These morning line odds represent his best guess as to the win bet payout you would receive on each of the 2023 Preakness Stakes contenders. 2023 Preakness Stakes – Expert pick. Before then, you can join us in analyzing the odds, post positions, and the best promos, in order to win bigger on the second leg of the Triple Crown, after a hugely exciting Kentucky Derby decided the first. National Treasure, trained by Bob Baffert, is 4-1 among the 2023 Preakness Stakes horses. The field, post positions, and morning line odds are out and this year's running of the Preakness is certainly going to be compelling. The draw and odds. Secretariat’s odds to win the Preakness Stakes were -333. Skippylongstocking 20/1. Other Preakness Stakes horses of note include Midnight Bourbon, the 5-2 favorite, and Concert Tour (4-1), who is also trained by Baffert. 2023 PREAKNESS FIELD. The draw for 2021 Preakness Stakes post positions was originally scheduled for Monday, but was postponed till 4 p. 80 $1. There are only seven 2023 Preakness Stakes horses, with Mage being. Secretariat holds the record for fastest time at 1:53. The most popular and simple bet in all horse racing. 1, essentially led the entire 1 3/16 miles of the race, with Blazing Sevens (post position No. Exotic wagers include exacta, trifecta, superfecta, Super High Five, Daily Double. For the $1 Million Grade 1 Stakes Race. Latest Betting Odds for the Horses in the 2023 Preakness Stakes. No. Mage was out for a jog and gallop in the slop at Churchill Downs on Tuesday (May 9) after two days off following his 1-length victory in the Derby at 15-1 odds. The post position draw for the 2022 Preakness Stakes bore a small gift for top favorite Epicenter in placing him in well outside. The 2023 Preakness Stakes will be run on Saturday May 20 at Pimlico racetrack. but it is what he has to deal with and I don't see it being a favorable outcome for Mage today. 2 post: Chase the Chaos, 10-1; No. , Shannon Russell, 50-1. Mage +300 ($10 to win $40 total) 2. Post position: Horse: Odds: 1: Ram: 30/1: 2:CNBC will broadcast the Preakness undercard from 1-4:30 p. Horse Racing Picks. ET on CNBC with the prep races. There’s 14 races at Pimlico Race Course on Saturday. on NBC and 2-4 p. Preakness 2023 horses, odds and post positions. Saturday’s Preakness Stakes is the main event on a Pimlico card that features five graded stakes. NBA Predictions & Best Bets for Today’s Slate of Games, 11/20 Milwaukee Bucks vs. BetMGM horse racing is a solid product, however, if you are looking to place a bet on the Preakness Stakes we recommend you join Twinspires and claim the $200 bonus. Forte: +300 ($10 to win $40 total) 3. Preakness Stakes trifecta payout The 1-7-3 trifecta at the Preakness hit on Saturday. m. m. Why? Because, all new members can get up to a $1,000 welcome bonus! You'll also get a free bet for the big race and great Preakness Stakes Props found nowhere else online! Bet Now on Preakness Stakes. Mage is the 8-to-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. Coverage of the main race will air on NBC and stream on Peacock. Epicenter paid $2. Preakness Stakes early odds: 1. Horse racing fans can watch the 2023 Preakness Stakes on NBC, with coverage beginning at 4 p. Coverage will. m. See more videos about Preakness 2023, Preakness Live, Preakness Md, The Preakness, Preakness146, Preakness22. 1 through 8 have. National Treasure, trained by Bob Baffert, is 4-1 among the 2023. Simplification, Antonio Sano, John Velazquez, 6-1. This year's race saw a running of only seven horses. A $1 bet on that trifecta with Bob Baffert’s horse getting the win would’ve paid out $24. There are many ways to bet on the Preakness Stakes. m. Recent Preakness example. Trained by Michael McCarthy, who won his first Preakness, Rombauer held off Midnight Bourbon, Medina Spirit and the rest of the. The ownership group of Mage is favored to win the trophy, as their horse is the 8-5 favorite in the 2023 Preakness Stakes odds. Post time is 7:01 p. Payoffs represent your profit PLUS the return of the $2 you originally bet. Mage, at 15-1 odds, crossed the wire first at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, winning the 149th Kentucky Derby. 2023 Preakness Stakes Post Positions. There are many ways to bet on the Preakness Stakes. Here are the betting odds for them per TwinSpires. Mage (Castellano) 8/5. Here are Preakness exotics payouts. 60 and $3. 1. TwinSpires is your best option for betting on the 2023 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday May, 20th. Twinspires Promo. By joining BetUS today, you’ll be able to claim a 200% match bonus. Preakness 2022 updated odds as of Saturday afternoon of the race. This was the first Preakness win for Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez, and the eighth. Where horses sit at the starting gate at the Preakness Stakes has a huge impact on performance. Veteran horse racing oddsmaker Paul Zilm set the Preakness odds at Circa Sports in Las Vegas. Join DraftKings today, and you can earn $150 worth of bonus bets just by risking $5 on any of our Preakness Stakes best bets. 📅 Time & Date: 7:01 pm (ET), Saturday May 20, 2023. The first Preakness purse was $2,050, equivalent to $43,426. Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports. Learn how to bet on the Preakness Stakes in 2023, latest horses odds and where to bet on the Preakness at Pimlico on May 21. This means that he has an implied probability of winning of about 20%. , fans can watch the Preakness Stakes 2022 TV coverage today (Saturday, May 21) starting at 4 p. Odds for the field. Eastern time and moves to NBC at 4 p. Fenwick 50-1. Asmussen: 2: Chase The Chaos: 50-1: Sheldon Russell: Ed. A $1 bet on that trifecta with Bob Baffert’s horse getting the win would’ve paid out $24. Share this article 2. The Bucks are off to a slow 3-3 start away. These morning line odds represent his best guess as to the win bet payout you would receive on each of the 2023 Preakness Stakes contenders. Here are their names, post positions and current. 2023 Preakness Stakes odds are widely available online prior to the start of early Preakness Stakes betting on Friday and throughout the day on Saturday. Pacers spread: Hawks -3. As the odds-on favorite, Mage (8-5) will look to become the first thoroughbred to win the Preakness and Kentucky Derby in the same year since Justify’s Triple Crown in 2018. m. National Treasure, trained by Bob Baffert, is 4-1 among the 2023. . Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports. ET (NBC). Jockey Jose Ortiz rode the horse to victory and Chad Brown is the winning trainer. Thirty-six horses have won both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness, yet only 13 have gone on to win the Belmont Stakes and the Triple Crown. T&C:Terms and Conditions Apply. 40, and Creative Minister was third and paid $4. Preakness odds and post positions for 2023. A chaotic Triple Crown season took another turn on Friday morning as trainer Brad Cox scratched Preakness contender First Mission from the 2023 Preakness Stakes one day before the race. Expires on: 31-12-2023 Last check: 2 days ago The Preakness Stakes race is taking place tomorrow! So time is running out if you are interested in betting on the Preakness Stakes. m. Eastern time, listed in order of post position in the seven-horse field. Post time for the 2023 Preakness Stakes is 6:50 pm Eastern. Ran second at 10-1 in the Arkansas then a. m EST. After winning the Kentucky Derby, Mage is the 8-5 Preakness 2023 favorite. A $1. Salzman Jr. m. Preakness Stakes Betting Tips Post time for the 2022 Preakness is set for 7:01 p. 1. Preakness Stakes 2022 horses, odds and post positions. Check live odds here. Watch on. Preakness Stakes odds 2023 It shouldn't surprise anyone to see the Kentucky Derby winner Mage (+160) favored to win the Preakness, but he is not the only. 2023 Haskell Stakes odds, contenders, post positions Prg #Disappointment is an overall theme going into today’s second race of the Triple Crown, the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. PREAKNESS STAKES: Full draw and odds for 2021 race. By Mark Lammey Nov 23, 2023 5:35 AM EST. Preakness Stakes winners by post position. BST, which is 7:30 a. ESPN. Simplification (6-1 to win outright) — A consistent performer who comes off a solid, if not spectacular, fourth in the. m. $1,000 Preakness stakes Bonus Exceptional New Member Reward for the Preakness Stakes. Here's a look at the full lineup for the 2023 Preakness Stakes, along with odds for each horse, then a breakdown of some dark-horse favorites to take down Mage. ET on Saturday. m. m. 5; Hawks vs. Here are the odds for the 2023 Preakness Stakes, as of 6 p. When it comes to the Triple Crown races, everybody from diehard horse racing fans to casual observers will be watching, so naturally, we have 2023 Preakness Stakes picks & predictions for our loyal readers. m. It was a photo finish as National Treasure won the 148th Preakness Stakes Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. BUSR is the best site to place your bet on the 2024 Preakness Stakes. Current live odds for the 2022 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course. May 19, 2023 at 10:42 am EDT by John Holland. Angel of Empire, who finished third on Saturday, had 9-1 odds. Trainer Bob Baffert, a seven-time Preakness winner, will be back in the race for the first time since 2021 with National Treasure, fourth in the Santa Anita Derby in his. The race will go off at 7:01 p. Of course, to go along with your $1,250 bonus, we also have latest odds at Caesars Sportsbook for you as well: Mage: +140. DRF Promo Code - Get a $10 Free Bet and a $250 Deposit Bonus for the Preakness Stakes. , Jaime Rodriguez, 20-1. m. 20. Two Phil's +500 ($10 to win. Check out the latest Preakness Stakes odds 2021 below, then visit SportsLine to see Kinchen's picks for the Preakness Stakes. Trained by Michael McCarthy, who won his first Preakness on Saturday, Rombauer held off Midnight Bourbon, Medina Spirit and. MAGE (#3, 8-5 morning line odds) had morning horse racing odds of 16-1 at the Derby but finished strong for the historic win. #1 National Treasure (4-1) will look to take advantage of. CHI. m. 7. National Treasure, Bob Baffert, John Velazquez, 4-1. Gate Nos. The Preakness Stakes runs Saturday, May 20 from Pimlico Race Course as Kentucky Derby winner Mage seeks the second jewel in the Triple Crown. National Treasure led virtually wire-to-wire in his first race. The 148 th Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course is set for Saturday, May 20. ET Tuesday after news broke that Kentucky. Preakness Day starts early, with a first post of 10:30 a. Odds were back on the board following the post-position draw on Monday, May 15. 00 Exacta: $31. 17 in today’s dollars. If you want to check out the best operators for Preakness odds, then the following 10. Chase The Chaos (Russell) 50-1. Best Betting Site for Preakness Stakes 2023. 5. First Mission is among the favorites in the Preakness Stakes probable field. Post position, horse, trainer, jockey, morning-line odds. Preakness Stakes Start Time Eastern: 7:01 p. The day prior to the Preakness is Pimlico’s second biggest day of betting due to attendance and thus a handle perspective. Below is the full post position draw for the 148th Preakness. Updated June 8, 2022, 10:57 a. Pimlico reported a record handle of $112,504,509 over the 14 races on Preakness Saturday. The 2023 Preakness Stakes results are in, and National Treasure is the winner of the 148th Preakness. National Treasure (Velazquez) 4-1. m. The 148th running of the Preakness Stakes is at 6:50 p. ET Saturday (NBC) at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, and as usual, all eyes will be on Kentucky Derby winner and Triple Crown. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-487128 ORIG FILE ID: 20220520. This makes it even easier to handicap today’s big race and place your bets with the top Preakness Stakes betting promos. m. Pre-race coverage will air on CNBC and stream on Peacock from 1-4:30 p. 3. 10. Creative Minister 10/1. Here are the odds for the 2023 Preakness Stakes, as of 6 p. 5. ET. Preakness Stakes odds 2023 It shouldn't surprise anyone to see the Kentucky Derby winner Mage (+160) favored to win the Preakness, but he is not the only horse to sport better than 5-1 odds to win. The three horses surrounding Epicenter in Post 8 had odds of 12-1 or longer on the morning. Gaming Today is licensed and regulated to operate in AR, AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MA,. He is also considered one of the greatest horses to ever set hoof on a racetrack. Creative Minister. The last two Derby-Preakness winners went on to win the Triple Crown (Justify and American Pharoah). Fair odds for the Preakness: Value opportunities in. Best Bets & Predictions for Preakness Stakes 2023. 1 post: National Treasure, 5-2; No. m. m. Why? Because, all new members can get up to a $1,000 welcome bonus! You'll also get a free bet for the big race and great Preakness Stakes Props found nowhere else online! Bet Now on Preakness Stakes. EDT, with NBC broadcasting from Baltimore. ET. TV Network: NBC/CNBC. Post time for the Preakness is 7:01 p. Betting on horse racing has never been better than with watching and wagering on TwinSpires! Find carryovers, expert handicapping analysis, free picks, more. Preakness 2023 TV coverage. Preakness Stakes post positions 2021. m. No surprise he is the 8-5 morning line favorite for this year’s Preakness Stakes. ET. Share. Moves. 1. 5. com. Mage is the 8-5 favorite in the 2023 Preakness Stakes odds, but he will have to deal with other 2023 Preakness Stakes horses such as National Treasure (4-1) and Blazing Sevens (6-1). It’s time for the 2023 Preakness Stakes, which will be the 148th running of “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans” at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore Saturday. The sire of 2017 Arkansas Derby winner Classic Empire was the No. Post position, horse, trainer, jockey, morning-line odds. Post time from Pimlico is scheduled for 7:01 p. Mage will be one of the top 2023 Preakness Stakes contenders after winning as a 15-1 longshot at the Kentucky Derby. The Preakness post position draw took place on Tuesday afternoon, so here’s the official order and opening odds for the 10 horses set to run on Saturday: 1 Ram 30-1. Trainer: Bob Baffert; Jockey: John Velazquez. Check out the latest 2023 Preakness Stakes odds below, then visit SportsLine to see Demling's picks for the 2023 Preakness Stakes, all from the expert who nailed 10 Derby-Oaks doubles and nine of. Photo: Ron Flatter. 5 million 2023 Preakness Stakes. 20 $1. 2023 Preakness Stakes Odds. There is plenty at stake for winning the 2023 Preakness Stakes, outside of being the victor of the the Middle Jewel of the Triple Crown. Only single horse wagers count as your eligible wager – in other words, no exotics. The 2021 event saw a bit of a surprise winner as Rombauer shipped in to take out. Post time for the 2022 Preakness Stakes is 7:01 p. Experts from The Post and Action Network Saturday’s 147th running of the 2022 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race course. 1. First. Preakness Stakes guide: Odds, post positions, horse-by-horse rundown, TV info and more. National Treasure has the second-best odds in the 2023 Preakness Stakes field at 4-1 after First Mission (5-2) was scratched. m. National Treasure has been 5-2 since early afternoon, while Blazing Sevens held at 4-1. Kentucky Derby winner Mage will win the Preakness Stakes, Action Network senior editor Thomas Casale predicts. One of the great things about betting the. A field of eight three-year-olds is set to contest the Grade I, $1. On Saturday, Early Voting was among the favorites at 5-1, but like Rich Strike before him. Post time is approximately 7:01 p. 80 to. m. According to the Maryland Jockey Club Press Office, Forte was a 4-1 favorite in the Preakness Future Wager, which has closed. 29. Coverage of this year's Preakness will be from 4-7:30 p. but rallied and edged runner-up Two Phil's in the final furlong to establish himself as the 8-5 favorite in the 2023 Preakness Stakes odds. Pick a Preakness Stakes winner, and if your bet is wrong, you will be refunded up to $20 with site credit. Coverage will also be streamed on NBC Sports Live . Before then, you can join us in analyzing the odds, post positions, and the best promos, in order to win bigger on the second leg of the Triple Crown, after a hugely exciting Kentucky Derby decided the first. Given unanimous approval by the Maryland Racing Commission at its April 4 meeting, the Preakness Future Wager opened April 28 and closed at 6 p. Rich Strike stunned the horse. Sent off at 11-1 odds, Rombauer covered the mile and three-sixteenths in 1 minute 53. The Triple Crown goes back more than 150 years. Preakness Stakes 2022 Odds: Live Odds & Betting Favorites | TVG. 8. ET on NBC. m. Mage was odds-on Preakness favorite after First Mission scratched. OXBO, 3RD, MYLUTE, FOLLOWED BY Departing and Goldencents. WBAL-TV is your home for Preakness coverage all week on 11 News. ET. Pre-race coverage will air on CNBC and stream on Peacock from 1-4:30 p. Kentucky Derby -winning Mage ’s morning-line odds for the Preakness Stakes have been set at 8-to-5 by the track handicapper at Pimlico Race Course. FanDuel Racing Promo Code - Get a $20 No Sweat First Bet on the Preakness Stakes. It’s not often you see a horse that only cost $2,000 in a Grade 1 race, and you can bet. National Treasure, beginning from post position No. Click here for Pimlico entries and results. Secret Oath 9-2. In order to earn the maximum. A resounding winner of the first leg of the Triple Crown two weeks ago, Mage is just a 2-1 favorite in the latest Preakness Stakes odds. Early Voting, who will be ridden by Jose Ortiz, is 7-2 in the nine-horse 2022. The Kentucky Derby winner faces six new faces Saturday in pursuit of the 2023 Triple Crown’s middle jewel. Share this article 2. The buildup to the 2022 Preakness Stakes feels similar to the Kentucky Derby in one particular way. m. Since then, every gate numbered 1-13 has produced a winner. Secretariat holds the record for fastest time at 1:53. The most simple bets are called straight wagers: win, place, or show. Bob Baffert’s Faiza (7-5) enters as the favorite to win the Black Eyed-Susan while Todd Pletcher scratched his two entrants. He will run out of the 3 post. Kentucky Derby winner Mage was made the 8-5 morning-line favorite during Monday's draw for Saturday’s $1. ET. Evan Hilbert, USA TODAY. National Treasure is expected to get out front early, but this is a short field with a long run into the first turn at Pimlico. Published May. ET, and the race will air live on NBC. Secretariat’s odds to win the Preakness Stakes were -333. NBA season is. Fantasy Football Today Podcast. Joel Rosario has won the Kentucky Derby. Mage is the 8-5 favorite in the 2023 Preakness Stakes odds, while National Treasure has the second-shortest odds at 4-1. ET at Pimlico Race Course. The 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix will air live on ESPN and stream live on ESPN+ and F1 TV Pro. The 147th Preakness Stakes is set to run on Saturday at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year so. m. Preakness 2023 horses, odds and post positions. PROGRAM NUMBER HORSE JOCKEY / TRAINER ML ODDS; 1. Preakness Stakes odds and Breeders’ Cup odds. Happy Jack 30/1. Stay up to date on the 2023 post positions and betting trends. com and TwinSpires. m. Epicenter carried odds of 7-5 just before the on-track odds that were showing on the racetrack monitors were updated to show the handle from all sources across North America. Post time is 7:01 p. Coverage of this year's Preakness will be from 4-7:30 p. 7 and 9-2 odds) making it interesting during the. on NBC and 2-4 p. Preakness Stakes early odds: 1. Kentucky Derby winner Mage will leave the starting gate in the 2023 Preakness Stakes on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course. As the odds-on favorite, Mage (8-5) will look to become the first thoroughbred to win the Preakness and Kentucky Derby in the same year since Justify’s Triple Crown in 2018. What are the odds for the Preakness field? 1. Odds as of Friday at 9 p. 2. The 2023 Preakness Stakes takes place Saturday night at 6:54 p. The entries for the 148th Preakness Stakes by post position with morning-line odds include: 1. Best finish: Second in 2014 ( Ride On Curlin ), 2015 ( Tale of Verve ), 2019 ( Everfast ), and 2022 ( Epicenter ) His 2023 Preakness horse: Red Route One. With a win in the Preakness, he would have a chance to become racing's 14th Triple Crown winner on June 10 at the Belmont Stakes. BetOnline, a service whose function is explained in its. 1. 2023 Preakness Stakes Odds; PP Horse Odds Jockey Trainer; 1: National Treasure: 4-1: John Velazquez: Steven M. It is the second leg of the Triple Crown, following the Kentucky Derby and preceding the Belmont Stakes. m. Post 2: Chase the Chaos. Hall of Fame jockey John Longden duplicated the feat when he. Red Route One, Steve Asmussen,. Today's Paper Newsletters Weather Horoscope Lottery Inquirer Events. Post positions. Leveraging the right horses with the obvious contenders can turn a 2-1 winner into a $90 trifecta. . Midnight Bourbon. Here’s a look at the full odds as the race nears on Friday evening. Check back with Horse Racing Nation for updated Preakness odds. m. m. ET or so. National Treasure (Velazquez) 4-1. The 2022 Preakness Stakes is scheduled for Saturday, May 21; get free USA Today Preakness picks, odds and predictions for the race here. BetMGM horse racing is a solid product, however, if you are looking to place a bet on the Preakness Stakes we recommend you join Twinspires and claim the $200 bonus. BetOnline is the best site for betting on the Preakness Stakes 2023. There are also more complex bets called exotic wagers. Coverage of the main race will air on NBC and stream on Peacock. m. ET from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore here are the morning line odds for the field. Ran a close fourth in the Santa Anita Derby, after placing third, beaten less than a length, in the Sham Stakes. m. Mage entered as the clear favorite, with a morning line of 4-5, among a. Blazing Sevens is sitting at 5-1, the third-best odds to win the Preakness. For the latest Live Preakness Stakes Odds on all of the eligible runners for the Preakness Stakes, check out TwinSpires. Joe Drape and Melissa Hoppert look at the contenders for the 147th Preakness Stakes. 2023 PREAKNESS STAKES ODDS AND EARLY PICK: Red Route One (+1000) at Bet365 Sportsbook. 3 hours ago · Today’s special offers from TwinSpires include: Churchill Downs $2,000 Late Pick 5 Hit It & Split It: Hit the Late Pick 5 at Churchill Downs on any racing day from Nov. Asmussen: 2: Chase The Chaos: 50-1: Sheldon Russell: Ed Moger Jr. DET. The first Preakness purse was $2,050, equivalent to $43,426. In the U. 5 million, with the winner’s share at $900,000. Click here to claim your $200 bonus with Twinspires Racing. Here are the Preakness start times by time zone. Early Voting paid $13. “I don’t have legs today, but I got the ride of a. Freeland and in 1939 saddled Challedon to victory. Preakness LIVE is an integral part of Baltimore 1/ST, a campaign launched in 2022 by The Stronach Group’s 1/ST brand in collaboration with Baltimore’s Kevin Liles, Chairman & CEO of 300 Elektra Entertainment, Co-Founder & CEO of 300 Entertainment, and Head of 300 Studios, and in consultation with Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, to champion the. Two Phil's +500 ($10 to win. Our Teresa Genaro also analyzed every horse in the 2023 Preakness. Even if you exclude the 2019 exacta payout of $3,009. Here is the full list of starting post position and early odds for each horse to win. Early Voting, at 5-1 odds, powered through near-record heat to win the 147th Preakness Stakes by a length and a half. The weather forecast for the Preakness Stakes on Saturday, May 20, 2023, is cloudy, with a high of 76 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 56 degrees Fahrenheit. The latest Preakness odds have Concert Tour dropping from 9/2 to 4/1, tightening the top of the odds table with Midnight Bourbon remaining the favorite at 5/2 and Kentucky Derby winner Medina. Basketball Insiders’ Preakness Stakes Expert Picks. Louis J. A. Creative Minister 10-1. Coverage of this year's Preakness will be from 4-7:30 p. None of the ADWs (advance deposit wagering) are listing current odds on the Preakness, the 13th race on the card. Established in 1995, Covers is the world leader in sports. Where: Pimlico Race Course, Baltimore, Maryland. Deposit $250 into your account. If National Treasure wins, Baffert would break a tie with 19th-century trainer R. For the $1 Million Grade 1 Stakes Race. TV and streaming info. What channel is the Preakness Stakes on this year? This year’s Preakness Stakes is airing on NBC and CNBC. Up To $1,000 Welcome Bonus. Mage entered as the clear favorite, with a morning line of 4-5, among a.