Preakness Picks 2020: Examining Latest Vegas Predictions and Odds

Each year, Triple Crown bettors and viewers alike rely on the information they learned from watching the Kentucky Derby, the first jewel of the three annual thoroughbred races, heading into the Preakness Stakes, traditionally held two weeks thereafter.

Many of the horses who saddled up for the Derby will also compete in the Preakness, and with the latter's shorter length (1 3/16 miles), it can be easier to predict how the three-year-olds will fare. 

This year, however, the Triple Crown is running out of order because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Belmont Stakes, historically the third and final jewel, was run first, on June 20. Following was the Kentucky Derby, traditionally held on the first Saturday in May but this year run Sept. 5.

So on Saturday, four weeks after Authentic's triumph at Churchill Downs, the 145th Preakness Stakes will occupy its usual slot following the Kentucky Derby but will conclude this year's Triple Crown.

A handful of horses who ran in the Derby are competing in the Preakness, but there is also an infusion of new talent at this late stage to keep betters on their toes. Let's take a look at the odds and break down the favorites for Saturday's race.

2020 Preakness Post Positions and Odds

1. Excession: 30-1

2. Mr. Big News: 12-1

3. Art Collector: 5-2

4. Swiss Skydiver: 6-1

5. Thousand Words: 6-1

6. Jesus' Team: 30-1

7. Ny Traffic: 15-1

8. Max Player: 15-1

9. Authentic: 9-5

10. Pneumatic: 20-1

11. Liveyourbeastlife: 30-1

Odds according to Preakness.com

Of the 11 horses in the Preakness field, four ran in the Kentucky Derby: Authentic, Mr. Big News, Max Player and Ny Traffic.

Authentic, of course, won the race ahead of favorite Tiz the Law in second. Mr. Big News, meanwhile, came in third.

Another horse in the Preakness field, the Bob Baffert-trained Thousand Words, was scratched the day of the Derby after flipping in the paddock. And Art Collector, initially the second-favorite, was sidelined by an injury.

Tiz the Law, who won the Belmont Stakes in June, won't be running in the Preakness Stakes. With the Triple Crown off the table, his trainers are preparing him for the Breeders' Cup Classic on Nov. 7.

So it's no surprise that Authentic and Art Collector are the top betting choices ahead of the Preakness Stakes. Authentic, also trained by Hall of Famer Baffert, has lost only once in six starts.

The bay colt ran the seventh-fastest Kentucky Derby in history—and the Preakness is a half-furlong shorter in distance. Historically, horses who show blazing speed in the Derby perform well in the Preakness.

Meanwhile, Art Collector is undefeated on the year, most recently winning the Blue Grass Stakes (G2) over fellow Preakness contender Swiss Skydiver, the sole filly set to run at Pimlico on Saturday. But the $1 million Preakness stakes will mark the first Triple Crown race for his trainer, Thomas Drury Jr.

Ny Traffic held his own against Authentic in the Haskell Stakes (G1) but didn't land on the podium there. He didn't fight to the finish in the Derby, which doesn't bode well for Saturday.

Swiss Skydiver and Thousand Words could be surprise contenders Saturday, but this race is Authentic's to lose. And Art Collector has the best shot of playing spoiler.