Following a week of controversy Medina Spirit has been cleared to race in Saturday's running of the Preakness Stakes, and as of Friday he sits as the +200 co-favourite on the 2021 Preakness Stakes odds at sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com.
The Bob Baffert-trained colt stormed to an impressive victory two weeks ago at the Kentucky Derby, but subsequently tested positive for a banned substance. However, after lengthy negotiations this week, Medina Spirit and two other horses trained by Baffert were given the go-ahead to participate under strict conditions this week at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore.
Medina Spirit enjoyed a steady rise up to his recent win in the first jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown. He has finished no worse than second in five career stakes race appearances, including a win in January's Robert B. Lewis Stakes. And with Kentucky Derby favourites Essential Quality, Rock Your World, and Hot Rod Charlie all taking a pass on Saturday's race, the Florida-bred colt could have a path to another win.
However, there will be no shortage of challengers looking to knock off the Kentucky Derby champion. Another Baffert-trained colt, Concert Tour, also was set at +200 on the Preakness Stakes odds as of Friday, ahead of Midnight Bourbon at +600 odds at sports betting sites.
Concert Tour kicked off his career with three straight wins, but was forced to settle for a third-place finish last time out at the Arkansas Derby and will be running a 1-3/16 mile race for the first time in his career. Midnight Bourbon is coming off a disappointing sixth-place performance in the Run for the Roses, marking the first time he failed to finish in the money in six career stakes races. However, he ran a strong second to Hot Rod Charlie in his only previous 1-3/16 mile outing, back in March at the Louisiana Derby.
In addition to betting on race winners, there is no shortage of Preakness Stakes prop bets available for Saturday's race. With Medina Spirit and Midnight Bourbon drawing the No. 3 and No. 5 posts, respectively, the odds of this year's Preakness Stakes winner starting from among the first five posts are listed at a short -180 at sportsbooks.
This year's Preakness Stakes is also expected to be a closely fought race, with the odds of the winning horse not leading from gate to gate listed as a -275 wager, and the odds of the winning horse's margin of victory being less than 2.5 lengths listed at -220. The winning jockey mentioning his horse first in his post-race interview would pay out on -120 odds on Saturday, while a mention of God is set at +280 on the Preakness Stakes prop bets.
