The Preakness Stakes is among the most exciting races on the horse racing calendar. The second leg of the prestigious Triple Crown of horse racing begins with the Kentucky Derby and ends the final race with the Belmont Stakes.
For the 2022 Preakness Stakes, only the strongest and healthiest horses will compete, which will feature numerous recognizable faces from the Kentucky Derby for the winner, is frequently favored in the Preakness Stakes and is challenged by both newcomers and long-standing adversaries.
However, some horses head directly towards the Preakness. This involves runners who arrive late or whose connections believe a more cautious approach is prudent. Moreover, in this article, you’ll know which horse you’ll place your bets with through the Kentucky Derby contenders and the leading candidates for this year’s Preakness Stakes who will directly head towards the Preakness Stakes.
2022 Preakness Contenders List
Until the Kentucky Derby ends, the Preakness Stakes contenders list will remain undetermined. However, knowing the top contenders for the Kentucky Derby through live coverage platforms will most likely give you a head start as to which horse will be favored moving onto the Preakness.
Kentucky Derby Contenders
As the one who will claim the win for the Kentucky Derby will definitely and most likely become the Preakness favorite. Thus, familiarizing yourself with the 2022 contenders of the Kentucky Derby can assist you in handicapping the preakness stakes betting as well. Below are the top five contenders for the first leg of the Triple Crown:
Epicenter
Epicenter, a bay colt handled by Steve Asmussen, is a 2022 top contender for the Kentucky Derby. The colt’s trainer has still yet to take home a Derby victory, but this year could be the year where his dream might be granted. In four of its five last races, the horse has finished four first places, and all of those victories have come on dirt.
Zandon
Zandon went directly from winning his inaugural maiden to finishing a game second in the nine-furlong Remsen. Then, he earned his three-year-old appearance in a robust version of the Risen Star, where he recovered from last, finishing third, only a half-length after wire-to-wire victor Epicenter.
White Abarrio
This flamboyant roan colt has exemplified constancy. He boasts four triumphs in five races, including a victory in two Kentucky Derby historically strong prep races. Furthermore, White Abarrio is not just a Gulfstream horse: he came in third during last year’s Kentucky Jockey Club, a race that had a significant impact on this year’s Derby track.
Mo Donegal
Mo Donegal is the son of the legendary Uncle Mo and one of the top late-season juveniles in the Northeast. He demonstrated outstanding acceleration and battling character in defeating Zandon in December’s nine-furlong Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct. Also, he reappeared at Gulfstream two months later in the Holy Bull for his sophomore debut.
Tiz the Bomb
Kenneth G. McPeek trains the bay colt, Tiz the Bomb. This year, the thoroughbred has won two of three races, coming in at first place. Additionally, Tiz the Bomb has shown strength on the turf following its debut in 2019. Tiz the Bomb is a viable alternative down the wagering trough for risk-averse wagerers.
Candidates Who Will Head Towards The Preakness Stakes
At this stage, these are the horses that have their sights set on the Preakness, not on the Kentucky Derby. As the race approaches, this list will soon be updated. Below are a few of the horses that will point directly toward the Preakness:
Blackadder
On Saturday, Blackadder trounced ten sophomore opponents in the El Camino Real Derby, which earned him an all-expenses-paid, complimentary entry into the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes, which will be held on May 21.
High Oak
High Oak began his juvenile career strongly, earning his Belmont debut and the Saratoga Special before finishing fourth in the Hopeful and resting for the winter. On March 5, he returned to the Fountain of Youth, wherein he collided with an opponent and fell.
Although he immediately recovered and went off the course, he was missing some significant training and the remainder of the Derby prep season due to an ankle injury. That was until April 4, when he returned to the worktable, making him eligible to run in this year’s Preakness.
Joe
Joe won his fourth race in six tries on April 16 when he prevailed in a stretch struggle in the Federico Tesio Stakes, a mile dirt sprint at Laurel. His career record increased to four victories in six races, all on the Laurel dirt.
His Preakness status, on the other hand, is questionable, as he has not yet been listed for the Triple Crown. However, his connections hinted prior to the Tesio, that turf might be in his next plans. The Preakness remains a possibility following his triumph.
Shake Em Loose
When it comes to winning races, Shake Em Loose is one of the accomplished horses you should consider. He has claimed four of his 11 career races. However, in the Private Terms Stakes at Laurel two runs ago, he scored his most recent triumph, as he took the jump against favorite heavy Joe and held on for a comfortable victory in the stretch.
Takeaway
The list of the possible contenders for the second leg of the prestigious Triple Crown will help you place your bets for your favorite contender on the upcoming 147th Preakness Stakes, which will take place at the Pimlico racecourse on May 21. So, stay tuned and updated!