by Renee Israel
Despite losing the recent Kentucky Derby to the 14/1 I'll Have Another,
Bodemeister is the favourite for the 2012 Preakness Stakes to
be run on Saturday, May 19.
Frank Carulli, the handicapper at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, told
the Daily Racing Form, "If Bodemeister runs, I'm 100 percent sure he'll be the
favourite. I can't see any scenario where that wouldn't happen." As if on cue,
Bob Baffert, the trainer of Bodemeister confirmed that the horse would be
entered for the Preakness Stakes.
Is Bodemeister Rested Enough for Preakness?
There are experts who feel that Bodemeister needed a longer rest to recover
from the blistering pace he set at the Kentucky Derby. They say that since
Bodemeister is not in the running for the Triple Crown, he should have gone
directly to New York for the Belmont Stakes.
Many Derby runners have done just that and this illustrious list includes
Dullahan, Trinniberg and Union Rag. There is some merit in this argument,
because the decision to race Bodemeister in the Preakness Stakes was not an easy
one for owner Ahmed Zayat. Zayat wanted Bodemeister to redeem himself after the
Derby loss but he also did not want to overstrain the horse.
In fact, he personally went to Churchill Downs, saw that Bodemeister had put
on weight and spoke to Baffert, who was convinced that Bodemeister had recovered
wonderfully and was ready to run. Baffert knows his horse well and also the
Pimlico Race Course. Baffert has trained five Preakness Stakes' winners from
1997 to 2010.
There is a very crucial reason why Bodemeister is the favourite at the
Preakness Stakes. In the first two-thirds of the Kentucky Derby no horse could
match him. He slowed down later and conceded his five length lead. The Arkansas
Derby was a shorter run at 9.5 furlongs and Bodemeister took that race with
consummate ease. The Preakness Stakes is also 9.5 furlongs and hence the
expectation that Bodemeister will emerge winner.
Contenders for the 2012 Preakness Stakes
The contenders for the Preakness Stakes are as follows.
I'll Have Another
Creative Cause
Went the Day Well
Teeth of the Dog
Tiger Walk
Optimizer
Bodemeister
Pretension Zetterholm
Cozzetti
Guyana Star Dweej
Daddy Nose Best
Optimizer is being trained by D. Wayne Lukas. Lukas is the other trainer who
has five Preakness Stakes winners against his name. Lukas and Baffert are tied
at second place. A win this year will give one of them sole possession of second
place. R. Wyndham Walden who trained seven winners from 1875 to 1888 will retain
his top place in any event.
The odds should be posted on all UK online betting sites any time soon.
