The 2023 Preakness Stakes (Saturday 6:50 p.m. ET post time, NBC) will mark the 148th running of the Triple Crown horse race at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. With the Preakness post positions being drawn on Monday, it's time to break down the field, which includes Kentucky Derby winner Mage in his quest for the second jewel.
Mage (15-1) won the Derby in a mild upset over Angel of Empire (8-1, third place, show) and Tapit Trice (5-1, seventh place) after strong favorite Forte pulled out. Now all eyes will be on the 3-year-old chestnut to build on that momentum at the Preakness before trying to win the Triple Crown at the Belmont Stakes in June.
Angel of Empire, Tapit Trice and second-place finisher Two Phil's all will not be racing again. Mage has to face a new, rested slew of challengers, this time, as a heavy favorite who won't be sneaking up anyone. Here's looking at the fresh horses and whether Mage can keep up his winning wizardry in the shortest Triple Crown race (1 1/16 miles):
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Preakness post positions, odds for 2023
Here are the odds for the seven horses competing in the 2023 Preakness Stakes, including the Derby winner Mage, to be updated ahead of Saturday evening's race. After the scratching of First Mission ahead of Saturday morning at Pimlico, take a look at Mage's position and that of the six new horses competing against him:
| Post position | Horse | Odds |
| 1 | National Treasure | 4-1 |
| 2 | Chase the Chaos | 50-1 |
| 3 | Mage | 8-5 |
| 4 | Coffeewithchris | 20-1 |
| 5 | Red Route One | 10-1 |
| 6 | Perform | 15-1 |
| 7 | Blazing Sevens | 6-1 |
| 8 | First Mission | SCR |
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What are Kentucky Derby winner Mage's chances to win the 2023 Preakness, too?
Mage got warmed up well for the Derby by finishing a fast fourth in the Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream, a race that's the same length of the Preakness. He showed more promise by finished second to late Kentucky Derby scratch Forte in the Florida Derby.
Mage took control by ripping through the final stretch at Churchill Downs. He should be motivated to close strong again with a little less ground in the end.
Which other 2023 Preakness contenders have the best track record?
1. National Treasure
Although he has faded of late in races against one-time Derby contenders Forte, Reincarnate and Practical Move at both Keeneland and Santa Anita, this horse can get it done by building enough momentum by mid-race.
2. Blazing Sevens
With a classic slot machine name, savvy trainer Chad Brown will hope this is the right time for another new entry to stop the Derby winner for the third time in the past seven Preakness Stakes.
Which trainers can you trust most in the Preakness?
1. Bob Baffert
The biggest name in the sport is back with National Treasure. Baffert is looking for his eighth Preakness victory. His last two came from Triple Crown winners, Justify in 2018 and American Pharoah in 2015. This is his first Triple Crown entry since 2021, when the late Medina Spirit was disqualified at the Derby. Baffert's backing makes National Treasure much more dangerous than its recent results.
2. Chad Brown
Brown came through with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting last year to take his two Preakness victories. With no other Triple Crown triumphs in relation to his Breeders' Cup riches, Brown's speciality has been playing spoiler with fresh horses. Blazing Sevens fits his ideal past winning profile.
3. Gustavo Delgado
After Baffert and Brown, only Steve Asmussen, trainer of Red Route One, can claim past Preakness winners (Rachel Alexandra in 2009, Curlin' in 2007). Delgado, has had a great season so far with Mage, which produced the first Triple Crown victory for the Venezuelan. He should have Mage ready to further build on his Churchill Downs confidence, using experience to his advantage.
Which jockeys can you trust most at the 2023 Preakness?
1. Javier Castellano
Mage is in great hands to take down the Preakness. Castellano is the only jockey in the field with a Triple Crown win at Pimlico, helping Cloud Computing win for Brown six years ago.
2. John Velazquez
He's got control of National Treasure for Baffert. Velazquez has never won the Preakness, but it would be the final career jewel for him to add to five total victories from the Derby and Belmont Stakes. It's setting up an interesting duel between him and his fresh horse vs. Mage and Castellano.
3. Joel Rosario
Rosario is also looking for his first Preakness victory, having won the Kentucky Derby once and the Belmont twice. He can help turn back the clock for Asmussen with Red Route One.
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Which horse is the best longshot pick to win the 2023 Preakness?
Coffeewithchris
With the field shortened to eight horses from the once-crowded Derby, there's not much of a choice here. But given Coffeewithchris' ability to start fast and push the pace early, he can't be ruled out. The gelding is rather inconsistent, but has two wins and two places since last December at Laurel Park, only a little more than 20 miles southwest of Pimlico.
Which Preakness post positions have been the most advantageous?
No. 4: This other inside post had a long drought until filly Swiss Skydiver made it two wins in 14 years in 2020, following up Curlin' from 2007. No. 4 was notably bad for Derby winner Always Dreaming in 2017, but that is anomalous, given it has produced 14 winners since 1909.
No. 5: Early Voting made it three wins from here in 12 years as the most recent Preakness winner in 2022, joining Exaggerator in 2016 and Shackelford in 2011.
No. 6: Rombauer made it three wins from here in 14 years by taking the 2021 Preakness, joining Oxbow in 2013 and Big Brown from 2008.
No. 7: This was fortunate for Justify in '18 and for another Bob Baffert horse, Looking at Lucky in '10. Since Sunday Silence in '89, six horses have won from No. 7, good for near 18 percent over a 34-year span.
No. 1: Somewhere in the middle has been consistently the best spot, but the lowest number has been kind of late. War of Will upset Improbable out of No. 1 in 2019. American Pharoah also won from No. 1 on its way to the Triple Crown in '15.
No. 3: This position helped California Chrome win the Preakness in 2014, but the previous winner had been Prairie Bayou in 1993.
No. 2: Cloud Computing produced a shocker from here in 2017, ending a long drought from when Snow Chief won in 1986.
Mage is trying to buck a trend from No. 3, while National Treasure at No. 1 and Blazing Sevens at No. 7 (of course) are better positioned based on more recent history. Coffeewithcharlie gets more upset juice, too, from No. 4.
How many horses have won the Preakness and the Kentucky Derby?
Thirteen horses have won the Triple Crown, finishing off the Derby and the Preakness by also taking the Belmont Stakes, most recently Justify in 2018. Another 24 have won the first two jewels before failing to make history at Belmont. Baffert had this happen three times before Justify and American Pharoah in '15: I'll Have Another in '12 and California Chrome in '14.
Since Justify's Triple Crown, there have been 13 Triple Crown races with 13 unique winners, with no horse taking even two jewels. Mage will try to at least create that rare opportunity to take all three at Belmont.
Preakness picks 2023
Here is the projected order of finish at the 2023 Preakness Stakes:
- Win: Mage
- Place: Blazing Sevens
- Show: National Treasure
Mage won't pull away like he did at the Derby, but Castellano will guide him to narrow victory, setting up a chance for Triple Crown history at the Belmont Stakes on June 10. Look for a thrilling, fast race with a small field where the slight experience edge matters.
