Early Preakness odds: Favorite is not so obvious

While domestic sites wait until Monday’s draw to post their odds for the Preakness Stakes, at least one foreign sportsbook has opened futures for the May 15 race. And no, a Bob Baffert-trained horse was not the early favorite.

Before trainer Brad Cox declared Tuesday he would not be race at Pimlico, Essential Quality was the 5-2 top choice at the Panama-based site BetOnline.ag.

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Medina Spirit, the upset winner in the Derby, is 9-2, followed by stablemate Concert Tour at 7-1. Baffert said Monday that he intends to send them both to Baltimore.

Also trained by Cox, Derby runner-up Mandaloun is 7-1 and Caddo River is 10-1.

BetOnline lists 12 probable or possible Preakness starters in its odds, which are action the moment a bet is placed, regardless of whether a horse actually takes part in the race.

Following were the early odds that BetOnline had posted for the Preakness:

  5-2 Essential Quality

  9-2 Medina Spirit

  7-1 Concert Tour

  7-1 Mandaloun

10-1 Caddo River

16-1 Crowded Trade

16-1 Midnight Bourbon

16-1 Ram

18-1 King Fury

20-1 France Go de Ina

20-1 Rombauer

20-1 Unbridled Honor