Preakness: Epicenter an early 3-5 favorite; Secret Oath second choice at 7-1
BALTIMORE – Kentucky Derby runner-up Epicenter remained the Preakness Stakes favorite as early wagering numbers began to come in midway through Friday's card at Pimlico.
Advance wagering for the Preakness began when the windows opened for the Friday card. Epicenter, who Pimlico oddsmaker Keith Feustle made the 6-5 morning-line favorite at the post position draw on Monday, had been bet down to 3-5 as of 2:15 p.m. Friday, through six of 14 races on the Friday card.
Kentucky Oaks winner Secret Oath, the 9-2 third choice on the morning line, had drifted upward of that, but is the early second choice at 7-1. Early Voting sits at 10-1 after being the 7-2 second choice on the morning line.
The current odds for the Preakness field, from the rail out, are Simplification, 11-1 (6-1 morning line); Creative Minister, 12-1 (10-1); Fenwick, 10-1 (50-1); Secret Oath, 7-1 (9-2); Early Voting, 10-1 (7-2); Happy Jack, 10-1 (30-1); Armagnac, 17-1 (12-1); Epicenter, 3-5 (6-5); and Skippylongstocking, 12-1 (20-1).
These odds are extremely early, with relatively limited money bet into the win pool thus far, and the bulk of the wagering likely taking place Saturday. DRF will update the odds, as well as the will-pays for the two-day double linking the Preakness with Friday’s Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan for fillies, following the conclusion of Friday’s card.