Heading into this year’s event, many racing enthusiasts were wondering about the Preakness Stakes horses competing on Saturday, May 20. Since the yearly event serves as the second leg in the prestigious trio of races known as the Triple Crown.
Along with all the pomp and circumstance of the big race at Pimlico Race Course, also comes millions of dollars in bets.
Related: Preakness Stakes FAQ – Everything you need to know about the 2023 race
If you were one of the folks who made the smart choice and put your money down on Early Voting last year, then congratulations. If you were looking to win big again in 2023, this space took a look at the 2023 horses and the betting odds heading into the 148th edition of the race.
Horses at Preakness Stakes 2023
Each year, as many as 14 horses take to Pimlico Race Course looking to add their name to a long list of winners at the legendary race. The 2023 edition had just seven horses, the lowest amount since 1986. Below you will find all the horses and their odds heading into the race.
National Treasure
While he is banned from the Kentucky Derby, legendary trainer Bob Baffert will be at the Preakness and his horse National Treasure was one of the favorites. This shows how well respected his resume is because the colt has not had a strong showing in recent races. Treasure has finished no better than third in its last three against some of the best three-year-olds today. Based on his history, Treasure was both a serious contender and a dark horse.
Odds: 4-1
Blazing Sevens
Chad Brown’s horse Blazing Sevens has solid odds at the 2023 Stakes but had not won a race since October of last year after winning two of three. The three-year-old is slumping and had a shocking eighth-place finish in March at the Fountain of Youth derby. Blazing would have been a big surprise to win the event on May 20.
Odds: 12-1
Perform
Like Chase The Chaos, Perform had some of the longest odds in the Preakness. However, the colt enters the race running well after scoring his first two wins in his last two races. If you were going to be a huge underdog, you’d prefer to do so on a hot streak and with a very confident horse. Perform was that.
Odds: 15-1
Mage
Gustavo Delgado-trained colt Mage was not a favorite like Tapit Trice or Angel of Empire at Kentucky but had solid odds. In the end, the horse showed its championship talent by coming on late to win the race. Mage was many bettor’s sentimental choice but was actually a top pick with oddsmakers to win the second leg of the vaunted Triple Crown as well.
Odds: 3-1
Coffeewithchris
No thoroughbred in this year’s race had more experience than Coffeewithchris. The gelding has a surprising 11 races under its belt and has three first and second-place finishes apiece during its career. While Coffee had some of the longest odds heading into the Stakes, there was no competitor more prepared to compete than the John Salzman Jr.-trained horse.
Odds: 20-1
Red Route One
Steven Asmussen-trained colt Red Route One was one of the most experienced horses in the Preakness Stakes 2023. The three-year-old has competed in nine races in the last nine months and seemed to be rounding into form with two second-place finishes to start the year and a win in the Bath House Row in April.
Odds: 16-1
Chase The Chaos
There always had to be the biggest underdog in every race and in the Stakes this year Ed Moger Jr.’s Chase The Chaos had the steepest odds in the event. However, Chaos might be a hidden gem. While the gelding has not performed well of late, the horse had eight races under its belt and three wins. Chaos was unlikely to win but he wasn’t a bad longshot bet at the event.
Odds: 50-1
Odds for 2003 Preakness Stakes
Below you can take a look at all of the horses that were in the 2023 Preakness Stakes and the biggest favorites and underdogs in the event.
2023 Preakness betting odds
- Mage – 8-5
- National Treasure – 4-1
- Blazing Sevens – 6-1
- Red Route One – 10-1
- Perform – 15-1
- Coffeewithchis – 20-1
- Chase The Chaos – 50-1
Who won the 2023 Preakness Stakes
National Treasure was the favorite heading into the Preakness Stakes 2023 and showed exactly why on race day. From the start, Treasure led the and then held on to the spot throughout the mile-long run to history.
While Mage was the horse many were rooting for to win the second leg of the Triple Crown, he finished third as Treasure dominated and was able to hold off a late charge from Blazing Sevens to win the 2023 race.