Preakness odds are almost always very exciting as a horse looks to stay alive for the Triple Crown. This year that horse is Mine That Bird and most people are discounting his chances for the Triple Crown as they don’t believe he can win in Preakness betting.
Preakness odds normally favor the Derby winner, but again, not this year. Mine That Bird won at 50-1 odds and almost never does a horse go from 50-1 to a favorite in the span of a single race. There are some differences to keep in mind as you look at handicapping Preakness odds at the online sportsbook. The size of the field is the first one. Normally in Preakness betting the field is 8-12 horses which is down from the 20 you had in the Derby. Not this year though. In the 2009 Preakness a full field of 14 horses is expected. That is still smaller than the 20 in the Derby but that is a large field.
When we look at Preakness betting at the sportsbook we normally see much smaller payoffs than in the Derby and that will be the case again, but with a field of 14 horses the Preakness odds payoffs will be higher than in previous years. Historically the favorite rarely wins the Derby but in Preakness betting the favorite wins over half the time.
The Preakness is the shortest of the three Triple Crown races and speed and pace are very important. Horses rarely close and make up a ton of ground at Pimlico so you can usually throw out closers if you are looking at Preakness odds. That is another reason that Mine That Bird is probably not going to win the Preakness. Normally the winning horse in the Preakness will have run in the Derby two weeks ago. Maybe not this year though. Rachel Alexandra is expected to be the favorite in Preakness odds and she was not in the Derby. She ran in the Kentucky Oaks and blew away that field by more than 20 lengths. Many people, including jockey Calvin Borel, believe she is far superior to any horse, male or female.
Usually with Preakness betting at the online sportsbook there is not the same type of hype as the Derby. Even with a filly in the race this year that will still be the case but at least some intrigue will be involved.
Open an Account and get ready to wager on Preakness odds at the sportsbook today and enjoy the race.