Forbes Preakness Picks

1st – 3 Art Collector. 2nd – 4 Swiss Skydiver. 3rd – 9 Authentic. 4th – 8 Max Player. Preakness Stakes Payouts and Past Results. Kentucky Derby Points Standings. Be sure to check out the rest of today’s Free Pimlico Horse Picks. Owner: Gary Barber. Trainer: Mark Casse. Jockey: Tyler Gaffalione. Morning line odds: 4. Preakness 2019 picks Vinnie Iyer: With the field and track shortened and Improbable in position to regain momentum, Baffert's horse is both the strong and safe bet. With the weather looking much. Authentic enters the 2020 Preakness Stakes as the betting favorite at 9/5 but don't count out Bob Baffert's Thousand Words (6/1). Photo By - USA TODAY Sports. Horse race betting won't see a Triple. The Preakness has been dominated in recent years by horses who set or press/stalk the pace, but most of the time those were simply the best horses like Justify, American Pharoah, California Chrome, Big Brown and the filly Rachel Alexandra. Exaggerator was able to come from well off a hotly-contested pace to win the 2016 Preakness.

1. Forbes Belmont Stakes Picks
2. Forbes Preakness Picks Against

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The COVID-19 pandemic has turned the sports world upside down, with the racing calendar made virtually unrecognizable over the past six months. The final leg of the Triple Crown series - not the middle leg, as is customary - is an incredibly interesting Preakness Stakes.

Tiz the Law and Authentic split the first two legs and Tiz the Law is sitting this one out. Still, the Preakness is shaping up as a great betting race, with a field of 11 stocked with a lot of talent expected to go postward.

Preakness 2020:Post positions, morning line odds, info

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Authentic will be going for his third straight Grade 1 win - after capturing the Haskell and Kentucky Derby - but there are new shooters here, including talented filly Swiss Skydiver, who will be taking on the boys for the second time. NBC is scheduled to begin programming for Saturday's race 4:30 p.m. ET. Post time for the Preakness is expected to be at approximately 5:45 p.m.

Here are Preakness predictions from experts and USA TODAY NETWORK Atlantic Group staff.

Preakness field

1. Excession (Russell) 30-1

2. Mr. Big News (G. Saez) 12-1

3. Art Collector (Hernandez Jr.) 5/2

4. Swiss Skydiver (Albarado) 6-1

5. Thousand Words (Geroux) 6-1

6. Jesus' Team (Toledo) 30-1

7. Ny Traffic (Karamanos) 15-1

8. Max Player (Lopez) 15-1

9. Authentic (Velazquez) 9/5

10. Pneumatic (Bravo) 20-1

11. Liveyourbeastlife (McCarthy) 30-1

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Bob Jordan, USA TODAY NETWORK Atlantic Group Sports Deputy Director

1. Swiss Skydiver is bidding to become to the sixth filly to win the Preakness. This is not her first rodeo against males - she was second to Art Collector in the Blue Grass Stakes on July 11. Since then she's won the Grade 1 Alabama at Saratoga on Aug. 15 and finished second in the Kentucky Oaks on Sept. 4. There's a new jockey aboard - Robby Albarado, who at age 47 gets a chance to jumpstart his career after spending his summer at Indiana Grand. Albarado won the 2007 Preakness with Curlin.

2. Art Collector beat Swiss Skydiver in the Blue Grass, but here we'll reverse that exacta with the expectation that Art Collector will be good but not great after withdrawing from the Kentucky Derby with a foot issue.

3. Authentic gave trainer Bob Baffert his record-tying sixth Kentucky Derby win but the Preakness race flow looks unfavorable now, with Authentic likely to face plenty of company up front.

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Steve Edelson, USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey sports columnist/racing writer

1. Authentic: The victory by the Bob Baffert-trained colt in the Kentucky Derby was as impress, leading the field through honest fractions before dusting Tiz the Law down the stretch. And after a month to recover from a performance that received a 105 Beyer Speed Figure, look for Authentic to wire the field in a third straight Grade 1. There’s plenty of other speed in the race, but if Authentic could handle Tiz the Law, he can handle this crew.

2. Thousand Words: If you’re looking for an improving horse with the talent to challenge against this type of field, it’s this West Coast invader. The victory in the Shared Belief at Del Mar last time out was impressive, earning a 104 Beyer. While he hasn’t raced in two months, Baffert doesn’t send horses just to run around the track. They generally show up ready to turn in big performances, and he’s had two solid workouts at Churchill Downs after shipping east earlier in the month.

3. Art Collector: Authentic and Art Collector are the only horses in the field with multiple Beyers of 101 or higher this year. And Art Collector has proven an ability to run just off the pace, which is likely where he’ll sit in this race.

Steven Falk, Asbury Park Press sportswriter

Forbes Belmont Stakes Picks

1. Authentic: It is very simple. Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who is probably the best trainer of dirt horses in the world, has won the Kentucky Derby six times and the five previous winners came back to win the Preakness. See no reason that will change here. He is the main speed and his Kentucky Derby win was legitimate with solid fractions and a 105 Beyer Speed Figure.

2. Pneumatic: Time to spice up the exotics. This son of Uncle Mo, trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen and to be ridden by Jersey Joe Bravo, has shown ability in each of his five previous starts. His 98 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Pegasus at Monmouth Park was his best yet. There could be another forward move in him, and if there is, he can absolutely hit the board. His fourth-place finish in the Belmont shows he can compete at this level.

3. Thousand Words: The other Baffert-trained one in here. Many times, the other Baffert is always worth considering. This horse was probably going to be the fourth choice in the Derby before he flipped in the paddock and had to be scratched. The fact Baffert is coming right back with him is an encouraging sign. His 104 Beyer Speed Figure in beating the now-retired Honor A.P. in the Shared Belief at Del Mar Aug. 1 showed what he is capable of.

Greg Giombarrese, Lakewood BlueClaws Director of Communications

1. Pneumatic: He took a big step forward last time in the Pegasus at Monmouth with an emphatic win, earning a 98 Beyer Speed Figure. After running a bit flat in the Belmont, he blossomed on eight weeks rest last time and has been pointing here for six weeks. He did not draw that well but hopefully can tuck into the 2 or 3 path in a race that could feature an honest pace. He seems to have some upside and will be a good price.

2. Art Collector: He would have been the second choice in the Derby but had a small issue that forced him to skip the race. His tactical speed and inside draw should put him in position to work out a good trip and he has improved significantly over the course of the summer.

3. Authentic:He ran very well to win the Derby four weeks ago, setting a fast pace and holding off a top rival in Tiz the Law. There is potentially some other speed in here and he'll have to work a bit harder early on. Depending on how a few others are ridden, Authentic's outside post means he likely has to be hard-used early or get carried wide.

4. Max Player: He is a deep, closing grinder who is unlikely to win but can get a piece underneath if things heat up on top. He had to navigate between horses in the Derby and didn't find his best stride until it was too late.

Ken Jordan (five times among top finishers at NTRA/National Horseplayers Championship, four Top 10s at Horseplayers World Series)

1. Pneumatic: Late-bloomer got past Belmont dud with big performance in Monmouth's Pegasus. Should be able to get first run when the anticipated pace duel takes a toll on pacesetters.

2. Authentic: Lived up to his name with Derby win. He will have to work harder earlier this time.

3. Art Collector: The one to test Authentic early, can't imagine connections thinking they can rate and outfinish Authentic.

4. Thousand Words: The 'other' Baffert adds blinkers and may be overlooked in the wagering.

Sean Nolan (15-time National Horseplayers Championship qualifier, 2001 runnerup, four Top 20 finishes)

1. Art Collector: Despite missing the Derby, looks to have not missed a beat in training over the past few weeks. Will be in the mix from the beginning and should appreciate a generally speed-favoring surface at Pimlico. Gets the call over his Blue Grass rival.

2. Swiss Skydiver: McPeek sending her to Baltimore is a vote of confidence and we know the distance will not be a problem. Will need a patient ride by Albarado.

3. Max Player: Will benefit if a hot pace develops and may just get that set up with Authentic wanting to keep Art Collector company on the front end. The switch to Paco Lopez seems to indicate they want 'Player engaged early on. He has a much better post than he had in the Derby and will be a factor late. Must respect the Baffert runners, but thinking Authentic is the next edition of Always Dreaming and will not deliver. Moreover, adding blinkers to Thousand Words tells me he has not been giving all in recent training. Enjoy what looks to be a great day of racing at Old Hilltop.

Forbes Preakness Picks Against

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Preakness 2020: Betting guide, predictions