2013 Preakness Odds and Picks: Win, Place and Show Predictions

2013 Preakness Stakes Odds and Picks – Win, Place and Show Predictions: The 2013 Preakness Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, and while all eyes will be on Kentucky Derby winner Orb this weekend at Pimlico, there will also be eight other horses competing in the second leg of the Triple Crown. A few of the horses also ran at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, but there are others that will be making their first start in a Triple Crown event this weekend in Baltimore. With that in mind, here are my picks for win, place and show for the 2013 Preakness Stakes.

Winner: Orb (10/11)

As if the five-race winning streak, the dialed in jockey, and the Kentucky Derby win weren’t enough, Orb has been wowing anyone and everyone during his workouts for the Preakness. There have definitely been situations when a trainer or the media have hyped up a horse and have set bettors up for a major letdown, but with basically every other trainer, owner and jockey praising Orb, this doesn’t seem like one of those times. This is a horse that has been unbeatable for a while now, and there is a reason oddsmakers have made him such an overwhelming favorite. Not to mention the fact that while no horse has won the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978, 13 have won the first two legs of the Triple Crown since then. Backing Orb may not be a recipe for a huge payout, but it is the smart strategy. In a nine-horse field, Orb should have little trouble winning the Preakness and keeping his hopes for a Triple Crown alive.

Place: Goldencents (8/1)

I bought into Goldencents prior to the Kentucky Derby and it burned me as the horse coasted to a 17th-place finish. Now, I am buying into the fact that the disappointing performance was a direct result of the horse’s inability to deal with the sloppy track conditions. Keep in mind that the Santa Anita Derby winner was practicing well at Churchill Downs prior to Mother Nature stepping in, and with a small field and clear skies on tap at Pimlico this weekend, the horse’s true speed should have a chance to shine through. I’m not sure that Goldencents or any other horse has the stamina and higher gear to overcome Orb down the stretch, but in terms of raw speed, I believe Goldencents is at least close. I’m expecting a major rebound.

Show: Govenor Charlie (10/1)

With only three starts to his credit, this horse doesn’t have a big sample size to judge him on. However, he does have two wins and second-place finish in his three starts, and while none of the races featured a huge field or a ton of top competition, it’s not like the Preakness field is the most intimidating ever assembled. Govenor Charlie has received solid reviews during his workouts this week, and the horse has gotten to job done on race day, albeit in limited action. Although he skipped the Kentucky Derby, I expect Govenor Charlie to be one of the bigger surprises of the Preakness.