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UKLatest Preakness Stakes Odds & Picks
The field is set, posts have been drawn, and Journalism is the favorite in the opening Preakness Stakes odds. Journalism finished second at the Kentucky Derby to Sovereignty, but the latter is not competing this weekend.
Can Journalism win the second leg of the Triple Crown, or will he fall short once again? This guide highlights the opening odds for the 2025 Preakness Stakes, including my predictions for this year’s winner.
Odds to Win the 2025 Preakness Stakes
Here are the latest odds to win the 2025 Preakness Stakes, courtesy of the top horse racing betting sites.
| Horse | 2025 Preakness Odds |
|---|---|
| Journalism | +100 |
| Sandman | +500 |
| River Thames | +600 |
| Clever Again | +700 |
| Goal Oriented | +850 |
| American Promise | +1800 |
| Gosger | +1800 |
| Heart of Honor | +2800 |
| Pay Billy | +3300 |
BetOnline lists Journalism as the +100 favorite to win The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans. He will have the same jockey, Umberto Rispoli, who he carried to a second-place finish at the Kentucky Derby.
After Journalism, the odds to win the Preakness fade rapidly. Sandman, who finished seventh at the Derby, has the second-best odds at +500. River Thames and Clever Again round out the top four at +600 and +700, respectively.
A third Kentucky Derby entrant, American Promise, will also compete. After coming in 16th at Churchill Downs, American Promise is listed at +1800 to win the Preakness Stakes.
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Why is Journalism the Preakness Favorite?
Journalism was the favorite in the closing Kentucky Derby odds, but he came up short in the muddy conditions at Churchill Downs. However, with Sovereignty not running this weekend, the door is open for Journalism to win the Preakness Stakes.
His sire, Curlin, also lost at the Derby, finishing third behind Street Sense and Hard Spun in 2007. Curlin quickly turned things around and won at Preakness, before finishing second at Belmont.
Journalism’s case as the favorite is not just based on his pedigree. He has had plenty of success recently, including wins at the following events:
- 2025 Santa Anita Derby (G1)
- 2025 San Felipe (G2)
- 2024 Los Alamitos Futurity (G2)
Better racing conditions and the absence of the Derby winner should open the door for Journalism to win on Saturday.
Top 2025 Preakness Contenders
Journalism has already fallen short once as a favorite in a Triple Crown race, and he faces stiff competition at Pimlico. Sandman, River Thames, and Clever Again all have a chance to claim victory in Maryland, according to top Preakness Stakes betting sites.
Sandman (+500)
The horse with the best odds to upset Journalism this weekend at Preakness is Sandman. He came in seventh at the Derby, and Sandman is listed at +500 to win the second leg of the Triple Crown.
Sandman has already won a G1 race this year, claiming victory at the 2025 Arkansas Derby. He was trained by Mark Casse and is jockeyed by John Velázquez. Velázquez has six wins in Triple Crown races and won his first Preakness title in 2023.
Unlike Journalism, Sandman’s pedigree is lacking. Neither his sire, Tapit, nor his grandsires, Pulpit and Distorted Humor, competed in the Preakness. Tapit (2004) and Pulpit (1997) placed ninth and fourth in their respective Derby appearances.
River Thames (+600)
River Thames is a close third at 5-1 in the opening Preakness Stakes betting odds. This will be his first attempt in a Triple Crown race, as he did not race in the Derby.
Despite not winning a G1 race yet, bettors should not overlook River Thames. He was second to Derby winner Sovereignty at the 2025 Fountain of Youth (G2) and finished third at the 2025 Blue Grass Stakes (G1).
His jockey, Irad Ortiz, Jr., is still searching for his first Triple Crown. River Thames’s trainer, on the other hand, is Todd Pletcher, who has two Derby wins and four wins at Belmont. This would be Pletcher’s first win at Preakness.
Clever Again (+700)
Clever Again is also in the top half of the opening odds for the 2025 Preakness Stakes. This is his first race since winning the 2025 Hot Springs Stakes at the end of March.
The time off means that Clever Again should be well-rested heading into Saturday. He is also an intriguing betting option as Clever Again was sired by 2015 Triple Crown winner American Pharoah. His broodmare sire, Galileo, was a champion on the UK circuit in the early 2000s.
Clever Again has the pedigree to win a Triple Crown race, and so does the team around him. His trainer, Steve Asmussen, has two Preakness wins under his belt. José Ortiz, his jockey, won this event in 2022.
Best Preakness Stakes Sleeper
Journalism and Sandman are at the top of the Preakness odds after promising showings at Churchill Downs. Then there is American Promise, who drew gate number three and is a dark horse candidate at 18-1 odds.
American Promise does not have a G1 win on his resume, yet, but he has one of the best trainers in the sport. He was trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, who has 15 wins in Triple Crown races. Lukas’s best event has been the Preakness, with his horses winning seven times.
He helped last year’s winner, Seize the Grey, go from a 12-1 longshot to winning the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans. If anyone can make American Promise a Triple Crown gem winner, it is Lukas.
2025 Preakness Stakes Prop Bets
BetOnline also offers thrilling Preakness Stakes prop wagers. You can wager on the winning gate number, the winning time, head-to-head matchups, and more.
Horses with lower gate numbers have a shorter track, so it is no surprise that gate numbers under 4.5 are a -265 favorite. Also, Journalism, the favorite, drew gate two, making the under an even heavier favorite.
My top head-to-head is for American Promise to beat Hearts of Honor. American Promise is my dark horse pick, and Heart of Honor has the second-best odds at +300 to finish last on Saturday.
Lastly, I believe the winner will post a time of over 115 seconds. The winning time has slowly but surely increased every year since 2020, and that trend will continue this weekend.
Who Will Win the Preakness Stakes in 2025?
Journalism is the betting favorite in the opening Preakness Stakes odds. He failed to live up to expectations at the Kentucky Derby, but he will right that wrong this Saturday at Preakness. Journalism has the pedigree and personal success to claim victory this weekend.
You can wager on your 2025 Preakness Stakes predictions at BetOnline. The site is loaded with thrilling horse racing bonuses and competitive markets for every Triple Crown race.
Looking for more horse racing help? See our latest horse racing blogs for more advice from our experts. If you’ve got your preferred bet, head to BetOnline now!
