The second leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown will take place on Saturday, the 2021 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. Post time is set for 6:47 p.m. ET. After being displaced to October last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race returns to its usual spot in the Triple Crown schedule. Despite testing positive for the steroid betamethasone, Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit will be among the 2021 Preakness Stakes horses.
Medina Spirit is the 9-5 favorite in the 2021 Preakness Stakes odds, but has plenty of company among those expected to challenge. Concert Tour is listed at 5-2 in the 2021 Preakness Stakes field, while Midnight Bourbon is 5-1. With questions surrounding the morning-line favorite on Saturday, you need to see how handicapping champion Jonathon Kinchen has broken down the race.
Kinchen is one of the nation’s most successful and recognizable horseplayers. An analyst for Fox Sports’ “America’s Day at the Races” and co-host of the “In the Money Players’ Podcast,” Kinchen won the National Horseplayers Championship Tour in 2015, a demanding, yearlong series of handicapping events across the country. That same year, he became the only player in history to have both of his entries qualify for the final table of the National Horseplayers Championship.
In addition, Kinchen has scored huge on some of racing’s biggest days. In November, he finished second out of 418 contestants in the prestigious Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge, which earned him $215,000 in prize money. After factoring in his profit during the 14 Breeders’ Cup races, he took home more than $366,000 on the day.
It’s no fluke, either. At the 2015 Kentucky Derby, he cashed for $150,000 after nailing the Pick 6 and a Pick 3 that paid $50,000. Anyone who has followed him is up big.
Now, Kinchen has handicapped the 2021 Preakness Stakes horses, made his picks and constructed his bets. You can only see them here.
Top 2021 Preakness Stakes predictions
After studying the past performances of every horse in the race, Kinchen is completely fading Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit, even though he is the 9-5 Preakness Stakes 2021 favorite. It’s been a whirlwind week for Medina Spirit, whose failed Kentucky Derby drug test was disclosed on Sunday. Trainer Bob Baffert later admitted that a medication given to the colt contained the banned substance, which put his Kentucky Derby victory in doubt.
Rather than travel to Baltimore to coach his trainee during Preakness 2021 week, Baffert went to California. Plus, if Medina Spirit is unable to get to the front after drawing the No. 3 post position, his ability to set the pace like he did two weeks ago in the Kentucky Derby could be in doubt. “In Louisville, he got loose on the lead and held off all challengers, but I don’t think he gets the same favorable setup in Baltimore,” Kinchen told SportsLine.
Another shocker: Kinchen also is 100 percent against Concert Tour, even though he is the second favorite at 5-2. Concert Tour is looking for his fourth win in five career starts, but he is coming off a third place finish as the favorite in the Arkansas Derby.
Kinchen believes that Concert Tour’s connections’ decision to skip the Kentucky Derby is a bad sign. “If Concert Tour were doing well, he would’ve run in the Kentucky Derby,” Kinchen said. “The fact that Bob Baffert and the connections skipped that race for the Preakness doesn’t give me confidence.” Kinchen will not use Concert Tour on any of his tickets.
How to make 2021 Preakness Stakes bets
With Kinchen completely fading the top two favorites, one of his top contenders is a must-see double-digit long shot who “could win the whole thing,” giving you a huge return. Kinchen is including this horse prominently in his wagering, and so should you. See who to back for a huge payday here.
Which horse wins the Preakness Stakes 2021? Which double-digit long shot is a must-use? And how has Kinchen structured his wagering? Check out the latest Preakness Stakes odds 2021 below, then visit SportsLine to see Kinchen’s picks for the Preakness Stakes.
2021 Preakness Stakes contenders, odds
| Program # | Horse | Odds |
| 1 | Ram | 30-1 |
| 2 | Keepmeinmind | 15-1 |
| 3 | Medina Spirit | 9-5 |
| 4 | Crowded Trade | 10-1 |
| 5 | Midnight Bourbon | 5-1 |
| 6 | Rombauer | 12-1 |
| 7 | France Go De Ina | 20-1 |
| 8 | Unbridled Honor | 15-1 |
| 9 | Risk Taking | 15-1 |
| 10 | Concert Tour | 5-2 |
