Sandman had a disappointing trip in the Kentucky Derby, but he will have another shot at a Triple Crown race when he enters the starting gate at the 2025 Preakness Stakes on Saturday at 7:01 p.m. ET. The Arkansas Derby winner has shown that he is a top contender among 3-year-olds and will face a smaller field at Pimlico Race Course. There are only nine horses in the 2025 Preakness Stakes field, with Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty skipping the second leg of the Triple Crown. Kentucky Derby runner-up Journalism is the 8-5 favorite in the 2025 Preakness Stakes odds. There are four other horses in the field with single-digit odds, including Sandman (4-1) and River Thames (9-2). Which horses should you back? Before making any picks, find out what SportsLine’s horse racing expert Gene Menez has to say about 2025 Preakness Stakes picks and predictions.

A former reporter and editor at Sports Illustrated, Menez has an impressive record in horse racing predictions, having accurately predicted many significant races over the years. His latest successes include hitting the exacta and trifecta in the recent Kentucky Derby, earning a payout of $1,045. This year, he anticipates a longshot that looks promising, claiming it is fast, sharp, in form, and showing great training.

Key Predictions One standout prediction from Menez is his decision to fade Journalism despite its favorite status. Trainer Michael McCarthy’s past success with Rombauer in the 2021 Preakness isn’t enough to convince Menez of Journalism’s value. Noting the difficulty for modern horses to compete back-to-back weeks, Menez cautions about Journalism’s potential.

Menez invites you to check his complete list of bets and picks at SportsLine, highlighting that with the right choices, the 2025 Preakness Stakes has lucrative betting opportunities.