
Mage is the default 2023 Preakness Stakes favorite on Saturday, but the only favorite to win the Preakness in the last seven tries was Justify in 2018. He rallied from 12 lengths to stun the wide-open field, using his elite closing speed to win the first jewel of the Triple Crown. The perception around Mage has flipped over the past two weeks after he entered the Kentucky Derby as a longshot. One surprise: Menez is fading Mage, even though he is the Kentucky Derby winner and 8-5 Preakness favorite. Top 2023 Preakness Stakes expert predictions Now, he has handicapped the 2023 Preakness Stakes lineup, made his picks and constructed his bets. Anyone who has followed his lead is way up. Davis Stakes, the place horse of the Rebel Stakes, and the trifecta in the Jenny Wiley Stakes. In a span of seven races, he cashed the winner of the Lecomte Stakes, the exacta in the Southwest Stakes, the winner of the Holy Bull Stakes, the winner of the Sam F. 26, Menez hit the Pick 5 at Santa Anita Park. Then in 2017, he tweeted out his Kentucky Derby picks, including Always Dreaming to win, and hit the Pick 4, which paid almost $6,900 on a $1 bet.

In 2015, while writing for Sports on Earth, Menez accurately gave out the Kentucky Derby superfecta (American Pharoah, Firing Line, Dortmund and Frosted), which paid $1,268.20 for $2. Between 20, he served as SI's handicapper for the Triple Crown races and correctly predicted Super Saver to win the Kentucky Derby in 2010. With several new horses taking their shot at the Kentucky Derby winner, you'll want to see what SportsLine writer Gene Menez has to say before making any 2023 Preakness Stakes picks.Ī former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez covered an array of sports, including horse racing, for the magazine and its website for almost 14 years. There are only seven 2023 Preakness Stakes horses, with Mage being the only one who also raced in the Kentucky Derby two weeks ago. Should you include him in your 2023 Preakness Stakes bets? Mage is the 8-5 favorite in the 2023 Preakness Stakes odds, while National Treasure has the second-shortest odds at 4-1.

National Treasure has the second-highest single-race Beyer Speed Figure in the 2023 Preakness Stakes field (97), showcasing his speed with a win at Del Mar last year. His horse, National Treasure, will be ridden by Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, who is still seeking his first-ever Preakness win. Trainer Bob Baffert has won the Preakness Stakes seven times during his career and will return from a two-year ban on Saturday for the 2023 Preakness Stakes.
