The Triple Crown’s second jewel takes place this Saturday when horses enter the starting gate for the 2022 Preakness Stakes. Morning line favorite Epicenter finished second in the Kentucky Derby. Epicenter could go off at even money to win the Preakness. Check out the entry list with morning line horse racing odds and a Preakness Stakes preview.

2022 Preakness Stakes Event Info

• When: Saturday, May 21, 2022
• Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, MD
• TV/Streaming: NBC / Peacock

READ MORE: 2022 Preakness Stakes Betting Guide

2022 Preakness Stakes Entry List & Morning Line Odds

1. Simplification 6-1
2. Creative Minister 10-1
3. Fenwick 50-1
4. Secret Oath 9-2
5. Early Voting 7-2
6. Happy Jack 30-1
7. Armagnac 12-1
8. Epicenter 6-5
9. Skippylongstocking 20-1

How fast will the horses run early?

The pace in the Kentucky Derby was exceedingly fast, which is why the pace imploded and Rich Strike, a deep closer, found a way to the winner’s circle first. Don’t expect a pace nearly as quick in the Preakness Stakes. Only two confirmed front runners have entered, Early Voting and Armagnac. Of the two, Early Voting will go to the front. Armagnac may not have the ability to keep up with Early Voting. If allowed to settle on the lead, Early Voting should cut out a half-mile fraction of 46 seconds to a shade over 47 seconds, which would mean the Preakness pace will be at least a full second slower than the pace in the Kentucky Derby.

Where will the top three choices, Epicenter, Secret Oath, and Early Voting be positioned at the half-mile pole?

Early Voting should be on the lead. Epicenter should be no more than a length behind Early Voting while Secret Oath should be 4 to 5 lengths behind the top pair.

If Epicenter jockey Joel Rosario knows what’s good for the horse, he will have the second place Derby finisher no worse than a half a length behind Early Voting. Since the pace won’t be sharp, Epicenter’s best chance of winning will be to stay close to Early Voting without getting into a speed duel.

Which of the three favorites, which should horseplayers circle?

Secret Oath has a wicked turn of foot. But she ran against the boys before and failed big time. Her performance in the Arkansas Derby was her worst so far this year. Not only that, but she may not have enough pace to chase and could struggle to keep Epicenter and Early Voting in her sights.

Epicenter ran the best race in the Kentucky Derby. He wasn’t on the pace, but he was close enough to feel the effects, which is why he struggled home late. Horses bounce, though. So even though Epicenter didn’t win the Kentucky Derby, he ran a good enough race to win the Derby, which means we must question if he’s ready to run a similar race two weeks later.

By contrast, Early Voting is fresh. The Chad Brown trained runner has all the tools to take these gate-to-wire. So if Armagnac can’t keep up early, and Epicenter tires because he ran so hard in the Kentucky Derby, Early Voting can win.

Name the longshot with the best chance of upsetting the favorites

Simplification is a hard-knocking, very good racehorse. The Antonio Sano trainee went wide around the final turn in the Kentucky Derby. If he had skimmed the rail like Rich Strike, who knows? Maybe, Simplification wins the roses. In any case, he’s worth a look at the odds. But the best longshot is Creative Minister.

The Kenny McPeek trained runner didn’t post a huge Beyer Figure when winning an allowance on the Derby undercard. No worries. At least three times during the race, Creative Minister geared down and relaxed.

When a horse is able to gear down, relax, and then kick it up a notch when the jockey asks, the horse has ability. Don’t be surprised if it’s Creative Minister that runs down Early Voting and not Epicenter.

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*All odds stated are subject to change without prior notice.

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