Experts’ Preakness Stakes picks

  • userThe Biz
  • dateMay 17, 2025

Saturday’ marks the 150th running of the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. It will also be the last one before this version of Pimlico is no more.

There’s no Kentucky Derby winner, but the top two wagering choices from the Derby — runner-up Journalism and seventh-place finisher Sandman — are on hand, as are seven other runners who could have something to say about the outcome.

It should be a fun race, and we asked our experts for their picks. Here’s what they came up with:

CONSENSUS SELECTIONS

HorsePoints
2. Journalism34
6. River Thames8
4. Heart of Honor7
7. Sandman6
8. Clever Again4
5. Pay Billy2
9. Gosger1
3. American Promise1
1. Goal Oriented1
Scored on a 5-2-1 (1st-2nd-3rd) basis… Every horse got at least one vote, but six of eight landed on Journalism to win… Others picked to win were Sandman and Heart of Honor

INDIVIDUAL SELECTIONS

Joseph AielloTed BlackNick HahnGary QuillJohn PiassekDerby Bill WatsonEric RubinMackenzie Pfeiffer
2. Journalism2. Journalism2. Journalism2. Journalism2. Journalism7. Sandman4. Heart of Honor2. Journalism
6. River Thames6. River Thames8. Clever Again4. Heart of Honor6. River Thames2. Journalism2. Journalism5. Pay Billy
8. Clever Again7. Sandman3. American Promise8. Clever Again9. Gosger6. River Thames1. Goal Oriented6. River Thames

UR HANDICAPPERS ARE:

  • Nick Hahn, author of the eponymous Nick’s Picks for Colonial Downs.
  • Eric Rubin, host of Better Betting podcast
  • Gary Quill, co-host of Better Betting and former The Racing Biz Maryland handicapper
  • Derby Bill Watson, legendary former Colonial Downs on-air analylyst
  • Joseph Aiello handicaps Saratoga for The Racing Biz.
  • Ted Black is the Charles Town correspondent for The Racing Biz.
  • Mackenzie Pfeiffer is an on-air analyst for the Maryland Jockey Club

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