Preakness Stakes 2023: Picks and predictions from the experts
Experts from The Post and Action Network handicap Saturday’s 148th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Post time is approximately 7:01 p.m.
Vic Cangialosi
New York Post racing handicapper
1. Perform: With First Mission the latest in a long line of Triple Crown scratches, Shug McGaughey’s high-level performer moves up.
Like First Mission, he’s peaking at the time and may offer better value. Enters off back-to-back wins, the latest after a troubled trip.
Like Mage, he’s sired by Good Magic and Shug believes the deep closer will get the distance. Outkicks the Derby winner.
2. Mage: Can Mage win the second jewel and spice up the Belmont Stakes in three weeks? Of course.
All the top 3-year-olds have either taken the week off or have been forced to the sidelines.
Truth is there are better horses in the bruised foot division than the watered-down field he faces here. With First Mission scratched you have to figure he will leave the gate as an even-money favorite.
Can he win two races in two weeks? Maybe. But you may want to shop around.
3. National Treasure: Speed kills and Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will have Bob Baffert’s horse on the lead.
Johnny V may be able to dictate the pace. If he can give Treasure a breather down the Pimlico backstretch, he will be hard to reel in.
That’s the good news. Now the bad news. He has one win — in a sprint.
Michael Leboff
Action Network racing handicapper
1. National Treasure: There’s probably one horse that has the goods to go gate-to-wire in this field and it’s Baffert’s National Treasure.
Part of that is out of necessity — National Treasure drew the inside rail — but it’s also because, outside of Mage, there’s no real pace in this field.
2. Perform: If you’re looking for a long shot, Perform seems to be the horse to back.
He came from behind to win his last time out at the Federico Tesio Stakes and now is working on a two-race winning streak.
It’s likely we haven’t seen this horse’s ceiling just yet.
3. Mage: Winning the Preakness two weeks after the Kentucky Derby is not easy, but Mage is a deserving favorite in this field.
Betting on the Preakness Stakes?
He posted great speed figures in his Derby win and could still improve.
The price may not be there for Mage to have much value as a win bet, but it seems very likely that will hit the board in this field.
Thomas Casale
Action Network senior editor
1. Mage: I typically don’t back the Derby winner in the Preakness but given the competition in this year’s field, Mage is clearly the horse to beat.
Remember, Mage started slowly in the Derby before catching up to the speed horses and holding off a game Two Phil’s and Angel of Empire. Mage should head to Belmont with a shot to win the Triple Crown.
2. Perform: If Mage falters, my pick to win is Perform.
A horse with late speed, Perform will be a factor down the final stretch.
An interesting note: Post position six has produced the most winners in the Preakness Stakes (16).
At 15/1 morning line, Perform is the best value on the board. A great option for exotic wagers.
3. Blazing Sevens: Trainer Chad Brown decided to skip the Derby and focus Blazing Sevens on the Preakness.
This is a strategy that’s worked for Brown twice in the past six years (Cloud Computing, Early Voting). Blazing Sevens finished a disappointing third in the Blue Grass Stakes but has the pedigree and trainer to win at Pimlico.
