Preakness 2018 Odds: Jockeys to Trust, Fastest Horses and More Picks

The second jewel of the Triple Crown is often a tactical race that goes to the trainer, jockey and horse who work together the best.

It is up to the trainer and the jockey to come up with the game plan for the 1 3/16-mile race, and it is up to the jockey and the horse to execute it.

Justify, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and the odds-on favorite to win the Preakness, would seem to have the advantage, with a Hall of Fame duo in trainer Bob Baffert and jockey Mike Smith.

Here's a look at the field, along with the jockeys, post positions and morning-line odds from OddsShark.

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Preakness Stakes Horses, Jockeys, Odds and Win-Bet Payouts

(All payouts are based on $2 win bets at morning-line odds)

1. Quip (Florent Geroux): +1400, $30

2. Lone Sailor (Irad Ortiz Jr.): +2000, $42

3. Sporting Chance (Luis Contreras) +4000, $82

4. Diamond King (Javier Castellano): +2000, $42

5. Good Magic (Jose Ortiz): +325, $8.50

6. Tenfold (Ricardo Santana Jr.): +3300, $68

7. Justify (Mike Smith): -225, $2.80

8. Bravazo (Luis Saez): +1800, $38

Quip is one of the new shooters in this race, and he has the speed to get to the lead or close to it in the early going despite his inside post position. Veteran Florent Geroux is an excellent jockey who has more than $11.5 million in earnings this year and has won 83 races. He is a multiple graded stakes-winning jockey, and he knows how to take advantage of his opportunities when they arise.

Lone Sailor may have a hard time working up enough speed to handle the horses in the Preakness field. He has just one career victory, and if he is going to make a run, it seems likely that jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. will play a key role. He has $20 million in earnings in each of the last for full racing seasons, and he already has 151 victories to his credit this year.

Sporting Chance would appear to be in over his head against this field, and he is a somewhat stubborn competitor. He has not always trained the way Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas wants him to. Luis Contreras earned more than $10 million in 2017, but that figure is at slightly more than $1.7 million this year.

Diamond King has won four of the six races he has entered his career, but those victories have not come against weaker competition than he will face Saturday. Still, he is comfortable running with the early leaders, and if he can sustain it, he could be a factor. Javier Castellano is a smart and experienced jockey who has more than $300 million in earnings in his career and has won more than $9 million this year.

Good Magic demonstrated he had plenty of speed in the Derby; he was in the top five at every point of call in the race and was able to make a charge at Justify at the head of the stretch. If Justify was not in the Preakness, Good Magic would be the fastest horse in the race. Jose Ortiz is a smart and capable jockey who knows how to maneuver his horse in tight spaces.

Tenfold is a lightly raced competitor who has been to the race track just three times in his career. He has won two of those races, and Steve Asmussen is an excellent trainer who knows how to prepare a horse for a big race. Jockey Ricardo Santana Jr. will likely try to take Tenfold near the front of the pack. He has won 82 races in 397 mounts this year.

Justify is a big, powerful, strong horse who has the speed to run with the front runners and then has an extra gear that he can lean on when he starts his run for home. He has won all four of his races and has demonstrated his speed in each of them. Smith is a wonderful jockey who knows how to turn it on at the most opportune moments.

Bravazo has the late running ability to take advantage of a fast pace and a speed duel. Luis Saez is a capable jockey who has been to the winner's circle 118 times this season and has more than $7.4 million in 2018 earnings.

Predictions

Justify is the best horse in this race, and he may prove to be one for the ages if he can win the Triple Crown. He is the pick to do so and take the fight for the Triple Crown to June 9's Belmont Stakes.

Good Magic may get close to Justify at some point on the back stretch or near the top of it, but he won't be able to get past his rival. He will have to settle for second place once again.

A fast pace will mean Bravazo will come on with a rush and get his name on the board by finishing third.