2025 Preakness Stakes preview: Betting guide, how to watch, starting time

The 150th running of the Preakness Stakes serves as the next step on the Triple Crown trail, where there will be no back-to-back bid, setting up a new winner. On the shortest track of the three, it is time for The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans to take center stage.

The traditional-rich sport shifts its focus to Baltimore, Maryland, where all eyes are on the horses who make the short turnaround from the Kentucky Derby and new foes on a completely different track. Set to be broadcast on NBC, there are many more stories to follow in the meantime.

How to watch

Post Time: 7:01 pm ET

Location: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland

Channel: NBC

Preakness Stakes odds

The Preakness Stakes is heavily influenced by the number of Kentucky Derby horses attempting the short turnaround, causing the odds to shift heavily throughout the week and day leading up to the main event. These odds will continue to be updated leading up to the race.

Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty will not run for the Triple Crown. However, Journalism, American Promise and Sandman all make the short turnaround.

All odds for this race come via Twin Spires and are accurate as of Saturday morning. In addition, the horses are listed in order of gate number, along with the corresponding odds.

1. Goal Oriented – 7/1
2. Journalism – 6/5
3. American Promise 10/1
4. Heart of Honor – 20/1
5. Pay Billy – 12/1
6. River Thames – 9/1
7. Sandman – 5/1
8. Clever Again – 5/1
9. Gosger – 19/1

More on the favorites

Journalism returns as the favorite after finishing second in the Kentucky Derby. Ridden by Umberto Rispoli and trained by Michael McCarthy, he has been the best horse in the class so far.

Sandman also makes the short turnaround from the Kentucky Derby after finishing seventh as the second favorite. Jockey John Velazquez will take over in a swap under trainer Mark Casse.

Clever Again rounds out the list of favorites as the best horse among the group that did not run in the Kentucky Derby, giving them extra rest on their side. Jose Ortiz will serve as the jockey under trainer Steve Asmussen.

More on the Preakness Stakes

Known for the party on the infield, the Preakness Stakes is the party race of the Triple Crown. A wildly different setup than the Kentucky Derby, it brings its own type of charm as a unique horse racing atmosphere in history.

The state of the track often determines which horse can claim an advantage, based on their past experience on each surface. The forecast shows sun in the area, setting up good track conditions in the heat.

With so much data available on each horse, jockey and trainer coming into the race and the element of randomness too, many people take other paths to choosing their best bet. Whether you pick the Triple Crown contender or best storyline, there is no wrong approach coming into the Preakness Stakes.