The echoes of the Kentucky Derby's roar have barely faded, but the Triple Crown trail blazes onward to Pimlico Race Course for the 149th Preakness Stakes in 2025! While the Derby was a chaotic ballet of nearly twenty thoroughbreds, the Preakness offers a more intimate affair, a nine-horse showdown that feels more like a classic race than a spectacle. Among the contenders are familiar faces from Churchill Downs, including the Derby favorite-turned-second-place finisher, Journalism, who once again finds himself the morning-line favorite at 8-5.
But don't let the Derby hangover cloud your judgment, because one expert who absolutely nailed the Kentucky Derby is here to shake things up! Gene Menez, a seasoned horse racing analyst with a pedigree that includes a 14-year stint at Sports Illustrated, isn't buying the Journalism hype. This is the same handicapper who masterfully predicted Super Saver's Derby win in 2010, called the $1,268.20 superfecta in 2015, and even tweeted his picks (including winner Always Dreaming) for a Pick 4 that paid almost $6,900 in 2017! Oh, and let's not forget his incredible call on 18-1 longshot Mystik Dan at last year's Derby and his recent exacta and trifecta slam dunk this year that paid out a cool $1,045! If you've been following his insights on platforms like FanDuel Racing and TwinSpires (and maybe even snagged a cheeky FanDuel Racing promo code or TwinSpires offer code), you know this guy knows his stuff.
So, what does the maestro of the odds see in the Preakness? Buckle up, because his analysis might just surprise you.
Despite Journalism's impressive undefeated streak in races between a mile and 1 1/8 miles – a fact that seemingly plays into the Preakness's 1 3/16-mile distance – Menez is surprisingly fading the favorite! Why the cold shoulder to the horse everyone expects to be a major player? According to Menez's expert handicapping, while Journalism undoubtedly possesses talent, the value just isn't there at those short odds. In a race where every single one of the nine contenders boasts multiple victories, including several with coveted graded stakes wins, Menez sees a vulnerability.
His reasoning goes deeper than just past performances. Menez points to a crucial factor that many casual bettors might overlook: the human element. The connections surrounding Journalism – jockey Umberto Rispoli, making his Preakness debut, and trainer Michael McCarthy, with only one previous Preakness victory – simply don't stack up against the legendary experience of trainers like Bob Baffert (a staggering eight-time Preakness winner) and D. Wayne Lukas (with seven Preakness trophies to his name). In the high-stakes world of Triple Crown races, that kind of seasoned guidance can be the deciding factor.
Furthermore, Menez echoes a growing sentiment in the racing world: the modern thoroughbred isn't necessarily bred or trained for the grueling demands of running back in just two weeks after the Kentucky Derby. This condensed timeframe could be a significant hurdle for Journalism, making him a risky bet as a sub-2-1 favorite.
So, if the favorite is a fade, who does Menez like? He's keeping his top pick under wraps for SportsLine subscribers (you can find his full analysis there!), but he's dropped a tantalizing hint: it's a longshot! This isn't just any longshot, mind you. Menez describes this dark horse as "fast, sharp, in form and looks to be training well." That's the kind of insider information that can turn a casual bet into a serious payday!
The Preakness Stakes is known for its upsets, for the longshots that defy the odds and etch their names in racing history. Could 2025 be another year for a surprise winner? With Gene Menez, the man who nailed the Derby exacta and trifecta, pointing towards a well-regarded longshot, the potential for a lucrative payout is definitely in the air.
So, how should you approach your Preakness Stakes bets? Menez's strategy clearly involves looking beyond the hype and carefully evaluating the value and the connections surrounding each horse. Fading a seemingly strong favorite in favor of a well-prepared longshot is a bold move, but coming from an expert with his track record, it's definitely worth paying attention to.
The stage is set at Pimlico. The field of nine is ready. The question isn't just who will win the 2025 Preakness Stakes, but who holds the key to unlocking the winning bets. If you want to get the inside track from the expert who called the Kentucky Derby with uncanny accuracy, you'll want to head over to SportsLine and see Gene Menez's full Preakness Stakes analysis, including his top pick and that must-back longshot. Don't just watch the race; bet smarter and potentially cash in big!
Current 2025 Preakness Stakes Odds:
1 Goal Oriented
2 Journalism (8-5)
3 American Promise
4 Heart of Honor
5 Pay Billy
6 River Thames (9-5)
7 Sandman (4-1)
8 Clever Again (5-1)
9 Gosger
(Note: These are the initial morning-line odds and may change before post time.)
