline's win at the Breeders' Cup Classic last November.
Additionally, he has hit 10 of the last 15 Derby-Oaks doubles at Churchill Downs. That means he held a ticket with the winners of both races all but five times in the last 15 tries. Anyone who has followed him on these races is way up. Now, he's sharing all of his 2023 Preakness Stakes bets here.
Top 2023 Preakness Stakes expert picks
Here's a refresher on these types of bets from SportsLine's Jody Demling:
Preakness Stakes Exacta: Pick the first- and second-place finishers in the correct order. A $2 exacta returned $25.80 at the 2022 Preakness Stakes with Early Voting and Epicenter.
Preakness Stakes Trifecta: Pick the first-, second- and third-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 trifecta returned $66.50 at the 2022 Preakness Stakes with Early Voting, Epicenter and Creative Minister.
Preakness Stakes Superfecta: Pick the first-, second-, third- and fourth-place finishers in the correct order. A $1 superfecta returned $162.90 at the 2022 Preakness Stakes with Early Voting, Epicenter, Creative Minister and Secret Oath.
While Demling has no quibbles with the favorite status of Mage, he plans to hold tickets with National Treasure (4-1) and is using a middle-of-the-pack longshot who could really spice up the payouts. You can see his picks here.
How to make 2023 Preakness Stakes bets
Demling has specific recommendations for exacta, trifecta and superfecta wagers so you can cover all your bases at the Preakness Stakes 2023. He's sharing them over at SportsLine.
So which horses do you take? And in what combinations? Visit SportsLine to get Demling's picks for exacta, trifecta and superfecta bets for the 2023 Preakness Stakes.
2023 Preakness Stakes odds, futures
| Horse | Odds | Program # | Projection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mage | 8-5 | 3 | SEE PICKS |
| First Mission | SCR | 8 | |
| National Treasure | 4-1 | 1 | SEE PICKS |
| Blazing Sevens | 6-1 | 7 | SEE PICKS |
| Red Route One | 10-1 | 5 | SEE PICKS |
| Perform | 15-1 | 6 | SEE PICKS |
| Coffeewithchris | 20-1 | 4 | SEE PICKS |
| Chase The Chaos | 50-1 | 2 | SEE PICKS |
