The Preakness Stakes has long been considered the ugly stepchild of horse racing’s Triple Crown, and the absence of the Kentucky Derby winner and runner-up from Saturday’s 151st edition will do little to change that impression.

A closer look, however, reveals that this year’s race measures up pretty well against its better-regarded brethren in terms of wagering, with a full field of 14 3-year-olds expected to go to post in a race that offers more bang for your betting buck than your typical Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.

There will be no sweep of the Triple Crown this year, after the 1-2 finishers in the Kentucky Derby — Golden Tempo and Renegade — elected to bypass the Preakness in favor of the Belmont Stakes on June 6 at Saratoga Race Course.

But fans may get to witness history of another kind as trainer Brittany Russell attempts to become the first female trainer to win the Preakness and jockey Jose Ortiz tries to join Calvin Borel and Willy Simms as the only jockeys to win the Derby and the Preakness…