2021 Preakness Stakes odds, Medina Spirit predictions: Expert who nailed 9 winners lists picks - CBS Sports

There's been plenty of drama surrounding Saturday's 2021 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Three days ago, word broke that Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit failed a post-race drug test in Louisville, casting plenty of doubt over his impressive Run for the Roses. He'll now join a loaded 2021 Preakness Stakes field that also features stablemate Concert Tour. Medina Spirit's trainer, Bob Baffert, won't be in Maryland to watch his horse go off as the 9-5 favorite in the 2021 Preakness Stakes odds.

Concert Tour traveled with Medina Spirit to Pimlico on Monday and is 5-2 in the latest Preakness Stakes 2021 odds, the second-best of any horse. With so much to consider, you'll want to see what SportsLine's Jody Demling has to say before entering any 2021 Preakness Stakes picks or predictions of your own.

A fixture in the horse racing world who has been writing about, talking about and betting on races for years, Demling enters the 2021 Preakness Stakes after a major heater in 2020: At one point last year, he picked the winners of six straight races: the Saudi Cup, Gotham Stakes, Rebel Stakes, Louisiana Derby, Florida Derby and Belmont Stakes.

This is the same handicapper who has called the Preakness winner nine times in the last 16 years. In last year's Preakness Stakes, Demling nailed the Swiss Skydiver-Authentic exacta. He also correctly faded 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic in the Preakness a year ago, saying "it's a lot to ask to come back after that performance in the Derby less than a month ago."

He opened last season's Triple Crown schedule on a heater too. At last year's Belmont, Demling said Tiz the Law was clearly the class of the field, and Barclay Tagg's horse pulled away for a convincing 3 3/4-length victory. Anyone who has followed him is up huge.

Now, with the 2021 Preakness Stakes lineup taking shape, Demling is sharing his picks and predictions at SportsLine. Go here to see them.

Top 2021 Preakness Stakes predictions

One shocker: Demling isn't picking Medina Spirit to win the Preakness Stakes 2021, even though the colt just won the Kentucky Derby. Medina Spirit broke to the front of the pack in the Kentucky Derby and didn't look back, racing to a wire-to-wire win at Churchill Downs.

However, it's been an eventful two weeks for the horse and his connections. As a result of the failed drug test, trainer Bob Baffert was suspended from entering horses at Churchill Downs. An analysis of Medina Spirit's test is ongoing, and if the findings are upheld, the colt could be stripped of his Kentucky Derby victory. Demling told SportsLine that while Medina Spirit has plenty of "grit," he won't be able to overcome the numerous distractions and is fading the colt to win in his 2021 Preakness Stakes bets.

How to make 2021 Preakness States picks, bets

Instead, Demling is especially high on an underrated horse who has history on his side ahead of the Preakness. Demling is sharing which horse it is, along with his entire projected leaderboard, over at SportsLine.

Which horse wins the Preakness Stakes 2021? And which huge underdog is a must-back? Check out the latest 2021 Preakness Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the Preakness Stakes.