Horse race betting won't see a Triple Crown winner in 2020, with the previous legs captured by different horses, but Authentic will try to take two of the three jewels on Saturday as the favorite in the Preakness Stakes.
Belmont Stakes winner Tiz the Law won't run this weekend but Authentic will look to follow up on his Kentucky Derby victory last month with a win at the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Race Course.
Our horse racing analyst Monique Vág previews the 2020 Preakness Stakes odds and field horse-by-horse, giving her picks and predictions, including her favorite trifecta for the Saturday, October 3 contest.
PREAKNESS STAKES 2020 HORSES AND PREDICTIONS
1. Excession (Jockey: Sheldon Russell) - 30/1 odds
This colt projects to be one of the longest shots on the board with his 1-for-9 record and his only victory versus Maiden company.
He enters today off a nice rallying effort in his most recent race in the Rebel Stakes, finishing second best to Nadal at a huge price. Despite that solid effort, it has been over six months since this colt's last race. Although he will be fresh, the time away raises issues of fitness - how sharp will he be with such a lengthy layoff?
2. Mr. Big News (Gabriel Saez) - 12/1
He raced very well in the Kentucky Derby finishing third-best at a huge price to Authentic after making a five-wide move late. Young horses can show improvement from one start to the next and he showed big strides from his effort in the Blue Grass to the most recent one on September 20th in Lexington.
Expect this colt to be positioned somewhere mid-pack, and look for another late rallying bid. Although he needs a lot of speed early, this colt looks like a very live longshot to round out your trifecta and superfecta wagers at a nice price.
3. Art Collector (Brian Hernandez Jr.) - 5/2
He's won five straight overall, dating back to November of 2019. Throughout his winning streak, he's flaunted a ton of early speed and has rated well on the front end. Most importantly, he has beaten some graded stakes company along the way.
He was set to race in the Kentucky Derby but a minor injury held him back less than a week before, but this will be his first real big test. The talent is there and his running style should help set him up well as he looks to remain undefeated in 2020.
4. Swiss Skydiver (Robby Albarado) - 6/1
This filly romped in the Alabama Stakes on August 20 and followed that up by an equally-impressive performance in the Kentucky Oaks, finishing second best.
Saturday's start will make her only the 55th female to run in the Preakness Stakes. Only 11 before have won a Triple Crown race. In her only career start versus males, she finished second to Art Collector in the Blue Grass Stakes after setting the tempo. Look for a similar effort once again with this filly forwardly placed.
5. Thousand Words (Florent Geroux) - 6/1
Finally logged his first victory of 2020 in his most recent effort in the Shared Belief Stakes at Del Mar, where he was able to turn the tables on Honor A.P. He's one of two for Bob Baffert in here, and will be the much higher price for Baffert who looks to capture a record eighth Preakness win.
His big effort in the Shared Belief made this a buzz horse going into the Derby, but his actions in the paddock led to this horse being a late scratch just minutes before post. A big question mark in this field. If he shows up, he could definitely grab a piece.
6. Jesus' Team (Jevian Toledo) - 30/1
Enters today off a third-place finish in the Jim Dandy and makes his Triple Crown debut with connections electing to pay the $25,000 supplementing fee to have this horse run. Although his recent works have looked good, his only two wins have come versus Maiden company and claimers.
He's going to be a big price on Saturday and needs to show a drastic improvement from his most recent efforts to even hit the board.
7. Ny Traffic (Horacio Karamanos) - 15/1
His most impressive race was a runner-up finish to Authentic in the Haskell Stakes, finishing second by a nose and almost getting to the front runner late in the mile. He followed that up with an ugly performance in the Kentucky Derby. Timing-wise, there was no apparent excuse, he just didn't fire.
This horse was a late entry into the Preakness Stakes with connections selecting to place him here a mere two hours before the draw. He'll be one of many speed horses vying for the front end.
8. Max Player (Paco Lopez) - 15/1
He's the only horse entered today who has made a start in all three Triple Crown races. He was third-best in the Belmont, and fifth-best in the Kentucky Derby working out rallying efforts in both. Prior to his most recent start in the Derby, he made the move to the Asmussen barn.
His best shot at hitting the board or perhaps even pulling off the upset would be a contested, hot pace. If that is the case, he would benefit the most from fast early fractions and could definitely get up to collect a nice piece late.
9. Authentic (John Velazquez) - 9/5
Flaunted early speed to overcome a difficult outside draw in the Derby to secure the front end. He will be the pacesetter once again, but this time there appears to be more than enough early speed that he may not secure the front end so easily.
Although many had questions about how well he would handle the distance last start, stamina was no issue setting honest fractions up front and fending off challenger Tiz the Law with ease. The one to beat.
10. Pneumatic (Joe Bravo) - 20/1
This lightly-raced colt comes in off a victory last time out in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park. Although it was a much easier field, he did defeat Jesus' Team and has raced well versus other Preakness contenders earlier in the year.
Stylistically, a stalking trip would be ideal for this colt, and racing off that particular style would give this colt his best shot at hitting the board. Could warrant a closer look to use underneath.
11. Liveyourbestlife (Junior Alvarado) - 30/1
Started his racing career out sprinting but does seem better-suited route racing. In his most recent in the Jim Dandy, this colt finished second-best, beaten under a length, but fractions were favorable and he had a solid pace to run into.
This is a huge test and a big ask to expect this colt to be competitive versus a group like this with limited graded stakes tries and none versus the top contenders. He's the second of two horses supplemented into the Preakness, and another who would need to show drastic strides of improvement to even hit the board. Pass.
2020 PREAKNESS STAKES TRIFECTA PICK
1. Authentic
2. Thousand Words
3. Art Collector
