Contenders For The 2012 Preakness Stakes

The 2012 Preakness Stakes takes place tomorrow at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, and the the final official list of the contenders for this prestigious race is out.

The draw for the posts has been completed and the local handicapper Carulli has announced his starting line odds. Now the online betting sites can get into action and post their own odds for the 2012 Preakness Stakes. The field can be grouped into three categories - the favourites, the middle order and the long shots. All contenders are colts this year, though geldings and fillies can participate.

Preakness Stakes Favourites

When we talk about Preakness Stakes favourites, at 8/5, Bodemeister is almost the odds on favourite. And he has every reason to be with a fantastic record over 9 furlongs and a trainer who can boast of five Preakness Stakes winners already. Bodemeister has done his chances no harm by drawing Post #7. He is owned by Zayat Stables and will have Mike Smith as the jockey. The Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another is understandably next with odds of 2/1. This colt has drawn Post #9.

Creative Cause and Went the Day Well have Post #6 and Post #5 respectively and both are at 6/1. In 9 starts Creative Cause has finished in the top three 8 times. His worst finish came in the recent Kentucky Derby where he was within striking distance for the greater part but finished fifth. Went the Day Well has a record of 4-2-0-0, which includes a rally to the fourth place in the Kentucky Derby. If you want to try for something substantial and with not too much risk then Creative Cause is a good bet.

Preakness Stakes Middle Order

In terms of the Preakness Stakes middle order, Daddy Nose Best is at 12/1. This colt has 11 career starts and 4 wins, and his 10^th place in the Kentucky Derby did not help his cause. In the 2012 Preakness Stakes Daddy Nose Best will start from Post #8. Next in the order of odds is Teeth of the Dog at 15/1. Starting from Post #2 will be some disadvantage. He has finished in the top three in the four races run so far, but they have not been big events. Zetterholm from Post #4 is at 20/1. He has won thrice in five races.

Preakness Stakes Long Shots

And when it comes to Preakness Stakes long shots, the remaining four horses, Tiger Walk, Pretension, Optimizer and Cozzetti, are all at 30/1 odds. They start from Posts #1, #3, #10 and #11 respectively. Optimizer has drawn some interest because he has been trained by five times Preakness Stakes winner D. Wayne Lukas but with a 9-1-2-1 record he will not have much backing. Cozzetti has been trained by Dale Romans who turned in last year's winner, but his record is equally unimpressive.