Preakness 2022: Epicenter is heavy favorite in offshore futures

Who knows how much money Las Vegas bookmakers could have pocketed had they opened their Preakness Stakes betting before Monday afternoon’s post-position draw?

Had Nevada casinos posted futures odds last week with the usual rule that all bets are immediate action, they would have held onto more than a few dollars wagered on Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike and third-place finisher Zandon before their connections decided to bypass Pimlico this weekend.

They will play catch-up this week with one offshore book that has had Derby runner-up Epicenter as its favorite since it opened its futures seven days ago. By Monday afternoon the Steve Asmussen-trained colt who was sired by Not This Time was cut from a 5-2 opener to 5-4 (plus 125).

New shooters followed with Wood Memorial (G2) runner-up Early Voting carrying odds of 7-2, Kentucky Oaks-winning filly Secret Oath 4-1 and Derby-undercard allowance winner Creative Minister 5-1. Simplification, who finished fourth in the Derby, also was 5-1 on Monday.

Not that the offshore odds were without fault. They still had not reflected the late additions of Armagnac and Fenwick. They also still showed Un Ojo at 25-1 and Shake Em Loose at 33-1 after they had been removed from consideration.

The Preakness draw is scheduled for Monday at 4:30 p.m. EDT at Citron Restaurant and Bar in Baltimore. After that is done, Caesars at William Hill Nevada, Circa Sports and the Westgate Superbook all are expected to post their own fixed odds. Once that happens, bets do not become action until the horses listed start the race on Saturday at Pimlico.

These were the offshore futures Monday afternoon for Preakness 2022: