It’s race day at Pimlico and we take one last look at the Triple Crown field with updated Preakness odds and our prediction to win the 137th Preakness Stakes (Post Time:6:18 pm ET!)
Only seven horses in the past 40 years have won the Preakness without having run at the Kentucky Derby
In the past 25 years there has been an average of five horses from the Kentucky Derby entered at the Preakness. In 2012, Bodemeister (+175), I’ll Have Another (+225), Went the Day Well (+600), Creative Cause (+700) and Daddy Nose Best (+1700) fit that bill and are listed at the top of sports betting card. Optimizer (+4432) is also making the trip.
Since 1997, seven Kentucky Derby winners have won the Preakness Stakes. Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998), Charismatic (1999), War Emblem (2002), Funny Cide (2003), Smarty Jones (2004) and Big Brown (2008).
Read “Betting Preakness Favorites – Tips and Trends”
Only seven horses in the past 40 years (1972) have won the Preakness without having run at the Kentucky Derby. Rachel Alexander (2009) is the most recent but she was a winner at the Kentucky Oats onMay 1, 2009. Rachel Alexander was just the fifth filly to win the Preakness and first since Nellie Morse in 1924.
Without a Derby run at Churchill Downs, the most recent colt to win at Pimlico was Bernardini (2006), when top favorite Barbaro suffered multiple breaks to his right hind leg.
Our early picks circled (No. 6) Creative Cause to win this year’s Preakness at 7 to 1 and we also like I’ll Have Another (the 9) and Creative Cause (Exacta) @16.98.
PREAKNESS BETTING TIPS
The Preakness looked like a crowded house before Hansen and Liaison backed out and the current field is set at 11.
1. TIGER WALK (44/1)
Owners had to make a quick decision Friday after Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, originally slated to ride Tiger Walk at the Preakness, failed a breathalyser test at Belmont Park. New York-based jockey Ramon Dominguez will take his place. Desormeaux has two Preakness titles (1998, 2008) in 13 tries.
2. TEETH OF THE DOG (23/1)
Getting action from some sports betting shops, listed as high as 15 to 1. Was third in last race at Wood Memorial but has just one win at Maiden Special Weight (MSW) race in February.
Pinnacle Sports Horse Racing Facts: Over the course of its history, the Preakness was run 11 times prior to the Kentucky Derby; and in 1917 and 1922 they were both run on the same day
3. PRETENSION (44/1)
Winner of the Canonero II Stakes at Pimlico on May 5, Pretension is the first of three New York-bred horses entered in this year’s race.
4. ZETTERHOLM (23/1)
Also from New York, Zetterholm has won three-straight races coming into Pimlico. Trainer Richard Dutrow Jr. was the Preakness winner in 2008 with Big Brown.
5. WENT THE DAY WELL (6/1)
Opened as a 25/1 favorite at Kentucky Derby and made one of the biggest gains to 20/1 once posts were drawn (started No. 13). Day Well finished fourth with jockey John Velazquez, who was also on board for Animal Kingdom’s Kentucky Derby win in 2011 and second place finish at the Preakness. Velazquez has run 21 times since the Derby including a second place finish in the six-furlong Skipat at Pimlico (May 18).
6. CREATIVE CAUSE (7/1)
EveryEdge Early Preakness Picks featured a closer look at Creative Cause and suggested a play at 7 to 1 odds.
7. BODEMEISTER (7/4)
Favored by online sports betting shops in the +175 range, the Kentucky Derby runner-up will look to become just the third favorite in 20 years to win at Pimlico after finishing out of first at Churchill Downs.
8. DADDY NOSE BEST (17/1)
Sunland Derby winner with Julien Leparoux finished 10th at Kentucky Derby (G Gomez) and had to fight for every inch. Leparoux is back for Preakness and we have this horse circled as a top contender to finish in the money.
9. I’LL HAVE ANOTHER (3/1)
Seven Kentucky Derby winners have won the Preakness Stakes since 1997 and there was only three occasions since 2000 where the Derby winner didn’t finish in the money.
2011 Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom finished second at the Preakness to Shackleford
10. OPTIMIZER (44/1)
Finished 11th at Kentucky Derby as a huge longshot from the 2-hole. Sixth race of 2012 and has only one finish inside the top five. Has not won since debut in August, 2011.
11. COZZETTI (44/1)
Fifth race of 2012; ran fourth in the Arkansas Derby and has not won since MSW race last November.
Check the EveryEdge Horse Racing forum for more handicapping tips on this year’s Preakness!