2017 Preakness odds: Morning line released

As is usually the case, the winner of the Kentucky Derby will open the Preakness Stakes as heavy favorite. After the post positions drawn were drawn Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore, Always Dreaming was assigned 4/5 odds. Another way of looking at that is a -125 moneyline odd, meaning you’d have to bet $125 to win $100.

Trained by Todd Pletcher and with John Velazquez as jockey, Always Dreaming won the Kentucky Derby by 2-3/4 lengths just over a week and a half ago. Always Dreaming will start the race from the fourth gate looking into the eye of his chief betting competitor. Classic Empire, who was assigned 3/1 odds, will break from the fifth spot. Classic Empire was trained by Mark Casse and will have Julien Leparoux along for the ride.

The half-brother of the most recent Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, Classic Empire should figure to have a better run than he has recently. He started on the outside of the main gate at Churchill Downs and was bumped early by a fellow contender breaking from the inside of the auxiliary gate. He made a strong attempt to close, but finished just out of the money in fourth. With a 10-horse field in the Preakness he should have a little easier run.

The other contenders worth noting are Lookin at Lee, who was assigned 10/1. He was trained by Steve Asmussen and is being jockeyed by Corey Lanerie and will start from the ninth spot. From the 10th spot, Conquest Mo Money will also be one to watch. He has higher 15/1 odds but should be able to set the pace early.

Half of the 10-horse field competed at the Kentucky Derby, but half are new at the Preakness. The best odds among the newcomers is actually the lightly raced Cloud Computing, who has been assigned 12/1. Trained by Chad Brown and with Javier Castellano riding, he’ll break from the second spot.

You can watch the 142nd running of the Preakness on Saturday on NBC. Coverage begins at 5 p.m. ET, with the undercard shown on NBCSN beginning at 2:30. Post time for the Preakness is expected to be just after 6:45 p.m. You can stream it live on NBC Sports Live Extra, or download the app on any of your favorite devices, as well.