Preakness 2025 Picks, Predictions and Odds for All Horses in the Lineup

The 150th running of the Preakness Stakes takes place Saturday at Pimlico Race Course and features three horses fresh off of runner-up spots in the Kentucky Derby, including Journalism, who is the clear favorite to leave Baltimore with a victory in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Who joins him and what are the current odds for the annual extravaganza?

Find out with this preview of the race, including a prediction for which horse will cross the finish line first.

Current Odds

1. Goal Oriented (6-1)
2. Journalism (8-5)
3. American Promise (15-1)
4. Heart of Honor (12-1)
5. Pay Billy (20-1)
6. River Thames (9-2)
7. Sandman (4-1)
8. Clever Again (5-1)
9. Gosger (20-1)

Odds via Preakness Stakes

The Importance of Journalism in Baltimore

Enough has not been made of how important Journalism's entry into this year's race is. The second leg of the Triple Crown was already reeling after trainer Bill Mott opted not to enter Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty into the race and a recent trend to hold horses out of the Baltimore race in favor of a shot at the Belmont Stakes in New York has left some questioning whether the Preakness still holds the same prestige that it once did.

Enter Journalism, the Derby runner-up and the best horse in this year's field at Pimlico.

A three-year-old colt whose patient running style was on full display at Churchill Downs as he stalked from the pack and made a late push toward the front, he will have every opportunity to earn the victory against a field of horses who are strong runners and some who even employ a similar style to his, but are not the quality of competitor.

That Journalism is as fast as he is only enhances his chances of achieving victory.

He topped out at 108 at the San Anita Stakes, the highest speed of any of his opponents in this year's Preakness. His stalking, calculating approach to running, coupled with a top-level speed as he pushes for the lead, makes him virtually unbeatable, making what Sovereignty achieved in Louisville that much more impressive.

American Promise, trained by the great D. Wayne Lukas, has the second-best speed rating of the bunch, and Clever Again may make a late push with a speed rating hovering around triple digits, but the Michael W. McCarthy-trained colt is the class of the field and single-handedly elevates the significance of the race, both as the favorite to root for and the horse for all underdogs to overcome.