2015 Preakness Stakes Horse Racing Betting Preview

While a trio of horses pretty much blew away the field from start to finish at the 2015 Kentucky Derby last month, the big question heading into the 2015 Preakness Stakes is whether or not any mount can take down American Pharoah as he seeks to nab the second leg of the annual Triple Crown chase. In this MyBookie.ag original, we’re going to examine that query while revealing the latest horse racing betting odds for each horse in the 2015 Preakness Stakes.

2015 Preakness Stakes Post Time Info

Date: Saturday, May 16 Post Time: 6:19 PM ET TV: NBC (Coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. ET) Track: Pimlico Race Course Race Distance: 9.5 Furlongs

Early 2015 Preakness Stakes Horse Racing Betting Odds

American Pharoah 5/6 Firing Line 5/1 Dortmund 11/2 Carpe Diem 14/1 Materiality 16/1 Competitive Edge 16/1 Divining Rod 22/1 Danzig Moon 22/ Bodhisattva 40/1 Stanford 40/1 Grand Bili 50/1 Tale of Verve 50/1

The Preakness is this weekend. pic.twitter.com/MBut2FLmEd
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 11, 2015

Horse Racing Betting Analysis

American Pharoah, Firing Line and Dortmund put on one helluva’ show at the Kentucky Derby and the trio rightfully represent the top three favorites to win the 2015 Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 16. While the field will not be set until Wednesday, this early look at the top contenders and pretenders will both inform and entertain. American Pharoah has won five straight races and held off Firing Line and Dortmund down the stretch in a fantastic finish to take the first leg of the Triple Crown last month. While I do like Pharoah a lot, I’m also thinking an ‘upset’ at the Preakness is a very realistic possibility. Despite fading a bit late to finish third, Dortmund had a fantastic run in the Kentucky Derby, nearly winning the prestigious event wire-to-wire, which historically, has been extremely difficult to pull off. With the Preakness Stakes being one-sixteenth of a mile shorter than the Derby, Dortmund is a very real possibility and a great betting choice at a value-packed 11/2. I’m also fully expecting Firing Line to contend for the outright win after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby. Owner Arnold Zetcher’s prized mount narrowly lost to Dortmund on two occasions earlier in his career, but bounced back to beat his rival while narrowly failing to win the Derby outright thanks to an incredible stretch run by American Pharoah. Materiality was one of the top ‘upset’ picks at the Kentucky Derby but disappointed by finishing sixth. Still, he remains a solid ‘upset’ pick at the 2015 Preakness Stakes and many believe he is one horse capable of upsetting one of the aforementioned ‘Big Three’. Stanford skipped the Kentucky Derby and will be as fresh as any horse coming into the Preakness, but I don’t see him being able to keep pace up front with the favorites. Danzig Moon finished a respectable fifth in the Derby and I’m thinking that sounds about right for the Preakness. Carpe Diem was one of the top favorites to win the Kentucky Derby but he never showed up in finishing a pitiful 10th. Competitive Edge is unbeaten in four races but has never run more than a mile, so stamina will be a question. Divining Rod looked good winning the Lexington Stakes, but I don’t see him finishing higher than sixth or seventh at the Preakness. After taking the Tesio Stakes at Pimlico, Bodhisattva will look to repeat that success in the Preakness, but I say it’s not happening horse racing bettors. Tale of Verve won his maiden race – and has not finished in the winner’s circle in six straight races since while Grand Bili has never in a stakes race and never longer than seven furlongs.

The Horse Racing Betting Pick

I’m going with…Dortmund. I really like Dortmund’s ability to get out of the gate quickly and find a nice pace along the backstretch. With the Preakness being a bit shorter than the Kentucky Derby, I believe Dortmund will be capable of pulling off the big-time upset. Dortmund is one of the biggest, most powerful looking studs in recent memory, even for the most veteran thoroughbred expert. American Pharoah owner Ahmed Zayat said he had not seen a bigger horse than Dortmund. “Oh, my God, he’s imposing,” Zayat said. “He’s humongous. I mean, he’s huge.” I believe jockey Martin Garcia, will leave enough gas in the tank this time around in order for Dortmund to fend off both, American Pharoah and Firing Line.