Epicenter The Center Of Attention At 2022 Preakness Stakes

Now that we’ve had an initial go of it with the Kentucky Derby, it’s time to put our horse race betting skills to the test once again.

Preakness 2022, takes place this Saturday, May 21. Will favored colt Epicenter take home the crown jewel, or will a longshot steal the show once again?

Epicenter early Preakness favorite

This historic 147th running at the Pimlico Race Course is the second leg of this year’s Triple Crown. There won’t be a horse in contention for all three jewels, though. The Derby’s surprise winner, Rich Strike, will be sitting this one out to prepare for Belmont Stakes.

Instead, Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter opens as the 6-5 favorite. While there are multiple ways to wager on horse races, a $2 straight bet on this favorite would earn you $11 if he wins.

Before his second-place finish at Churchill Downs, Epicenter logged two Grade 2 victories and one Grade 3 runner-up finish at Fair Grounds races this year. And while this particular Grade 1 may be new to the horse, his trainer Steve Asmussen holds two previous Preakness titles.

With Rich Strike out of the running, Epicenter’s potential for securing the win increases. That is — unless another underdog gallops away with an unexpected win.

Secret Oath betting odds

This lengthy track will put a strong set of both new and seasoned competitors to the test. With infamous trainer Bob Baffert still serving his 90-day suspension, D. Wayne Lukas becomes the trainer with the most previous Preakness wins. His filly Secret Oath carries 9-2 odds in the race.

As the reigning Kentucky Oaks winner, she falls in line as the race’s second-favorite behind Epicenter.

A win for Secret Oath this weekend would make her the seventh female horse to claim the Preakness.

Fillies don’t traditionally fare well at this event, though. Of the 55 fillies to participate in past Preakness races, only 10.9% have become winners.

But her 30-year-old jockey, Luis Saez, could be the missing piece of the puzzle for this filly. Saez has two past Preakness races under his belt. Moreover, Saez and his horse Flagstaff won Churchill Downs in 2021. Shortly after, he claimed victory at the Belmont Stakes with Essential Quality.

Secret Oath’s 9-2 odds mean you would pocket $11 from a $2 wager if Saez and his filly take the title.

2022 Preakness longshots

After Rich Strike shook up the field so tremendously at Churchill Downs, racing fans are keeping their eyes peeled for other potential longshots that could make their way to a showing this weekend.

Only two other horses have single-digit odds. Early Voting sits at 7-2, while Simplification has 6-1 odds. The remainder of this small nine-horse field trails with 10-1 odds or longer.

A win from the 20-1 Skippylongstocking, however, would earn you $42 on a $2 bet.

The odds of each competing horse are listed below, with favorite Epicenter sitting in the lead and longshot Fenwick trailing all the way back at 50-1 odds.

Fenwick’s lengthy odds would result in a substantial payday. A $2 wager would turn into $102 if the colt were to win.

Keep in mind, Rich Strick managed a victory with 80-1 odds, so a win from anyone in this pack is conceivable.

Head over to one of the available Tennessee horse betting sites and lock in your picks for the season’s next Triple Crown event. Post time is 7:01 p.m. ET this Saturday, and coverage begins at 4:30 p.m. on NBC.