How to bet the favorites in the Preakness Stakes

Cashing big payoffs can be tricky if you’re betting favorites. But mix and match the favorites in just the right combination, and it’s possible to secure a lucrative payday.

Consider Saturday’s $1 million Preakness (G1) at Pimlico. The newly crowned Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, #9 Authentic (9-5), is a short price on the morning line, and there is a chance he’ll dip even lower by post time. The versatile Blue Grass (G2) winner #3 Art Collector (5-2) is a logical alternative, who could likewise start at a shorter price than his morning-line odds suggest.

Both colts bring formidable résumés to the equation.

The frontrunning Authentic is a four-time graded stakes winner who ran a gallant race in the Derby, where he turned back a stiff challenge from heavy favorite Tiz the Law to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Art Collector is unbeaten and essentially unchallenged in four starts this season, and he parlayed a pace-tracking Blue Grass win into a frontrunning score in the Ellis Park Derby.

Splitting the two favorites is the tricky part, because in terms of Brisnet Speed ratings, they’re pretty evenly matched. Authentic holds a slim advantage, but he suffered his lone defeat when beaten to the lead in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), so there could be an element of vulnerability in play if Art Collector challenges Authentic early on.

So if you’re keen to bet the favorites in the Preakness, I wouldn’t suggest separating them. I would recommend to box them in the first two slots of trifecta and superfecta tickets. Underneath, let’s key #8 Max Player (15-1), in an effort to keep our tickets narrow and boost the return on investment.

Max Player might not be the most heralded runner in the Preakness field, but he has competed admirably against tough competition. He finished third in the Belmont (G1), third in the Travers (G1), and fifth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). A consistent late runner conditioned by two-time Preakness-winning trainer Steve Asmussen, Max Player has trained sharply since the Derby and can come running late to finish on the board.

We’ll round out our tickets with Kentucky Oaks (G1) runner-up #4 Swiss Skydiver (6-1) and impressive Pegasus S. winner #10 Pneumatic (20-1).

$7 trifecta: 3,9 with 3,9 with 8 ($14)
$4 trifecta: 3,9 with 3,9 with 4,10 ($16)
$2.50 superfecta: 3,9 with 3,9 with 8 with 4,10 ($10)
$2.50 superfecta: 3,9 with 3,9 with 4,10 with 8 ($10)
Total: $50

Good luck!