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2025 Preakness Stakes Long Shots with a Chance to Cash Big Ticket

by Spencer Toth - 5/15/2025

Preakness Stakes longshots Sandman

The Preakness Stakes race is an excellent opportunity to cash in on some longshot picks. The nine-horse field makes it easier to find the diamond in the rough compared to the 20-horse Kentucky Derby two weeks ago, and the Preakness Stakes has been notorious for churning out underdogs in recent years. In fact, the favorite has failed to win the Preakness Stakes in six straight years, but 8-5 Journalism will look to change that trend this weekend. Journalism is only the favorite due to the fact that Sovereignty is skipping this race and forfeiting the chance at the Triple Crown. This is a wide-open race, and chasing underdogs with no overwhelming favorite has proven to be an effective wagering strategy. 

The 1 3/16 mile race track is only 6% shorter than the Kentucky Derby, but that small difference has a big impact on race strategy. There is less time to make a late dash at the Preakness Stakes, and that is something you need to look out for when selecting your Preakness Stakes longshots. A fast start is often enough to push a horse to victory at the Preakness Stakes, and there are a trio of underdogs we have our eyes on heading into the race. 

The short field ensures the longest odds are 20-1 heading into the race, and it is not unrealistic to say that every horse has a legitimate chance to win. However, you can’t bet on every horse and expect to make money, so stick to these three underdogs to maximize your chances at a big payout on Saturday night. 

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Goal Oriented: 6-1

Goal Oriented is right on the line of what may be considered a long shot, but since he is in the bottom half of the morning odds list, I will claim he falls into this category. Goal Oriented is trained by the legendary Bob Baffert, he has the legendary Flavian Prat on his back, and checks off all the boxes you are looking for in an underdog. 

He will be fresh, having not raced in the Kentucky Derby, which has been a negative indicator on Preakness Stakes success over the last decade. He won both of his previous races this year by significant margins and has thrived in shorter distance races like the Preakness Stakes. No one is denying that Goal Oriented could win this race, but the fact that he is all the way down at fifth on the morning odds makes this one of the more likely underdogs to win the Preakness Stakes. 

Heart of Honor: 12-1

Heart of Honor has a favorable post position draw with #4 and is an underdog that cannot be ignored heading into the Preakness Stakes. Saffie Osborne will look to become the first female jockey to win the Preakness Stakes, and Heart of Honor is trained by her father, Jamie Osborne. Heart of Honor finished second in three consecutive races heading into this event, but that is not a cause for concern. The last five Preakness Stakes winners failed to win their previous race heading into the event, and Heart of Honor still had a strong showing. 

He is very familiar with the 1 3/16 mile track, which is his best distance, and opted out of competing in the Kentucky Derby as that race is far too long for this style of horse. Containing the early speed will be a priority for Osborne, but there is no doubt Heart of Honor could emerge from the pack heading into the first turn. 

Gosger: 20-1

Gosger is tied for the longest underdog heading into the Preakness Stakes, but I am not so sure he is deserving of that unwanted title. Jockey Luis Saez is as consistent as they come, having finished in the top ten for jockey earnings for ten years in a row. He has already developed a connection with Gosger after a pair of wins leading into this event, and this is as live an underdog as they come. You shouldn’t need much convincing to take a shot with 20-1 odds, especially with a short field missing Sovereignty. Journalism’s 8-5 odds eat up a significant portion of the implied win probability, and Gosger has been pushed far too low as a result. His 103 speed rating at Lexington is respectable, and his early speed could allow him to jump out to a hot start. At 20-1 odds, Gosger is certainly worth a few dollars. 

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