Charlie Riedel/Associated Press
The 2022 Preakness Stakes will have a different feel to it than in previous years.
Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike is not participating in Saturday’s race, which means there will be no Triple Crown winner in 2022.
The situation at Pimlico Race Course might have been different had Epicenter held on to first place during the final few lengths at Churchill Downs on May 7. The colt will be looking for success in the Preakness instead.
Epicenter was listed as the morning line favorite after Monday’s post draw. He is one of four horses with odds of 10-1 or lower as of Tuesday morning.
Despite the light field, several quality runners will be in action this weekend, and one or two should be capable of challenging Epicenter for a trip to the winner’s circle.
Preakness Stakes Draw and Odds
Favorites and Contenders
Epicenter
Epicenter is the highest-placed horse from the Kentucky Derby set to compete in the Preakness.
The colt entered the hunt for the Triple Crown with back-to-back victories at the Risen Star Stakes and Louisiana Derby, and he has finished first or second in each of his last five starts. That makes him one of the most trustworthy names in the field.
Epicenter currently sits at 6-5 to win on Saturday, and there is a chance it could go lower if enough action comes in on him before post time.
The pre-race favorite should be at the front for most of the race from Post 8, and maybe this time around he can cash in on a late lead.
Simplification
Simplification took a quiet fourth-place finish at the Kentucky Derby behind Epicenter and Zandon, who was one of the other favored horses.
The colt is one of three horses racing on two weeks’ rest, with Happy Jack being the third entrant taking on the Derby-Preakness double.
Simplification earned a favorable Post 1 starting berth on the inside lane from Monday’s draw.
The Antonio Sano-trained three-year-old should dictate his own pace at the start of the race and will not match up with Epicenter until the second half.
Hopes are high for a top-three spot for Simplification after he finished inside the top four in all but one of his eight starts dating back to October.
Secret Oath
Secret Oath is the only race winner from Churchill Downs entered in the Preakness.
The three-year-old filly earned a trip to the winner’s circle at the Kentucky Oaks, which is the premier Friday race at Churchill Downs.
Secret Oath owns four victories in her last five starts. The lone exception during that run was a third-place finish at the Arkansas Derby behind Run for the Roses participants Cyberknife and Barber Road.
Secret Oath has plenty of experience around her, including trainer D. Wayne Lukas who has six Preakness wins to his name, and jockey Luis Saez who won the Belmont Stakes and Dubai World Cup in 2021.
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