2010 Preakness Stakes Preview

This Saturday may 15^th is the 135^th running of the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Racetrack in Baltimore, Maryland. Better known as the second leg of the Triple Crown, the Preakness is a grade I stakes race for three year old Thoroughbreds with a total prize purse of $1,000,000. It is contested on a dirt track over a distance of 1 3/16 mile making it the shortest of the three Triple Crown races. Post time for the race is scheduled for 6:15 P.M. (ET).

The most exciting aspect of this race is to see if the winner of the Kentucky Derby, Super Saver can successfully add the second jewel in pursuit of the elusive Triple Crown of horse racing. The third race is the Belmont Stakes, scheduled to be run on June 5^th.

In the history of these races dating back to the late 1800’s only 11 horses have ever won all three. The last Triple Crown winner was back in 1978 when Affirmed accomplished this feat. 11 horses have won the first two legs, but failed to capture the third with a loss in the Belmont. Right now the current odds have Super Saver at +475 he will win the next two races and -700 he will not.

Here is a look at the current odds for all 12 horses currently listed in the field for Saturday’s race.

Aikenite 20-1

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Javier Castellano

Caracortado 22-1

Trained by Mike Machowsky and ridden by Paul Atkinson

Dublin 12-1

Trained by D. Wayne Lucas and ridden by Garrett Gomez

First Dude 16-1

Trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Ramon Dominguez

Jackson Bend 25-1

Trained by Nick Zito and ridden by Mike Smith

Lookin at Lucky 4-1

Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by Martin Garcia

Northern Giant 40-1

Trained by D. Wayne Lucas and ridden by Terry Thompson

Paddy O’Prado 10-3

Trained by Dale Romans and ridden by Kent Desormeaux

Pleasant Prince 15-1

Trained by Wesley Ward and ridden by Julian Leparoux

Schoolyard Dreams 12-1

Trained by Derek Ryan and ridden by Eibar Coa

Super Saver 9-4

Trained by Todd Pletcher and ridden by Calvin Borel

Yawanna Twist 25-1

Trained by Rick Dutrow and ridden by Edgar Prado

As expected Derby winner Super Saver is the current odds-on-favorite primarily on the strength of his jockey Calvin Borel’s ability to steer a horse right down the rail in these big stakes races. He has excellent closing speed and may be even better at the slightly shorter distance of this race.

Derby favorite Lookin at Lucky is back to take another shot at winning a Triple Crown race as many believe he is still the best horse in the field. He is coming off two disappointing starts after taking third in the grade I Santa Anita Derby back in April and finishing sixth in the Derby, ending up seven lengths off the pace.

A definite contender at 10-3 is Paddy O’Prado. He followed up a second place finish in the grade I Blue Grass Stakes with a third place finish in the Derby, just a neck in back of Ice Box, who finished second.

If you are looking for a long shot then Caracortado could be a good choice. After winning his first five starts including the grade II Robert B, Lewis Stakes he finished third in the grade II San Felipe and ended up fourth in the Santa Anita Derby. He did not have enough graded stakes earnings to make it into the field for the Derby so he should be well rested for this race.

Predicted order of finish

1^st- Super Saver

2^nd- Dublin

3^rd- Paddy O’Prado