There is an element of both mystery and familiarity regarding New Jersey’s connection to Saturday’s $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
The race and the Garden State are intertwined on several levels.
The biggest link is that gamblers can bet on the middle jewel of thoroughbred racing’s Triple Crown, unfolding at 7:01 p.m. Saturday, all throughout New Jersey.
They can participate via connection with Monmouth Park’s live card including:
- Mobile devices providing 4NJBETS, powered by TVG
- Several simulcast facilities throughout the state
- Via the live harness-racing night card at the Meadowlands in East Rutherford.
2022 Preakness Stakes odds
| Post | Horse | Opening Odds | Jockey | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simplification | 6-1 | John Velazquez | Antonio Sano |
| 2 | Creative Minister | 10-1 | Brian Hernandez | Ken McPeek |
| 3 | Fenwick | 50-1 | Florent Geroux | Kevin McKathan |
| 4 | Secret Oath | 9-2 | Luis Saez | D. Wayne Lukas |
| 5 | Early Voting | 7-2 | Jose Ortiz | Chad Brown |
| 6 | Happy Jack | 30-1 | Tyler Gaffalione | Doug O'Neill |
| 7 | Armagnac | 12-1 | Irad Ortiz Jr. | Tim Yakteen |
| 8 | Epicenter | 6-5 | Joel Rosario | Steve Asmussen |
| 9 | Skippylongstocking | 20-1 | Junior Alvarado | Saffie Joseph Jr. |
2022 Preakness Stakes takeaways
The Preakness Stakes field of nine is more manageable than the 20-horse cavalry stampede at the Kentucky Derby from two weeks ago. All the trainers appeared satisfied with their positioning.
Epicenter and Early Voting have an excellent chance to assume good early position.
Simplification must break alertly from the rail to assume a stalking position.
Secret Oath tries to become the seventh filly to capture this 1 3–16-mile showcase. The sixth was Swiss Skydiver in 2020. The fifth was Rachel Alexandra, who later romped in Monmouth Park’s signature Haskell Invitational the same year.
Creative Minister tries to win at the stakes level after prevailing at Maiden Special Weights and Allowance, a tall task. Skippylongstocking was third in the Wood Memorial but was running well late and his handlers hope the extra distance helps him.
Armagnac and Fenwick have been decisively outrun at this level. So has Happy Jack, who doesn’t figure in his race. But he will wear blinkers to avoid distractions and may be an early pace factor to bother Early Voting or Epicenter.
The question New Jersey bettors are asking is whether the “new shooters,” horses who skipped the Kentucky Derby, are more rested and thus more effective than Derby graduates Epicenter and Simplification.
Garden State horse bettors know there will be no Triple Crown this year because Kentucky Derby longshot winner Rich Strike won’t run.
NJ Preakness betting guide
Monmouth Park has several options.
Bettors can make a day at the races, enjoy something to eat and stay around to wager on the Preakness.
The Monmouth card starts at 12:15 p.m. The lineup includes its top race of the day, the $100,000 Politely Stakes, which is five furlongs on the turf.
Various simulcast outlets throughout New Jersey also carry the Preakness.
The BetMGM Race & Sportsbook, located at the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, has a big room with giant screens, live tellers and self-serve kiosks.
Gamblers can tie in a casino experience with their wagers, but must allow a few extra minutes to bet in order to avoid being shut out.
Favorites in Clementon, Woodbridge and at Chickie & Pete’s in Egg Harbor Township spread simulcast availability throughout the state. Allow time for extra lines and more bettors.
Simulcasting works for a good number of bettors, while many others are converting to the convenience of mobile.
The Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford has numerous betting options along with a live harness racing card.
The Big M has a 6:20 p.m. post time on Saturday, with a multi-race live menu stretching past 11:30 p.m. Gamblers can sandwich their Preakness betting around some of the best harness racing in the United States.
Further link between New Jersey and the Triple Crown races
The Preakness, like the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, are breeding grounds for entries into the $1 million Haskell Stakes July 23 at Monmouth Park.
The winner of Saturday’s race will have fans pondering whether the horse can do a Preakness-Haskell double.
It’s been done a number of times.
Deputed Testamony was the first horse to complete the feat, doing so in 1983.
Since then, Point Given in 2001, War Emblem in 2002, Big Brown in 2008, Rachel Alexandra in 2009, Lookin at Lucky in 2010, American Pharoah in 2015, and Exaggerator in 2016 also won both the Preakness and the Haskell.
Some entries from Saturday’s race are likely to wind up in the 2022 Haskell.
Last year, Preakness runner-up Midnight Bourbon ran in Monmouth’s big race.
The Preakness owes its roots to a horse from New Jersey
Most people probably aren’t aware of this, but the Garden State has a Preakness connection.
There is an unincorporated community named Preakness within Wayne in Passaic County.
Milton Sanford, who had made a fortune by manufacturing blankets for the Union Army in the Civil War, owned Preakness Stud, which sits today on the corner of Preakness Avenue in Wayne.
The barn played a major role in the launch of this multi-million-dollar race:
At an 1868 dinner party for horsemen in Saratoga Springs, N.Y, it was suggested that a race called the Dinner Party Stakes be run to commemorate the gathering. The race would be two miles and run in 1870.
Attendees included Maryland Gov. Oden Bowie, who promised he would build a track in Maryland if the race could be put there. That happened and Pimlico Race Course was born.
The Dinner Party Stakes was run on the opening day of Pimlico in 1870 and won by Milton’s horse.
His name?
Preakness.
So, track officials created a raced named the Preakness Stakes, which became one of America’s most famous events, in his honor.
In 2018, Preakness was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.
