TRIPLE CROWN BETTING
Who wins the Preakness? Let's take a stab with a long shot
May 17, 2019, 6:40 am
TRIPLE CROWN BETTING
Improbable will be the favorite, but he can be beaten. Getty Images
Saturday's Preakness Stakes probably will not be the train wreck that the Kentucky Derby was, but there is still some interest and a chance to make money. (Here is a look at the entire field).
My premium plays are available at pregame.com.
My top pick is No. 2 Bourbon War, who finished fourth in the Florida Derby. He should get a nice pace to run at, should be sitting on his best effort and will be more than a fair price. I was a big fan of his second in the Fountain of Youth, and willing to toss his Florida Derby fourth due to the slow pace. I think he will be closer to what should be an honest pace, and should kick home nicely. He did not have enough points to get him in the Derby, so he sat that one out in hopes of winning here. I think he is live and 12-1 is probably close to what we will get on race day.
Other horses to watch include War of Will, Improbable, Owendale, Always Mining, Laughing Fox, Anothertwistafate and Win Win Win. War of Will and Improbable figure to take most of the money coming off decent efforts in the Derby, but both are vulnerable. Always Mining is an interesting Maryland-based runner who is taking a big step up in class but really does not have a lot to beat here to be competitive. We liked Win Win Win in Kentucky and will throw another few bucks at him. The main plays will be to key Bourbon War first and second with the other contenders in exactas and trifectas.
I don't have a pick 4 play, because I could not narrow down the three races leading in to the Preakness. However, there is one long shot I am playing in race 12, right before the Preakness. I like No. 3 Admission Office at 12-1. I will play the horse across the board, and wheel him in exactas first and second with the rest of the field. If you want to take a shot with the double, take the 3 with the eight contenders listed above.
Also in Race 10, I am playing the 1 horse across the board.
I am all in on Bourbon War. We are now 1 for our last 7 on Triple Crown tris after a 9 of 12 streak. I feel pretty good about this one so good luck to us.
Isaac Paredes hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off reliever Robert Garcia in the eighth inning after Texas rookie Jack Leiter lost a no-hit bid in the seventh, and the Houston Astros rallied for a 4-3 victory over the Rangers on Sunday.
ISAAC. PAREDES. LET'S. GO. pic.twitter.com/Nh3cWZ51P1
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 18, 2025
Leiter gave up Yainer Diaz's solo homer with two outs in the seventh as Houston trimmed its deficit to 3-1.
Yainer goes yard! #BuiltForThis pic.twitter.com/VxlwHikeaY
— Houston Astros (@astros) May 18, 2025
The 25-year-old right-hander was replaced after consecutive soft singles from Jake Meyers and Cam Smith to start the eighth.
Texas reliever Chris Martin came on for Leiter but threw just one pitch before leaving with what the team said was right shoulder discomfort.
Lefty Robert Garcia (1-2) got two outs before Paredes' drive — his seventh homer — barely cleared the wall and the glove of a leaping Wyatt Langford near the foul line in left.
Josh Hader struck out two in a perfect ninth for his 11th save as the Texas rivals split a four-game series.
Houston left-hander Framber Valdez (3-4) opened with three perfect innings in his first meeting with the Rangers since losing a no-hitter with two outs in the ninth on the same mound last August.
The Rangers started the fourth with consecutive singles from Sam Haggerty, Langford and Josh Jung, who drove home Haggerty in a three-run inning for Texas.
Jonah Heim hit a deep drive to right-center with two outs and two on in the eighth with Texas trailing by a run, but Meyers ran it down on the warning track.
Leiter, the son of retired major league pitcher Al Leiter, pitched into the eighth for the first time in 13 big league starts over two seasons.
Houston rookie LHP Colton Gordon (0-0, 6.23 ERA) is set for the opener of a series at Tampa Bay on Monday. Texas lefty Patrick Corbin (3-2, 3.35) is set for the opener at the New York Yankees on Tuesday.