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National Treasure has made back 70% of his $500,000 auction price with only a MSW win to his credit. He promises a payout of $25 for every $10 bet or $250 for every $100 bet.
Trainer Bob Baffert returns to Pimlico for his first visit in almost three years. His last horse, Medina Spirit, finished third in the 2021 Preakness.
“It feels good to come here,” he said. “We have some live horses. I mean it feels good if you have live horses, that’s the whole key. It’s always been one of my favorites. Of the (Triple Crown) tour, this is the best one, because it’s all about the Derby winner. People are here to have a good time and watch the Derby winner, because he’s America’s celebrity horse now.”
Baffert admits his horse will be at a disadvantage here.
“I have never won it off not running in the Derby,” Baffert said. “It’s different. I think they have an advantage when they have run in the Derby and come back here.”
A 90-day suspension took him completely away from the 2022 Triple Crown. Baffert was concluding his suspension from Churchill Downs this year. Medina Spirit failed a drug test after a first-place finish in the 2021 Derby and ultimately led to his disqualification and Baffert’s exile from the U.S. classics.
But because this is a Baffert-trained horse, National Treasure comes into the Preakness with the second shortest odds of winning.
He finished 4th in his last start at the Santa Anita Derby. Before that he had two third place finishes and a second place finish.
2023 Preakness Stakes Odds
1 National Treasure +250
2 Chase the Chaos +4000
3 Mage -140
4 Coffeewithchris +3300
5 Red Route One +1500
6 Perform +1800
7 Blazing Sevens +725
- Dan Shapiro, Gambling911.com
