Expert picks: 2020 Preakness picks and predictions
Kentucky Derby winner Authentic figures to be a popular pick to win the Preakness Stakes, but our team thinks it it more than a one horse race.
BET the Preakness & Get a $200 Bonus from NYRABets!
Read how our experts are placing their Preakness race wagers below:
Jarrod Horak
Winner: #8 Max Player
Hit the board: #3 Art Collector
Hit the board: #9 Authentic
Longshot: #10 Pnuematic
Analysis: Max Player has been facing top G1 company all year and might improve in his second start for Asmussen. Art Collector has been untouchable in dirt routes and his versatility makes him more dangerous than Derby winner Authentic. The latter needs a clear early lead through moderate splits and might not get it this time.
Pneumatic is lightly raced and improving but I am concerned about the added distance. From a wagering standpoint, Art Collector is strictly the one to beat and I want to get Max Player somewhere in the top three at 15-1. I respect Authentic's speed but am not afraid to bet against him in this spot. Get Jarrod's selections for the Pimlico Rainbow 6 on Preakness day.
[Related: Get Free Preakness Past Performances here]
Padraic Manocchio
Winner: #3 Art Collector
Hit the board: #9 Authentic
Hit the board: # 7 Ny Traffic
Longshot: #10 Pnuematic
Analysis: Art Collector is primed and ready to breakthrough in this spot. He is fresh and has the tactical speed to keep Authentic close. He has yet to be asked for his best this year and there is more in the tank than he has shown. Authentic and Ny Traffic will battle similar to their Haskell showdown, but this time it will be for 2nd. Pneumatic and Max Player are good horses to include in your trifectas and superfectas at a price. Padraic also walks through 7 potential singles from Saturday's stakes menu nationwide.
Ron Flatter
Winner: #3 Art Collector
Hit the board: #9 Authentic
Hit the board: #5 Thousand Words
Longshot: #10 Pnuematic
Analysis: I may also throw Max Player into a five-horse box for exacta and trifecta plays. Authentic is the most accomplished horse in the field, but he will not have his way on the front end the way he did at Churchill Downs. A freshened Art Collector may be the biggest wise-guy horse there has been in a while in an important competitive race, and this suits him more than a 1 1/4-mile Derby would have. The tote board will be the final arbiter in my seeking of value.
Candice Curtis
Winner: #10 Pnuematic
Hit the board: #9 Authentic
Hit the board: #3 Art Collector
Longshot: #8 Max Player
Analysis: For the Preakness, I'm going with Pneumatic, a horse who seems to be on a forward progression and seems to be a forgotten horse after the Derby winner, Art Collector and Swiss Skydiver. Should get a tracking trip behind the heavily-pressured pace. Will probably not go off at his 20-1 morning line, but will still be juicy odds.
Authentic is very good and I can see him sticking around in the Trifecta. Art Collector is also very good, but he won't have the odds I'm looking for. Finally, if there is a pace meltdown, look for Max Player to come chugging down the stretch like a train - and if the pace doesn't collapse, he's still good enough for the Superfecta. Swiss Skydiver has had a long and strenuous year, and I think it catches up to her Saturday.
Brad Stephens
Winner: #3 Art Collector
Hit the board: #4 Swiss Skydiver
Hit the board: #5 Thousand Words
Longshot: #7 Ny Traffic
Analysis: Art Collector has been flawless in 2020, and trainer Tommy Drury Jr. didn’t take a chance by running him at less than 100 percent in the Kentucky Derby. That patience should pay off with a big effort Saturday at Pimlico.
Jeffrey Byrnes
Winner: #3 Art Collector
Hit the board: #9 Authentic
Hit the board: # 7 Ny Traffic
Longshot: #10 Pnuematic
Analysis: Art Collector comes into the Preakness on a big win streak, and should be at a distance he likes. Pimlico is a track that plays kind to speed, Art Collector has plenty of that. He has posted sharp drills the last few weeks and looks ready to go to make a big run Saturday.
The Derby winner Authentic is looking for his 5th win on the year, after his surprising win in the Kentucky Derby, he should show speed again and again will have to come from the outside. He reunites with John Velasquez and should get a great trip.
NY Traffic got the trip in the Derby but couldn't stay on at the end. He comes into the Preakness in good form and a should be able to workout a trip from the 7 post. He almost beat Authentic two back in the Haskell, expect a big run from him late.
Pneumatic is coming off a sharp win in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth, he got a good pace to chase and won going away. He steps up in class, but he is a much better horse than he was a few months ago. Live longshot. I will play a 3-9-7-10 superfecta.
Victor Ryan
Winner: #10 Pneumatic
Hit the board: #3 Art Collector
Hit the board: #5 Thousand Words
Longshot: #8 Max Player
Pneumatic is on the improve and fresh, so perhaps he's the "now" horse at likely double-digit odds. As for Kentucky Derby winner Authentic, it's possible he's simply the best of this group. However, he also figures to face added pace pressure this time around and perhaps that pays a toll in the late going. Probably worth a minimum 'saver' bet keying Authentic in the trifecta/superfecta, but otherwise going for the downs hoping Pneumatic runs a big one.
W/P #10;Trifecta/Superfecta key 10 with 2,3,5,8,9
Reinier Macatangay
Winner: #9 Authentic
Hit the board: 3 Art Collector
Hit the board: #10 Pnuematic
Longshot: #8 Max Player
Analysis: Authentic gets the top slot because most Kentucky Derby winners with speed prove themselves capable of defeating good horses and handling an honest pace. As long as he breaks well in this spot, he figures to secure the lead and take them all the way once again. If not, Art Collector and Pneumatic possess some tactical speed in a race likely to feature a moderately-fast pace and either of them can take advantage. All three of them are usable in multi-race wagers, but Authentic is the key on top in a trifecta wheel. Reinier outlines his full Preakness Trifecta recommendations here.