I grew up watching and loving horse racing. Every year I look forward to the three Triple Crown races. After a thrilling Kentucky Derby (that seen Mystik Dan win by a nose) the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of the Triple Crown, has a lot to live up to in terms of excitement.

The aforementioned Mystik Dan will be running in this year’s race so the potential of a triple crown horse is still alive, although I believe it’s unlikely.

Before I give you my picks, let me just state that I am on an absolute cold streak gambling the likes of which are unprecedented. After hitting on the Oaks and the Derby, I have gone beyond cold. What’s colder than cold?

My gambling picks.

Having said that, I do love horse racing and I have hit on all of the preliminary races I’ve bet on leading up to the Preakness Stakes.

So PLEASE GAMBLE RESPONSIBLY!

Let’s go ahead and get into these picks:

WINNER: Tuscan Gold

Trainer Chad Brown has done very well at the Preakness. In just 6 starts at Pimlico Chad Brown trained horses have 2 wins (Cloud Computing in 2017, Early Voting in 2022) and a second place finish (Blazing Sevens in 2023). His Kentucky Derby horse Sierra Leone ran an incredible race and arguably should have won.

Chad Brown is an excellent trainer. His Preakness horse Tuscan Gold is lightly raced and has good speed. In his last three races he has a 3rd place, 1st place and a 4th place finish. He will be jockeyed by Tyler Gaffalione, who won the 2019 Preakness Stakes while riding War of Will.

I got Tuscan Gold at 8/1 odds on Friday. His odds have gone down, but for a reason. This is my pick to win the Preakness Stakes.

ON THE BOARD: Imagination

Even if you don’t watch or follow horse racing you know the name, Bob Baffert.

Imagination will come out and set the pace immediately. It is a fast horse that is capable of winning and definitely capable of ending up on the board. In six starts, he’s won twice and finished second four times. Never doubt a Bob Baffert horse.

ON THE BOARD: Catching Freedom

This horse was one of the three in the photo finish at the Kentucky Derby. It is a strong horse that has done well in every single start. This horse will finish the race strong like always. I will definitely throw him into my exotics.

LONG SHOT: Just Steel

Just Steel is one of two long shots that I like and will be throwing on my tickets. He is the son of Justify, who is the 13th winner of the Triple Crown.

Just Steel was second to Mystik Dan in the Southwest Stakes in the mud and ran a close race with Muth in the Arkansas Derby. Muth would have been far and away the best horse in the Preakness Stakes field had it not been withdrawn due to illness.

LONG SHOT: Uncle Heavy

Uncle Heavy LOVES the slop and he’s 2/2 in wet, sloppy conditions. The worse the conditions, the better for this horse.

Uncle Heavy will have renowned jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. riding him, so that definitely helps.

Ultimately I hope Mystik Dan can win this race so we can go into the Belmont with a chance at a Triple Crown horse. Regardless, I am going to have fun and enjoy this race. Hopefully I (we) can win some money while we’re at it.

Good luck, everyone!