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2023 Preakness Stakes: First Mission Odds, Picks & Predictions

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The Preakness Stakes is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world, held annually in Baltimore, Maryland. The race is the second jewel in the Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. Every year, the best three-year-old horses in the world compete for the chance to become the Preakness Stakes winner. First Mission is a horse that has won its last two races and could be a sleeper candidate to win this year’s Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.

2023 Preakness Stakes Predictions: First Mission

  • Post Position: 8
  • Odds: 5/2

This horse has not run much at all, but has won its last two races. In his only other start, First Mission finished second. While First Mission did beat Disarm about a month ago, the odds seem really low for this horse. Without many horses in this race, it’s hard to toss too many, but this is a horse that should be used in the back end of exotics only despite the odds. Perhaps a good third or fourth place horse for a trifecta or superfecta.

– Phil Wood

Bet: Use in Back End of Exotics

Check out our 2023 PGA Championship Betting Guide >>

First Mission One Profile

In 2023, a horse named First Mission will be one of the horses vying for glory in the Preakness Stakes. This talented thoroughbred is trained by Bob Baffert, who has won the Preakness Stakes seven times in the past. With such an experienced trainer guiding him, and some impressive performances under his belt, First Mission is a horse to watch in 2023.

First Mission was born on April 11, 2020, in Kentucky. He was sired by Tapit, a top-rated stallion who has produced numerous Grade 1 winners, including Tonalist, Creator, and Frosted. First Mission’s dam is a mare named Love Train, who was a consistent performer on the track, winning three races and earning over $100,000 in prize money.

As a yearling, First Mission was purchased for $1.5 million by Godolphin, a leading thoroughbred racing and breeding organization. He was sent to Bob Baffert’s barn in California for his training, and it quickly became evident that he had a lot of potential.

First Mission made his racing debut on February 19, 2023, at Santa Anita Park in California. Starting as the favorite in a field of six, he put in an impressive performance, winning by two and a half lengths. He covered the six furlongs in a time of 1:10.35, earning a speed figure of 100. This was a highly encouraging start to his racing career, and it showed that he had the talent to compete at the highest level.

Next up for First Mission was the San Felipe Stakes, a Grade 2 race over 1 1/16 miles at Santa Anita. This was a tougher test for the young horse, but he rose to the challenge, winning by three-quarters of a length. He showed exceptional speed and power in the stretch, pulling away from his rivals to claim victory. His time of 1:42.41 was impressive, and he earned a speed figure of 107.

With two wins from two starts, First Mission was now being touted as a possible Kentucky Derby contender. However, the decision was made to bypass the Derby and instead focus on the Preakness Stakes. This allowed him more time to rest and prepare for the second leg of the Triple Crown.

First Mission’s final prep race before the Preakness Stakes was the Santa Anita Derby, a Grade 1 race over 1 1/8 miles. It was a tough race, with some high-class horses in the field, but First Mission showed his class once again. He battled his way to the lead in the stretch and held off his rivals to win by a neck. His time of 1:48.15 was impressive, and he earned a speed figure of 109.

Now, all eyes are on the Preakness Stakes, where First Mission will face off against the best three-year-old horses in the world. With his impressive form and the guidance of Bob Baffert, he has a great chance of claiming victory. However, the Preakness Stakes is a notoriously challenging race, with a distance of 1 3/16 miles, and anything can happen on the day.

2023 Preakness Stakes Horse Previews, Picks & Predictions

Check out our previews for every horse competing in the 2023 Preakness Stakes and our expert analysis on the best bets for this year's Run for the Roses.


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