The 2022 Preakness Stakes is less than a month away, and it’s never too early to start handicapping the favorites and best bets for this historic Maryland race.
On May 21, Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore will welcome back full attendance for the first time since 2019. Maryland horse racing fans are ready for a total return to the pomp and circumstance at Old Hilltop.
Which horse will win the middle jewel of the Triple Crown? Let’s take a look at the latest news.
2021 Preakness Stakes recap
Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon entered the 2021 Preakness Stakes as the two clear favorites. However, neither wore the Black-Eyed Susans after the event.
Longshot Rombauer stormed home to win at odds of 11-1. The victory gave trainer Michael McCarthy his first triumph in a Triple Crown race.
Midnight Bourbon settled for second money. Medina Spirit ran third two weeks after crossing the wire first in the Kentucky Derby, and his story was far from finished.
Bob Baffert suspended from the 2022 Preakness Stakes
Baffert came under fire following the 2021 Kentucky Derby. Medina Spirit, who gave Baffert his seventh Kentucky Derby win, failed a post-race drug test.
The test showed 21 picograms of betamethasone. Betamethasone is not a banned substance, but Medina Spirit twice tested above the legal limit for it.
Churchill Downs immediately suspended Baffert. After a lengthy investigation that stretched into 2022, Medina Spirit was officially disqualified. Initial runner-up Mandaloun was declared the winner.
Now, Baffert faces a 90-day suspension handed down by the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission that lasts through the 2022 Triple Crown season. On April 12, the Maryland Racing Commission honored that suspension, saying Baffert will “not be eligible to participate in the Preakness Stakes.”
What to watch for, and how to bet
The Preakness Stakes is still weeks away, and we’ll have to see how certain horses look after the Kentucky Derby. The first leg of the Triple Crown will take place on Saturday, May 7, at Churchill Downs.
The Kentucky Derby winner is usually the de facto favorite in the Preakness. Other horses from that race may come back on two weeks’ rest, while some talented 3-year-olds may skip the Derby to prepare for the Preakness.
Sports betting in Maryland is not available. However, advance-deposit wagering on horse racing is legal in the state. You can watch and wager on Maryland horse racing (and racing from around the country) on your computer, tablet, or phone.
In addition to an online service and an app, TVG also has a pair of television networks. TVG and TVG2 are available through cable providers and the Watch TVG app. That app can be downloaded to Amazon, Apple TV, and Roku devices.
Other ADW platforms include TwinSpires, 1/ST BET, and NYRA Bets. You can also watch live horse racing on “America’s Day at the Races,” shown on the Fox Sports family of networks and the New York Racing Association YouTube channel.
