The 104th running of the Preakness Stakes could be a record-tying seventh Preakness win for legendary 86-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas. He conditions the fine filly Secret Oath, who won the Kentucky Oaks and makes her second run at the boys after finishing a close third in the Arkansas Derby.
Despite five long shots of 10-1 or greater winning five of the last 11 runnings of the Preakness, your betting strategies should still focus on the key favorite Epicenter (6-5). with the two top challengers Early Voting (7-2) and Secret Oath (9-2) in the mix as capable contenders.
Epicenter finished a very close second in the Kentucky Derby and has been the best horse in the field this year on the Derby trail.
There are some horses with longer odds offering some value in this softer Preakness field. So review the betting strategies along with nine other stakes races on the undercard Saturday at Pimlico to identify other potential winners and exotic bets that pay off bigger, including in the Pick 3s, 4s and Pick 5.
Secret Oath is a secret weapon for Lukas
Secret Oath has infused the 86-year-old trainer D. Wayne Lukas with a dose of youthful energy. The fine filly wheels back in two weeks following her ultra-impressive win to capture the Kentucky Oaks. She is certainly a win contender in the Preakness, and her Speed Figures match up to Epicenter.
Secret Oath also adds more strength and excitement to the field with Kentucky Derby long shot winner Rich Strike skipping the race.
“If you don’t have the filly in here, the [buzz] is zilch,” Lukas said matter-of-factly of Secret Oath. “Let’s face it. The filly has made this at least have a little bit of interest.”
Secret Oath looks as good as the 2020 Preakness winner, filly Swiss Skydiver, who won at 11-1 odds. She beat the Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness favorite Authentic, who also went on to capture the Breeders’ Cup Classic that year.
Secret Oath was the 6-5 favorite in the Arkansas Derby but didn’t run her best to finish a close third although she made a big, wide move from the back into the lane to chase the winner down the stretch.
Lukas brings her into this race with plenty of foundation, and she’ll handle the extra ground and sit off the leaders looking for more pace before she pounces. Anticipate Secret Oath hitting her stride and liking the tighter turns at Pimlico.
“It won’t be easy, but she’ll make the race very interesting,” Lukas said. “She’s got that acceleration. When you ask her to move, she has a devastating kick.”
If you don’t like the small win payoffs for Epicenter, then go with a stone-cold exacta box Epicenter and Secret Oath. Worst case, include Secret Oath in your trifecta picks to hit the board, as just once in eight lifetime starts has she missed the trifecta.
Check out the 2022 Preakness broadcast on NBC Sports or online from the leading online wagering and livestreaming platform TVG. The horses go into the starting gate at 7:00 p.m. EDT for Race 13 at Pimlico Race Course.
