While most UK- and Ireland-based horse racing fans are getting stuck in to the start of the flat season at home, it’s important to not ignore racing from the United States. It’s Triple Crown season, marking the biggest run of meets in the calendar.
The Triple Crown represents the three biggest races of the year, and immortality for any horse, trainer and jockey who can win all three. The first leg of the trio has already been completed, with Cherie DeVaux becoming the first ever female trainer to win the Kentucky Derby with 23/1 outsider Golden Tempo.
Jockey Jose Ortiz was on board beating his brother, Irad Ortiz Jr, who was riding the favourite Renegade, to take this historic win.
The next race in the Triple Crown is the Preakness Stakes, staged on 16th May, being held at Laurel Park in Maryland for the first time. Early odds are available across the top new horse racing betting sites, with plenty of value on offer.
Odds shorten on Golden Tempo after upset
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo may have been a 23/1 outsider for the first of the Triple Crown races, but his odds have been slashed down to 3/1 in early betting for the Preakness. Fans and bookmakers alike were impressed with Golden Tempo’s late charge, coming from last place at the half-mile mark to win by a neck.
While DeVaux hasn’t confirmed Golden Tempo’s Preakness entry yet, the chance to go for the Triple Crown will surely be too much to turn down. If she does enter her prize winner, though, he’s in for a tougher time.
Golden Tempo is a fine example of a late closer, as seen in his run at Churchill Downs. The Preakness, however, is run over a shorter distance, 1 3/16 miles instead of the Kentucky Derby’s 1 1/4. As Golden Tempo only won by a neck, this marginal difference in distance could work against him.
There’ll also be new rivals to face in the Preakness Stakes.
Plenty in opposition
Renegade is expected to run again in the Preakness Stakes, hoping to overcome his Churchill Downs defeat. So too is shock third-place finisher Ocelli, who headed off in Kentucky at a massive 80/1.
There’ll be new rivals entering the fray at Laurel Park, too.
Taj Mahal, trained by Brittany Russell, is already seeing his winning odds slashed. He is a specialist at Laurel Park, where this year’s race is being held due to renovations at Pimlico Racecourse, and has won his three lifetime starts at the track. He qualified by winning the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park by 8 1/4 lengths back in April, and is a local favourite.
Napoleon Solo is another contender whose odds have tumbled in the buildup to the race. He’s seen as a speed specialist, and was a top-rated two-year-old last year. There’s no denying he’s been disappointing so far this year, but having his odds shortened from 20/1 at open to 11/1 as the race approaches show that punters have faith.
The likely favourite would have been Bob Baffert’s undefeated colt Crude Velocity. The three-year-old skipped the Kentucky Derby to remain fresh for the Preakness, and his speed figures from his March runs already exceed those of recent winners. Unfortunately the connections decided to skip The Preakness and point for another race.
Please note that odds are representative of the market and correct at time of publication, and subject to change.
