Preakness 2012: I'll Have Another Wins, Keeps Triple Crown Hopes Alive

2012 Preakness: Watch I'll Have Another's Trainer React To Win

The 2012 Preakness is done and over with, as I'll Have Another won the race and is now vying for the Triple Crown heading to the Belmont, but there are still some tidbits from the race over the weekend. Tidbits like this video of I'll Have Another's trainer Doug O'Neill crushing his daughter while celebrating.

Now, much of this is just the heat of the moment, with a trainer and his closest friends celebrating a big victory for the horse he's spend a lot of time with.

But... you can hear his daughter screaming, at first what sounds like pure excitement, but then you suddenly hear her scream "I can't breathe!" multiple times as everyone is hugging and jumping up and down out of excitement.

For more on the Preakness and I'll Have Another, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness Stakes 2012: Runner-Up Bodemeister To Skip Belmont Stakes

Things just got a little easier in I'll Have Another's bid to be horse racing's first winner of the Triple Crown since Affirmed in 1978. Bodemeister, the runner-up in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, won't participate in the Belmont Stakes, trainer Bob Baffert revealed to the New York Daily News Sunday. Baffert said the decision was intended to give Bodemeister, who was leading nearly wire-to-wire in both races before succumbing to I'll Have Another in the final stretches, a rest.

Interestingly enough, Baffert also said a Triple Crown for I'll Have Another would be good for the sport as a whole, indicating that may have also been a factor in his decision. From the NYDN article:

"It's one of those things where it's good for the sport," Baffert said of I'll Have Another's victory in the Preakness and a chance at immortality. "It's good for the Belmont."

No horse was really all that close to I'll Have Another in each race other than Bodemeister, so this appears to be the best chance at a Triple Crown we've seen since perhaps Smarty Jones back in 2004.

Preakness 2012: I'll Have Another Already Headed To Belmont

Trainer Doug O'Neill had an unconventional plan for I'll Have Another coming off of his Kentucky Derby win, and it paid off, as the horse brought home a thrilling victory in the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes. They're not dwelling on success: I'll Have Another left Baltimore at 8 a.m. today headed for Belmont three weeks before he has a chance to win the Triple Crown.

At Pimlico, the horse had a secluded barn as opposed to the barn traditionally reserved for Kentucky Derby winners. The plan is the same headed to Belmont, with O'Neill looking for a similar barn in New York.

As for the horse, he's apparently in "super shape" after the race, which bodes well for his chances of being the first horse to take the race since 1978.

For more on the Preakness and I'll Have Another, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Preakness Stakes: I'll Have Another 12th Horse With Triple Crown Shot Since Affirmed

I'll Have Another's magical run through the first two legs of the 2012 Triple Crown — a pull-away victory in the 2012 Kentucky Derby followed by a stirring comeback in Saturday's 2012 Preakness — places him in elite company with just the 2012 Belmont Stakes to go. If he becomes the first thoroughbred since Affirmed in 1978 to claim horse racing's most famous prize, he will be succeeding where many horses have failed.

Since 1978, 11 horses have claimed the first two legs of the Triple Crown — Spectacular Bid in 1979, Pleasant Colony in 1981, Alydar foal Alysheba in 1987, Sunday Silence in 1989, Silver Charm in 1997, Real Quiet in 1998, Charismatic in 1999, War Emblem in 2002, Funny Cide in 2003, Smarty Jones in 2004, and Big Brown in 2008 — only to fall short of winning the Belmont Stakes in a variety of ways.

Spectacular Bid took the only show of his 30-race career in the 1979 Belmont Stakes, allegedly because of an injury. Bet Twice, second in the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness, romped in the 1987 Belmont as Alysheba finished fourth. Silver Charm was edged, almost poetically, by Touch Gold in the 1997 Belmont; Victory Gallop closed to dash Real Quiet's hopes at the wire in the 1998 edition. War Emblem finished nearly 20 lengths back in the 2002 Belmont only to be outdone for futility in 2008, as the previously undefeated Big Brown became the first Triple Crown-seeking horse in history to finish first-first-last in the three races with an uncompetitive Belmont performance.

I'll Have Another, the 12th horse to take the Derby and Preakness since 1978, will seek to avoid their fates. History may smile on I'll Have Another's duel with Bodemeister, second in both Triple Crown races this year, as it recalls Affirmed's famed clash with Alydar. Bodemeister is the first horse since Alydar to place second to a horse that took both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

SB Nation's horse racing expert Matt Gardner reacts to I'll Have Another's Preakness triumph.

2012 Preakness Video: Matt Gardner On I'll Have Another's Win, Triple Crown Chances

I'll Have Another's unbelievable comeback victories have provided for some absolutely insane moments of horse racing. With the Triple Crown still alive and each race being completely ridiculous, it's a fun time to follow horse racing.

I'll Have Another has had back-to-back late charges in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes to win both races for jockey Mario Gutierrez and trainer Doug O'Neill, holding off Bodemeister the favorite in both races.

This sets up an awesome scenario for the 2012 Belmont Stakes: I'll Have Another and Bodemeister have gone down to the wire in both races, and now I'll Have Another has a chance to bring home the first Triple Crown since 1978 while Bodemeister - who has had both victories seemingly in his grasp going into the home stretch - has the chance to play the spoiler if he runs at The Belmont.

Here's SB Nation's Matt Gardner with reaction to the thrilling victory:

For more on the Pimlico Special and the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Preakness Stakes: Full Results And Recap

Old Hill Top, Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, was done up in its "Sunday Best" on the third Saturday in May for the Preakness, the second leg of the coveted Triple Crown. Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another ran down his rival Bodemeister in deep stretch just as he did two weeks ago at Churchill Downs. With the victory, I'll Have Another is a Belmont Stakes win away from becoming the 12th Triple Crown winner in American thoroughbred history and the first since 1978.

Somewhat similar to the Derby, Bodemeister broke well and set the pace in the early stages. Unlike the Derby, Bode was able to run much more sensible fractions and looked like a certain winner when he charged off the top of the stretch with a three length lead. I'll Have Another, sitting a few lengths back in fourth position for much of the early parts of the race, was sent down for a drive by jockey Mario Gutierrez as he came off the far turn. With the roar of the Pimlico crown behind him, I'll Have Another wore down his rival in the final strides to win the Preakness, keeping the Triple Crown dream alive for 2012.

As expected, the pace of the Preakness was a lot more sensible than the insane splits we saw at the Kentucky Derby. Bodemeister clocked very even times over the first mile of the race and he finished up strong, despite doing all the dirty work on the front-end. But I'll Have Another was just as game as Bodemeister and he would not be denied in the final hundred yards as he ate up ground with every massive stride.

Below is a summary of the fractions and internal splits from the Preakness, along with a horse-by-horse breakdown of the top four finishers.

Fractions:
¼: 23.79
½: 47.68
¾: 1:11.72
Mile: 1:36.69
Finish: 1:55.94

Internal Splits:
¼: 23.79
½: 23.89
¾: 24.04
Mile: 24.97
Finish: 19.25

1^st - I'll Have Another: This colt just loves to win races; what more can be written about him? The Derby winner was able to secure a great stalking position for the first half mile and then made a strong run in the lane to run down the game Bodemeister on the wire once again.

The strength of I'll Have Another is his ability to sit several lengths off of the lead and yet still run a top race time and time again. On paper, the Preakness did not set-up well for a horse with his running style given the absence of speed horses. That gave Bodemeister a decided tactical advantage yet, despite the unfavorable pace, I'll Have Another was able to run down a high quality colt in Bodemeister in the final strides.

If people thought the Derby was a fluke, they should now be convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that I'll Have Another is high quality colt on the doorstep of history.

Can I'll Have Another win the Belmont? Well, no horse has won all three since 1978 when Affirmed edged his rival Alydar three straight times in the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. But while history suggests that I'll Have Another won't win in New York, it's hard to root against a colt that just loves to win races.

I'll Have Another has a shot at history in the Belmont Stakes in three weeks. If he's good enough and can run his race, he could place his name among the all-time greats of thoroughbred history.

2^nd - Bodemeister: The Bob Baffert trainee, and the betting favorite in the Preakness, ran his race just like all the handicappers predicted: he broke strong and led the field through moderate fractions over the first mile. While his connections are most certainly disappointed by coming up short in both the Derby and Preakness, there's no denying the talent of this colt. He may not have a shot at a Triple Crown, but I have a feeling Bode will make his name known over the rest of this racing sea on.

3^rd - Creative Cause: Unlike his Derby run, Creative Cause got the perfect trip in the Preakness and had every chance to stake his claim to the win at the top of the stretch. Ultimately, he's just wasn't good enough to run down Bodemeister or I'll Have Another. A good race by Creative Cause, but just not enough to challenge the top two.

4^th - Zetterholm: The New York shipper ran the best of all the new shooters at this year's Preakness but he finished over ten lengths behind Bode and I'll Have Another and never challenged the top pair at any time during the race. As most handicappers expected prior to the race, the new shooters were never a serious threat to win the Preakness at any point in the race.

What Now?

It's on to Belmont where, once again, a colt will try to end the Triple Crown drought in the mile and half Belmont Stakes - "The Test of Champions".. If you're a horse racing fan, the next three weeks will be excruciatingly long.

Preakness 2012 Video: Watch I'll Have Another's Ride One More Time

Those who missed the 2012 Preakness missed one heck of a race. It came all the way down to the wire, with I'll Have Another reeling front-runner Bodemeister in down the back-stretch as the crowd at Pimlico screamed in delight. Bodemeister, at top speed, looked like a sitting duck as the finish line approached, with I'll Have Another flying to the front, catching him, and passing him at the wire.

Words can't quite describe the race I'll Have Another ran and the drama down the back-stretch. But video sure can.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

With that, the Triple Crown remains alive. And what a way to keep hopes for a Triple Crown this year high as the best 3-year-olds head to The Belmont.

If Saturday was any indication, we're in for quite a ride with I'll Have Another looking to finally break through and snap up a Triple Crown.

Preakness 2012 Payouts: I'll Have Another Pays Out $8.40 For Bettors

I'll Have Another pulled another unbelievable victory away from Bodemeister after trailing for most of the race. The people who are obviously most pleased are jockey Mario Gutierrez and trainer Doug O'Neill, but bettors will also be pleased.

Odds had Bodemeister and I'll Have Another far away the favorites to finish first and second in the last odds before the race and, well, that was pretty accurate, as those horses didn't really have any competition for the field. But it wasn't perfectly accurate, as it ended up turning out the other way, with the favorite finishing second and the presumptive second-place finisher one race away from being the first Triple Crown winner in almost a quarter-century.

Here's the payouts from today's race for win, place and show.

I'll Have Another: 8.40, 3.80, 2.80

Bodemeister: 3.20, 2.80

Creative Cause: 3.60

Bettors on the $2 exacta will get $18.60, the $1 trifecta $35.40, the $1 superfecta $424.30.

Triple Crown 2012: I'll Have Another Has Hopes Sky High

With two legs of the Triple Crown down, I'll Have Another has energized fans of horse racing, as well as casual observers. First it was the Kentucky Derby, which I'll Have Another captured to begin the 2012 Triple Crown journey. He looked strong, though still wasn't quite given all the respect he may have deserved. After all, Bodemeister did head to the post as the favorite on Saturday at The Preakness.

And the race played out almost exactly as everyone expected. Bodemeister set the pace, though a little slower than most imagined, and I'll Have Another stalked his prey. With Bodemeister leading down the stretch, I'll Have Another reeled him in, caught him with less than 100 yards to go, then hung on for dear life to win at the wire.

Sure, the race win was nice. It was a fantastic race. But a bid for the Triple Crown heading to The Belmont? And a horse that seems to be able to pull a rabbit out of the hat? It doesn't get much better.

Most every sports fan knows the Triple Crown, its rarity and importance among sports' most amazing feats. And with I'll Have Another, there's a chance we could see history at The Belmont.

And at this point, a chance is good enough.

Preakness 2012 Results: I'll Have Another Wins, Keeps Triple Crown Hopes Alive

Update: Full race results are here.

The second leg of the 2012 Triple Crown got under way Saturday in Baltimore as the 2012 Preakness Stakes was called to the post. The Preakness, always filled with optimism and hopes of a Triple Crown bid continuing to the final jewel, The Belmont, was packed with a strong field, including many Kentucky Derby holdovers and a few new faces. But, as usual, all eyes were focused on the Derby winner, I'll Have Another this year.

Bodemeister was a slight favorite, at 2-1, heading to the post, with I'll Have Another close behind at 3-1. I'll Have Another drew the No. 9 post position, with Bodemeister two slots inside, in the No. 7 gate. The focus heading into the race was on the middle of the starting gate, with the favorites starting in the No. 5 through No. 9 spots.

The horses were loaded into the gates without incident, though Zetterholm had a bit of an issue inside the game, and the 2012 Preakness was off.

As expected, Bodemeister moved to the front to set the pace as they broke for the rail. Bodemeister was in front at the first turn, followed by Pretension, Creative Cause and I'll Have Another four length behind. The leaders established a pack, breaking from four horses who fell a bit off the pace.

The tempo wasn't as quick as expected, with Bodemeister leading down the back-stretch, running slower than in the Derby -- 3/4 in 1:11.3. Down the stretch they came, with Bodemeister leading, followed by I'll Have Another chasing hard. With 100 yards to go, I'll Have Another broke hard and, amazingly, pulled it off again.

I'll Have Another with another rabbit out of the hat, running down Bodemeister to nip him at the line and win The Preakness.

Edit: Video of I'll Have Another's winning ride at The Preakness.

2012 Preakness Odds: Final Odds Before Post

The 137th running of the Preakness Stakes is less than a half-hour away, and here are the final odds:

1 - Tiger Walk, 19-1

2 - Teeth of the Dog, 13-1

3 - Pretension, 25-1

4 - Zetterholm, 17-1

5 - Went the Day Well, 9-2

6 - Creative Cause, 5-1

7 - Bodemeister - 2-1

8 - Daddy Nose Best, 9-1

9 - I'll Have Another, 3-1

10 - Optimizer, 19-1

11 - Cozzetti, 24-1

So the odds have Bodemeister as slightly less likely to win -- he was 8-5 on the morning line, now he's 2-1 -- while I'll Have Another has also fallen off a bit, going from 5-2 on the morning line to 3-1. Either way, they're still far and away the favorites to bring home the victory in today's second leg of the Triple Crown.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012 Results: Awesomemundo, Hudson Steele Win Undercards

Edit: I'll Have Another wins the Preakness Stakes.

In the last two undercards before the running of the 137th Preakness States, Awesomemundo and Hudson Steele earned victories in the buildup before the Triple Crown event gets underway

Awesomemundo was the winner in the Allaire DuPont - Distaff, followed by Love and Pride and Catch a Thief. Hudson Steele ran in the Jagermeister Dixie Stakes, and ended up besting Humble and Hungry and Forte Dei Marmi. Hudson Steele was trailing after the last turn, but made a strong run toward the end, ending up passing and winning the race by several lengths. The purses in the races were $100,000 and $300,000, respectively.

Now, we have under an hour waiting before the Preakness: all the horses are out of the stables except for the winner in the Kentucky Derby, I'll Have Another.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012 Results: D. Wayne Lukas Adds Two Wins As Race Day At Pimlico Progresses

Edit: I'll Have Another wins The Preakness.

The full day of racing continues at Pimlico with just over an hour to go until post time for the 137th Preakness States. Hamazing Destiny won the the eighth race of the day, stalking in third place for much of the race until a late burst down the stretch captured the G3 Maryland Sprint Handicap. The D. Wayne Lukas horse edged Bandbox and Action Andy.

Lukas went back-to-back to win the ninth race of the day as well. Skyring, the No. 2 horse, won the James W. Murphy on the grass. Skyring is an English Channel colt, and he put together a strong trip with Joel Rosario aboard. Easy Crossing finished second while Mr. Handsome came in third.

The favorite in the 10th race was Absinthe Minded, another Lukas horse who many predicted would take the Dupont Distaff. But Bob Baffert spoiled Lukas's shot at a third stakes win, when his horse Awesomemundo beat out the field on the deep stretch to win it. Love and Pride came in second, followed by Catch a Thief. Baffert, however, will be looking for the big prize later with Preakness favorite Bodemeister.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Preakness Post Time, Entries And More

It's time for the second leg of the 2012 Triple Crown, the 137th Preakness Stakes.

I'll Have Another is looking to keep hopes of being the first Triple Crown Winner since Affirmed in 1978 alive, but isn't the favorite. Bodemeister holds that honor with 8-5 odds to win.

The post is at 6:18 EDT Saturday, and here's the post positions and info on the horses:

Post - Horse / Trainer / Jockey / Odds

1 -- Tiger Walk / Correas IV / Desormeaux / 30-1
2 -- Teeth of the Dog / Matz / Bravo / 15-1
3 -- Pretension / Grove / Santiago / 30-1
4 -- Zetterholm / R. Dutrow Jr / Alvarado / 20-1
5 -- Went the Day Well / Motion / J. Velazquez / 6-1
6 -- Creative Cause / Harrington / Rosario / 6-1
7 -- Bodemeister / Baffert / Smith / 8-5
8 -- Daddy Nose Best / Asmussen / Leparoux / 12-1
9 -- I'll Have Another/ O'Neill / Gutierrez / 5-2
10 -- Optimizer / Lukas / Nakatani / 30-1
11 -- Cozzetti / Romans / Lezcano / 30-1

For more on the Pimlico Special and the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012 Odds: Bodemeister Remains The Favorite, I'll Have Another Close Behind

With just a few hours remaining before Saturday's running of the 2012 Preakness Stakes, the odds are still against I'll Have Another capturing the second leg of the Triple Crown.

According to the latest odds at Bovada, Bodemeister -- who was the favorite to win the Kentucky Derby right up until he was overtaken in the home stretch by I'll Have Another -- is once again the betting favorite to take the Preakness, at 3/2.

I'll Have Another has benefited greatly from horses like Dullahan and Union Rags pulling out of the Preakness. The Kentucky Derby's odds are currently set at 3/1.

Here are the full odds for the 11 horses running in the Preakness:

Post Position - Horse - Odds
1 - Tiger Walk - 30/1
2 - Teeth of the Dog - 18/1
3 - Pretension - 35/1
4 - Zetterholm - 20/1
5 - Went the Day Well - 6/1
6 - Creative Cause - 13/2
7 - Bodemeister - 3/2
8 - Daddy Nose Best - 14/1
9 - I'll Have Another -3/1
10 - Optimizer - 30/1
11 - Cozzetti - 40/1

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012 Results: Il Villano Wins Chick Lang Stakes At Pimlico

Edit: I'll Have Another wins The Preakness.

The racing card is stacked at Pimlico on Saturday well before the official running of the 2012 Preakness Stakes.

In the President of UAE Cup, the horses raced a one and one-sixteenth mile length on the dirt track. The race was limited to horses four years and up who are North American Arabian-bred and had a winner's purse of $75,000. First place went to T M Fred Texas, who edged out Grilla.

The fifth race of the day was five furlongs on the turf for a purse of $43,000. Wire Funds took the top spot in the race, Coach Fridge placed and Pendulum showed.

In the second six-figure purse of the day, the Chick Lang Stakes was six furlongs on the dirt that paid out $100,000 for Il Villano, owned by Chuck Russo. Trainer Susan Crowell had this to say, according to the official Pimlico website:

"I saw that they were going pretty fast and he sat exactly where I wanted him to. He made his one run on the turn for home, and we were very impressed the way he ran today. I was worried coming in, because he had his little vacation, but he had a couple of good works. We were hopeful. We’ll keep him short and probably head for the Jersey Shore at Monmouth Park."

In the seventh race, Clare Skies Ahead won a one and one-sixteenth miles race on the turf for fillies and mares, taking home $43,000 and beating out Happy Choice and Dixie Dear.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012 Results: Zagora, Varsity Among Early Undercard Winners At Pimlico

Edit: I'll Have Another wins The Preakness.

Before the main event is run at the 2012 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on Saturday, there is a full day of racing action. There are already a handful of races in the books before the second leg of the Triple Crown gets underway and I'll Have Another attempts to make a mad dash for the most elusive title in sports.

The first race for the day was five furlongs on the turf, with a purse of $45,000. Varsity took home the winner's purse, Agnostic placed and Night Officer was able to show.

The second race had a purse of $25,000 and was one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt. Baileys Beach took the top spot.

Race three was the biggest race so far for the day, with a purse of $150,000 in the Gallorette Handicap. Zagora (from France) edged out Speak Easy Gal in the one and one-sixteenth miles on the turf in a race restricted to fillies and mares. According to the official Pimlico website, Zagora's jockey, Javier Castellano, had this to say about the win:

"It worked out really good today. It was a great performance. The pace was pretty fast today. She didn't break that good. I was a little concerned about that, but the bottom line is that it worked out great. They spread out and I saved all the ground, and she finished great."

In another 1 1/16 on the dirt in race four, Paynter held off Brimstone Island and Respectful Ed to take the $50,000 purse in a showing of three-year-olds.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012 Post Positions: Cozzetti Needs Better Start, Rain Could Help

On Thursday afternoon we found out the post positions for the 2012 Preakness Stakes, which can help give an idea of how horses will get out of the gate and start the race.

Each spot has it's pros and cons. For example, Tiger Walk starts in the No. 1 position and risks being forced against the rail and getting trapped in the pack. On the outside in the No. 11 post position, Cozzetti can hold steady and work his way into the pack, but he also runs the risk of being held outside, running a longer route and tiring out and falling behind.

Here are the post positions for the 2012 Preakness Stakes, with some horses broken down by Matt Gardner of SB Nation:

1. Tiger Walk

2. Teeth Of The Dog

Gardner on Tiger Walk's chances and notes to look for him to utilize the middle of the pack:

Teeth of the Dog is the second of the two new shooters that look to have the biggest chance at making a significant impact at this year's Preakness. In his last start, he ran a good third to Gemologist and Alpha in the G1-Wood Memorial and stayed on well in the final furlong. Neither of those two horses came back to put up much of a performance in the Derby, but that shouldn't diminish the fact that Teeth of the Dog has improved with every start this year.

3. Pretension

Gardner breaks down Pretension's chances, who should utilize his speed.

Pretension has a little bit of speed at his disposal and generally sits right off of the pace in the first quarter to half mile of a race. He'll likely be fighting for position with I'll Have Another, Creative Cause, and Paynter in the early stages on Saturday.

4. Zetterholm

5. Went The Day Well

Gardner thinks Went The Day Well can improve, maybe pull the upset:

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Went the Day Well improve on that fourth place Derby finish in the Preakness. If he's able to take another step forward on Saturday, it's possible that this colt could find himself in the winner's circle at the end of the day.

6. Creative Cause

Gardner notes that Creative Cause can cover quite a bit of ground:

What's all that Trakus data really mean? Simply that Creative Cause covered more ground than any other colt in the field and was still able to finish in the top 5. If he gets a clean trip in the Preakness, Creative Cause could have an excellent chance for the victory.

7. Bodemeister

Gardner notes Bodemeister's pure speed makes him the favorite:

When you consider how fast Bodemeister ran the first six furlong of the Kentucky Derby (1:09 4/5ths) it's ultra-impressive that he only gave up the lead inside the final hundred yards. It was a magnificent performance from a colt that has proven that he's a force to be reckoned with, even when he decides to set absurd fractions.

8. Daddy Nose Best

9. I'll Have Another

Gardner says I'll Have Another looks to avoid regressing as the colt goes for the Triple Crown:

The big question for any horse following a Kentucky Derby win is: can this one take the second leg of the Triple Crown in the Preakness? There certainly isn't any huge reason to believe that this colt can't win the Preakness. While there's always a chance that a colt will regress off of a big performance, I'll Have Another appears to be a colt that's putting it all together at the right time. If he continues to develop over the next couple of months, he could be a handful for this entire crop of three-year-old colts.

10. Optimizer

Gardner breaks down Optimizer's chances, noting he'll need some other horses to tire:

Given his deep closing running style, Optimizer needs a fast early pace and very tired rivals to have any shot at an upset in the Preakness. However, unlike the Derby, the Preakness appears to lack a ton of early speed horses which will likely lead to much more reasonable early fractions. A deep closer in a race with a moderate pace is not a combination for success.

11. Cozzetti

Gardner breaks down Cozzetti's chances as a contender, including noting that rain could be a big help for Cozzetti:

Cozzetti ran evenly in both the Tampa Bay Derby and the Arkansas Derby, but the best race of his career wouldn't get him within sniffing distance of the top contenders in the Preakness. His chances of winning will depend greatly on whether he can improve immensely from his last start, or the rest of the field regresses significantly from the Derby. That's not a recipe for success in a Grade 1 race.

[...] One thing to keep in mind with Cozzetti is that his lone victory came over a sloppy and sealed track last November. If it rains at Pimlico, the surface might increase his chances for success.

For more on the Pimlico Special and the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Watch The Preakness 2012 Live: How To Watch Online

You can catch the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes at 4:30 EDT Saturday on NBC, but even if you're not in front of a TV, you'll be able to watch the race. In fact, if all you have is a computer, you'll be able to see even more things than someone parked in front of the screen. Here are the details on how to watch online:

PREAKNESS EXTRA

Similar to Kentucky Derby Extra, Preakness Extra is the online connection to coverage of the Preakness Stakes. Available at NBCSports.com with live streaming of the NBC broadcast of the Preakness, other features of Preakness Extra include:

An online-only isolation camera on Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another during the race;

Online-only analysis by NBC and NBC Sports Network commentators in days leading up to race plus post race, online commentary by NBC commentators;

Replays and highlights from the Kentucky Derby and earlier prep races;

A video simulation of how this year's Preakness might play out with 2012 Preakness entrants in virtual competition simulating Preakness conditions and track.

Bummer if you were looking for an isolation camera on the favorite, Bodemeister, I guess, but I think this is all right.

For more on the Pimlico Special and the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012 Odds: Bodemeister Remains The Favorite

As we near post time for the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes, the odds are beginning to fluctuate. Bodemeister, which opened as an 8-5 favorite in the morning line, is listed as a 3-2 favorite by Bovada.

The winner of the Kentucky Derby, I'll Have Another, remains second to Bodemeister. I'll Have Another was given 5-2 odds in the morning line and is now listed as a 3-1 favorite by Bovada. Other favorites include Went the Day Well, which remains at 6-1, and Creative Cause, which moved from initial 6-1 odds to 13-2. No other horse in the 11-horse field has better than 14-1 odds.

Post time for Saturday's Preakness Stakes is 6:18 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast on NBC with coverage from the Pimlico Race Course beginning at 4:30 p.m.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012: Post Time, TV Coverage, Video And More

All eyes will be on the Pimlico Race Course today as I'll Have Another attempts to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown in the Preakness Stakes.

I'll Have Another enters race day with 5-2 odds, just behind morning line favorite Bodemeister, who was pegged at 8-5 odds. The two horses that finished first and second in the Kentucky Derby are expected to battle for the victory again Saturday. I'll Have Another will begin the race from the No. 9 post position while Bodemeister will start from the No. 7 post. Other Preakness favorites include Went the Day Well and Creative Cause, who were both set with 6-1 odds.

Post time for the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes is scheduled for 6:18 p.m. ET. The race will be broadcast on NBC with coverage beginning at 4:30 p.m. ET.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Pimlico Special Results: Alternation Wins Photo Finish

It came down to the wire at the 2012 Pimlico Special, but Alternation held off Nehro, winning by a hair in the 48th running of the Pimlico Special.

Alternation, ridden by jockey Luis Quinonez, wasn't exactly a surprise to win, ranked slightly behind favorite Mission Impazible at 4-1. Endorsement came in third. Nehro and Endorsement were each staked at 8-1 in the morning.

It's another notch in an impressive career for Alternation: the horse has now won eight of 13 races in which he has competed, which isn't bad by anybody's standards.

Either way, a photo finish in the first running of the race since 2008 isn't bad at all. Now all horse racing eyes can turn towards the real main event, tomorrow's Preakness.

For more on the Pimlico Special and the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Preakness 2012: Kent Desormeaux Fails Breathalyzer, Taken Off Tiger Walk

Legendary jockey Kent Desormeaux failed a breathlyzer test at Belmont Park on Friday and has been taken off his mount for the Preakness at Pimlico on Saturday, according to Tim Wilkin of the Albany Times Union. Desormeaux has battled alcohol problems throughout his career, and this latest incident has now cost him his ride on Tiger Walk in the Preakness. Via TimesUnion.com:

It didn't take long for the connections of Desormeaux's Preakness ride, Tiger Walk, to act. The colt, owned by Sagamore Farm, about 30 minutes from Pimlico Race Course, now will be ridden by New York-based rider Ramon Dominguez.

Desormeaux was scheduled to ride in three races at Belmont on Friday, which requires a breath test for all jockeys under NYRA regulations. He apparently had a blood-alcohol content higher than .05, which is the threshold for a jockey being unfit to ride.

Tiger Walk is a local Baltimore horse, owned by Kevin Plank, the founder and CEO of Under Armour. Desormeaux was initially chosen to ride Tiger Walk after Dullahan, his Kentucky Derby mount, pulled out of the Preakness.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Pimlico Special Odds 2012: Mission Impazible Is The Favorite

While most of the attention is on Saturday's Preakness Stakes, Friday's card at the Pimlico Race Course has a couple of noteworthy races as well, including the Pimlico Special. The Grade 3 race has a purse of $300,000.

Mission Impazible is the favorite in the nine-horse field with 7-2 odds. Hymn Book and Alternation are just behind Mission Impazible, both staked at 4-1. Alternation has won seven of 12 career races including all three of his races in 2012. Mission Impazible has finishied second in both of his 2012 races while Hymn Book has one first place finish in two races this year. The field was initially set at 10 horses, but Cease was an early scratch.

This will be the 48th running of the Pimlico Special, but the first since 2008.

For more on the Pimlico Special and the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

Pimlico Special 2012: Post Time, Entries, Results And More

The Pimlico Special, a longtime tradition of the Preakness Stakes weekend that had fallen on hard times in recent years — it has been run just once since 2007 — rejoins the schedule leading up to the 2012 Preakness.

Nine horses, a field that And Down The Stretch They Come calls "really good," will hit the track at Pimlico Park in the Special on Friday, led by Mission Impazible, a 7-2 favorite. Alternation is just behind Mission Impazible at 4-1, and Hymn Book, the third of the three top horses in the race, is at 9-2.

The horses will go from 10 post positions, not nine, thanks to the scratching of Cease.

Post time for the 2012 Pimlico Special is 5:51 p.m. Eastern on Friday, May 17. It will be televised on HRTV. Here is the full list of Pimlico Special entries and post positions via And Down The Stretch They Come.

'Name That Horse': The Game Show In Which We Separate Preakness Contenders From Meat Loaf Songs

Preakness 2012 Contenders: Teeth of the Dog

Horse: Teeth of the Dog
Trainer: Michael Matz
Pedigree: By Bluegrass Cat out of a Deputy Minister mare (Deputy Reality)
Career Record: 4-1-1-2
Career Earnings: $136,400
Notable Races: G1-Wood Memorial (3^rd)

Can He Win The Preakness?

Teeth of the Dog is the second of the two new shooters that look to have the biggest chance at making a significant impact at this year's Preakness. In his last start, he ran a good third to Gemologist and Alpha in the G1-Wood Memorial and stayed on well in the final furlong. Neither of those two horses came back to put up much of a performance in the Derby, but that shouldn't diminish the fact that Teeth of the Dog has improved with every start this year.

The Michael Matz trainee made his career debut at Gulfstream Park in early December and had a trouble filled trip from the rail and could only finish 3rd. He came back to miss his maiden score by three-quarters of a lengths at Gulfstream on January 7th, and finally broke through in his third try against non-winners on February 4th. From there, Teeth of the Dog jumped right into Grade 1 competition at Aqueduct and held his own at odds of 53/1 in the Wood.

in his maiden win, Teeth of the Dog broke well from the gate and led every step of the way through soft fractions. In the Wood, he employed a mid-pack racing style through a moderate pace. We should expect him to utilize a style similar to his Wood effort in Saturday's Preakness.

2012 Preakness: I'll Have Another, Bodemeister Developing Rivalry

Bodemeister broke out of the gate quickly in the Kentucky Derby and nearly won the race with a phenomenal wire-to-wire run. In most years, the horse leading the pack after a half-mile eventually fades, but Bodemeister held on until the final 100 yards. I'll Have Another made a late surge and passed Bodemeister, who didn't have enough speed down the stretch to hold off the eventual Derby winner.

I'll Have Another and his shot at the Triple Crown is the biggest story heading into the Preakness Stakes, but the secondary plotline on Saturday will be the potential budding rivalry between the Derby winner and Bodemeister.

The Preakness occupies an odd position. Whereas the Derby presents 20 storylines, the Preakness generally has just one: can the Derby winner win again? Any other outcome -- however sensational (Afleet Alex, Rachel Alexandra) -- deflates the game and renders the Belmont Stakes essentially meaningless, which has happened for the last three years and six of the last seven.

This year we have a potential rivalry.

A rivalry can't make the Belmont Stakes a relevant mainstream event by itself. I'll Have Another has to win the Preakness for that to happen, but another close race between the two horses will make for the most memorable Preakness Stakes and most watchable Belmont Stakes in recent history.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Pretension

Horse: Pretension
Trainer: Christopher Grove
Pedigree: By Bluegrass Cat out of a Street Cry (IRE) mare (Main Streetin')
Career Record: 8-3-3-0
Career Earnings: $128,620
Notable Races: G3-Borderland Derby (9^th); G3-Gotham (5^th)

Can He Win The Preakness?

Pretension won a minor stakes race at Pimlico in his last start, along with a stakes race for New York-breds at Aqueduct in early February. His only two attempts against graded stakes competition was an unmitigated disaster in the Borderland Derby and a non-threatening trip in the Gotham. There is a big difference between running and winning a minor stakes race and competing against the best horses in your age group on a national stage. Like any longshot, Pretension needs major improvement in order to have any chance at a victory in the Preakness.

Pretension has a little bit of speed at his disposal and generally sits right off of the pace in the first quarter to half mile of a race. He'll likely be fighting for position with I'll Have Another, Creative Cause, and Paynter in the early stages on Saturday.

Preakness 2012: Picks And Predictions

Update: Full Preakness results are here.

There is an old adage in horse racing: "pace makes the race". On paper, the 2012 Preakness looks like the textbook embodiment of that phrase as a pace scenario much different than the Derby is likely to produce a different outcome.

Flashback two weeks ago to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs where a cavalry charge of 20 horses fly down the front stretch after leaving the starting gate. Horses possessing a great amount of natural early speed - horses like Hansen, Trinniberg and Bodemeister - never have a chance to relax in the early stages of the Derby due to the presence of other speed horses. The intense pace wilts Trinniberg and Hansen by the time they reach the top of the stage and, eventually, wears down a game Bodemeister in the final furlong.

In this year's Preakness, the pace looks to be much, much softer, something the connections of Bodemeister must be relishing heading into Saturday's race.

After his attempt to go gate-to-wire in the Derby fell just short in the final 100 yards, one might think that the connections of Bodemeister would be hesitant to put this colt on the lead in the Preakness. But trainer Bob Baffert understands that speed is king, and lone speed is deadly. There doesn't appear to by any horses in this Preakness field with the early speed necessary to keep up with Bodemeister in the first quarter to half mile. And those that can keep up might be costing themselves a chance at a victory by engaging in a duel with the Derby runner-up.

Bodemeister's path to victory is dependent on two things occurring at Pimlico on Saturday. First, he must be fully recovered from his Derby effort. Many times, when a horse runs a hard fought and physically taxing race, he'll have difficulty performing at his best in his next start. Given the sizzling fractions Bodemeister set in the Derby, there is a legitimate concern as to how much gas he'll have in the tank for the Preakness. Trainer Bob Baffert is confident his horse is ready to run a winning race but we won't know for sure until the gate opens and the running begins.

The second thing Bodemeister needs in order to win the Preakness is for the rest of the field to decline to challenge him in the early stages. While I've already noted that none of the horses in this field have the natural early speed to run with Bodemeister out of the gate, a jockey could decide to send his horse hard early in the hopes he can duel the morning line favorite into submission. The problem with that strategy for the horse that decides to challenge Bode in the first quarter mile is that it is highly likely that the challenging horse will blow any chance at victory by engaging in a speed duel. In other words, is a jockey going to "take one for the team" by putting the pressure on Bodemeister right from the gate? That may be a good strategy to deny Bodemeister the win but that might be all a tactic such as that will accomplish.

I just don't see any of the other horses exerting heavy pressure on Bodemeister in the early stages. After the post position draw there was talk that the Derby winner, I'll Have Another, might challenge the Baffert colt in order to prevent him from stealing the race on the front end. I'm not sure that's a winning strategy for I'll Have Another; he's run his best race by sitting a length or two off of the lead, not by challenging speed horses right out of the gate.

Earlier this week I wrote a profile of Preakness contender Creative Cause in which I noted the incredible amount of ground he lost during the Derby, something that I believe gives him a big shot for a big improvement in the Preakness. The post position draw did nothing to change my opinion on Creative Cause and maybe strengthen my belief that this colt is going to be right there at the finish. Trainer Mike Harrington noted recently that he believes Creative Cause runs harder in the later stages when he's inside of horses, as opposed to racing on the outside. It's that true, his draw inside of both Bodemeister and I'll Have Another could set him up for a perfect trip.

The Pick

I won't be surprised if any of the Derby horses (sans Optimizer and Daddy Nose Best) come back to win the Preakness due to a big talent and class gap between them and the new shooters. Therefore, I'm going with Bodemeister for the win and I'll play him hard in exactas with Creative Cause. Additionally, I'm going to play very thin tris and supers with Bode and Creative Cause in the top two spots.

The payouts aren't likely to be huge in the Preakness due to the presence of horses deserving of low odds, which means that to make money you need to have and play a strong opinion.

2012 Preakness: Breaking Down The Post Positions

The post position draw for Saturday's 2012 Preakness is in the books and it's time for the handicapping to begin. Unlike the Kentucky Derby, the draw for the Preakness tends to have less of an impact on the ultimate outcome of the race. While there is always the possibility of trouble leaving the starting gate, a bad break is compounded in the Derby with twenty horses all fighting for position. In the Preakness, that problem is not as severe.

While the Preakness draw might not be as critical as the Derby, there is still a tactical advantage for some horses depending on which post position they end up with. The connections of Derby winner I'll Have Another (post 9) have to be extremely pleased with his draw, not in regards to a specific number, but because he drew outside of Bodemeister. By breaking outside of Bodemeister (post 7), I'll Have Another will be able to track his rival from the very second the gate open which increases his opportunity to secure a perfect stalking trip around the track. I have no doubt that all trainer Doug O'Neill wanted from the draw was to be to the outside of the Bob Baffert horse.

On paper, Bodemeister looks like the clear lone speed horse in the Preakness field. As a result, his post position is pretty much irrelevant. Jockey Mike Smith's primary concern on Saturday will be breaking from the gate cleanly and allowing Bodemeister to settle into a good rhythm as quickly as possible.Given the tactics that Smith is likely to use with his mount, the post position is almost completely irrelevant.

Four of the new shooters running in the Preakness drew into post positions one through four (1-Tiger Walk, 2-Teeth of the Dog, 3-Pretension and 4-Zetterholm). While the connections of all four of those colts probably preferred a wider draw, none of those posts are a complete bar to victory.

One thing that the Preakness and the Derby draws have in common is the low impact of wide post positions on a horse's ability to win. Unlike races at a mile where the starting gate is much closer to the first turn, the Preakness and Derby starting gates are positioned near the top of the stretch which give horses breaking from the outside posts plenty of time to tuck in prior to heading into the first turn. With an 11-horse field and a starting gate almost a quarter mile from the first turn, a horse has plenty of opportunities to avoid a wide trip.

For horse racing fans, every year hope springs that this will finally be the year that the Triple Crown drought comes to an end. That dream either stays alive or is crushed on the rocks on the third Saturday in May at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore. I'll Have Another should have every opportunity to run a big race in the Preakness and take the second step towards a place in history.

2012 Preakness Odds: Bodemeister Installed As Morning Line Favorite

The morning line odds for the 2012 Preakness Stakes were released Tuesday and Kentucky Derby runner-up Bodemeister was listed as the early favorite. The morning line odds are set by the track and will remain the same until the day of the race.

Bodemeister was listed as an 8-5 favorite while Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another was given 5-2 odds. Creative Cause and Went The Day Well both checked in at 6-1, the third best odds. Bodemeister was also the morning line favorite in the Kentucky Derby.

Here are the complete morning line odds.

Tiger Walk 30-1
Teeth Of The Dog 15-1
Pretension 30-1
Zatterholm 20-1
Went The Day Well 6-1
Creative Cause 6-1
Bodemeister 8-5
Daddy Knows Best 12-1
I'll Have Another 5-2
Optimizer 30-1
Cazzetti 30-1

The four favorites will be closely-grouped at the start of the race with Went The Day Well, Creative Cause and Bodemeister in the No. 5, No. 6 and No. 7 gates, while I'll Have Another will be one spot over in the No. 9 gate.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Preakness Post Positions: I'll Have Another Draws No. 9 Gate

The second leg of the Triple Crown gets underway at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore Maryland, with I'll Have Another looking to follow-up on his Kentucky Derby win. It's always an interesting time of year in horse racing, with one leg of the Triple Crown in the rear-view mirror and hopes of another Triple Crown winner being anointed still alive. I'll Have Another comes into the weekend's race on a high after the win at Churchill Downs, but will face stiff competition as the Triple Crown continues.

Before the actual race, though, the post positions had to be determined. At the Kentucky Derby, the post draw was crucial. A packed field made some positions -- the No. 1 spot, for example -- less desirable. Of course, I'll Have Another came from the 19 spot to win, so that kind of blew some of the conventional wisdom out of the water.

For the Preakness, though, the post positions are less of an issue. With a smaller field, the front-stretch shouldn't be incredibly crowded, and the likelihood a horse gets squeezed is less. The post positions aren't irrelevant by any means, but likely less important than at the Kentucky Derby.

With that in mind, here are the post positions for the 2012 Preakness Stakes:

1. Tiger Walk
2. Teeth Of The Dog
3. Pretension
4. Zetterholm
5. Went The Day Well
6. Creative Cause
7. Bodemeister
8. Daddy Nose Best
9. I'll Have Another
10. Optimizer
11. Cozzetti

We'll be back with more on the post positions, including plenty of analysis, later.

2012 Preakness Post Positions: Draw Set For 6 P.M. On HRTV

Edit: Here are the 2012 Preakness post positions.

The pole positions for the 2012 Preakness Stakes will be set via a draw today at 6 p.m. ET. The draw will be broadcast on HRTV.

The 2012 Preakness field is made up of 11 horses including Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another. I'll Have Another will face some stiff competition as he tries to complete the second leg of the Triple Crown. Bodemeister, who finished second to I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby, will also be in the field.

Pole position can be vital to a horse's success and, while it may not be as important in the Preakness as in other races, it is still a factor. Via And Down The Stretch They Come.

Due to the smaller field in the Preakness, and the gate set-up, the rail isn't the "death draw" that it tends to be at Churchill Downs. However, we haven't seen a horse win the Preakness from inside the 4-hole since 1994 when Tabasco Cat won from the rail. Additionally, prior to Tabasco Cat's win in 1994, the Preakness hadn't had a horse win from the rail since Belly Ache in 1960.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Cozzetti

Horse: Cozzetti
Trainer: Dale Romans
Pedigree: By Cozzene out of a Lemon Drop Kid mare (Lemon Drop Ceilo)
Career Record: 7-1-0-1
Career Earnings: $121,650
Notable Races: G1-Arkansas Derby (4^th); G2-Tampa Bay Derby (3^rd); G1-CashCall Futurity (8^th)

Can He Win The Preakness?

Cozzetti ran evenly in both the Tampa Bay Derby and the Arkansas Derby, but the best race of his career wouldn't get him within sniffing distance of the top contenders in the Preakness. His chances of winning will depend greatly on whether he can improve immensely from his last start, or the rest of the field regresses significantly from the Derby. That's not a recipe for success in a Grade 1 race.

Cozzetti has raced against graded stakes company three times in his career - G1-CashCall Futurity, G2-Tampa Bay Derby and G1-Arkansas Derby - and has finished 8th, 3rd and 4th, receptively. On a positive note, the Preakness will be the longest race of Cozzetti's career to date and he's got plenty of stamina on both the top and bottom of his pedigree. Both his sire (Cozzene) and damsire (Lemon Drop Kid) produce offspring with an average winning distance of a little over a mile; you won't find too many horses in this year's Triple Crown that can match that kind of stamina in their bloodlines.

One thing to keep in mind with Cozzetti is that his lone victory came over a sloppy and sealed track last November. If it rains at Pimlico, the surface might increase his chances for success.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Guyana Star Dweej

Horse: Guyana Star Dweej
Trainer: Doodnauth Shivmangal
Pedigree: By Eddington out of a Pine Bluff mare (Special Feeling)
Career Record: 9-1-5-0
Career Earnings: $103,830
Notable Races: None

Can He Win The Preakness?

During some years, the new shooters at the Preakness include some really talented horses that developed a little too late to make the Derby. Other years, we find borderline stakes horses taking a shot at a big prize. Guyana Star Dweej is an example of a borderline stakes horse taking a shot.

Guyana Star Dweej broke his maiden two races back at Aqueduct in his eighth attempt to win his first race. He followed up his maiden score with a second place finish against $75k Optional Claiming horses at Belmont at the end of April.

While there is no doubt that this colt has improved over the last six months, the caliber of horses he's faced in his previous races pales in comparison to the field he'll run against on Saturday. Anything's possible in horse racing but this colt seems way out of his league in the Preakness and he should go to post at huge odds on Saturday afternoon.

UPDATE: Guyana Star Dweej is out of the Preakness due to an injury.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Brimstone Island

Horse: Brimstone Island
Trainer: William Campbell
Pedigree: By Tiznow out of a Broad Brush mare (Broad Sound)
Career Record: 10-4-3-1
Career Earnings: $90,403
Notable Races: None

Can He Win The Preakness?

It's really tough to pick out reasons to like Brimstone Island in the Preakness. He's won four times in his career, but all four victories came in claiming races and the Preakness is a far cry from a $16,000 claimer at Laurel in early February. (For the non-hard core horse racing fan: a claiming race is one in which all the horses in the race can be purchased for a set amount.) This spring, Brimstone Island raced against ungraded stakes company at Laurel, Charles Town and Pimlico, and failed to win any of those races (although he did finish ahead of a decent colt, My Adonis, in his last race). On paper, this colt just doesn't measure up to his rivals.

Brimstone Island has some early speed in his arsenal and we should expect him to run a length or two off of the lead in the early stages. The Preakness will be his first attempt racing further than a mile and a sixteenth, and while his pedigree suggests that the distance shouldn't be a huge issue, this is a tough spot to run the longest race of your life.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Optimizer

Horse: Optimizer
Trainer: D. Wayne Lukas
Pedigree: By English Channel out of an A.P. Indy mare (Indy Pick)
Career Record: 10-1-2-1
Career Earnings: $215,594
Notable Races: G1-Kentucky Derby (11^th);G1-Arkansas Derby (9^th); G2-Rebel (2^nd); G2-Risen Star (9^th); G2-Kentucky Jockey Club (4^th); G1-Breeders' Cup Juvenile (8^th); G1-Breeders' Futurity (3^rd); G2-With Anticipation (2^nd)

Can He win The Preakness?

Optimizer has won just a single race in his career and it came on the lawn in his debut race at Saratoga last August. He didn't put in much of a run at the Derby and, honestly, doesn't look like a colt that's ready to run a big race at this level any time soon.

Given his deep closing running style, Optimizer needs a fast early pace and very tired rivals to have any shot at an upset in the Preakness. However, unlike the Derby, the Preakness appears to lack a ton of early speed horses which will likely lead to much more reasonable early fractions. A deep closer in a race with a moderate pace is not a combination for success.

Preakness 2012 Odds: Bodemeister An Early 2-1 Favorite

Bodemeister enters the 2012 Preakness Stakes as the prohibitive favorite with 2-1 odds, according to Watchmaker Odds posted at the Daily Racing Form. The Kentucky Derby runner-up will be out to spoil winner I'll Have Another's shot at taking the second leg of the Triple Crown. I'll Have Another stands at 5-2 odds.

Creative Cause and Went The Day Well follow closely with 6-1 odds. Both enter the race with a chance to be serious contenders, but we'll need to wait until post positions are announced to see how their chances (and the other horses') are affected.

Here is a complete listing of the early odds:

Bodemeister 2-1
Cozzetti 30-1
Creative Cause 6-1
Daddy Nose Best 15-1
Guyana Star Dweej 50-1
I'll Have Another 5-2
Optimizer 30-1
Pretension 30-1
Teeth of the Dog 15-1
Tiger Walk 20-1
Went The Day Well 6-1
Zetterholm 30-1

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Liaison

Horse: Liaison
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: By Indian Charlie out of a Victory Gallop mare (Galloping Gal)
Career Record: 8-3-0-1
Career Earnings: $487,560
Notable Races: G1-Kentucky Derby (6^th); G1-CashCall Futurity (1^st); G2-San Felipe (4^th); G1-Santa Anita Derby (6^th)

Can He Win The Preakness?

After a promising start to his career in 2011, Liaison has suffered nothing but defeats during 2012. He clipped heels and tossed the jockey in his first race of the year, the G2-Lewis. And then he proceeded to finish behind I'll Have Another, Creative Cause and Bodemeister in his next three races. All of those colts have continued to develop this spring while Liaison's best form appears to be behind him.

If Liaison is to have any chance at victory in the Preakness, he's going to have to get out of the gate much cleaner than he has in his recent starts. His best races occur when he's able to sit a length or two off of the pace, as opposed to being shuffled towards the middle of the pack.

It's tough to see Liaison as a likely winner in the Preakness but he might be able to sneak into the top four if he's able to get a clean trip around the track.

2012 Preakness: Hansen, Hierro And Isn't He Clever Are Out

The connections of a trio of Preakness contenders have decided to skip this Saturday's Preakness Stakes at Pimlico, led by 2011 juvenile champion Hansen (9th in the Kentucky Derby). According to a report in the Thoroughbred Times, Hansen will likely be pointed towards the Grade 2 Woody Stephens Stakes, a one turn, seven furlong race on the undercard for the Belmont Stakes on June 9th.

Joining Hansen on the sidelines are Hierro and Isn't He Clever.

Hierro won the Grade 3 Derby Trial at Churchill Downs in the slop in late April but hasn't been working up to the Preakness in a manner satisfactory to trainer Steve Asmussen.

Isn't He Clever, second in the G3-Sunland Derby but well-behind Bodemeister in the G1-Arkansas Derby, is another Asmussen trainee that is electing to bypass the Preakness. Asmussen doesn't believe the mile and three-sixteenths distance of the Preakness is ideal for Isn't He Clever.

With the current defections, it appears that the 2012 Preakness will have a field of 11 or 12 horses when the entries and post positions are finalized on Wednesday. The connections of Daddy Nose Best, tenth in the Derby, are still weighing the options for their colt.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Went The Day Well

Horse: Went The Day Well
Trainer: Graham Motion
Pedigree: By Proud Citizen out of a Gone West mare (Tiz Marie's Day)
Career Record: 6-2-2-0
Career Earnings: $415,345
Notable Races: G1-Kentucky Derby (4^th); G3-Spiral Stakes (1^st)

Can He Win The Preakness?

After a very nice run in the Derby that saw him finish 4^th, the connections of Went the Day Well have to be optimistic about the chances of their colt heading into the Preakness. The son of Proud Citizen has improved with each and every start this spring, yet he's not showing signs of a horse ready to take a step back anytime soon. His training sessions are solid and

Went the Day Well has experienced some gate issues the last few starts, but given his versatile running style that hasn't been a huge negative for him. In the Derby, Went the Day Well closed from 18 lengths back to finish just 2 ½ lengths behind the winner, I'll Have Another. In his victory in the G3-Spiral Stakes at Turfway (and his maiden score at Gulfstream in early March) he was able to stalk the pace in the early stages. The ability of this colt to run well from either a closing or a stalking position should be a huge asset in this Saturday's Preakness.

It wouldn't be a surprise to see Went the Day Well improve on that fourth place Derby finish in the Preakness. If he's able to take another step forward on Saturday, it's possible that this colt could find himself in the winner's circle at the end of the day.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Creative Cause

Horse: Creative Cause
Trainer: Mike Harrington
Pedigree: By Giant's Causeway out of a Siberian Summer mare (Dream of Summer)
Career Record: 9-4-2-2
Career Earnings: $929,000
Notable Races: G1-Kentucky Derby (5^th); G1-Santa Anita Derby (2^nd); G2-San Felipe (1^st); G2-San Vicente (3^rd); G1-Breeders' Cup Juvenile (3^rd); G1-Norfolk (1^st); G1-Del Mar Futurity (3^rd); G2-Best Pal (1^st)

Can He Win The Preakness?

While he finished a disappointing 5^th in the Derby, Creative Cause ran a pretty solid race from start to finish and might have been able to get into the top three if he had been able to negotiate a cleaner trip. Unfortunately for Creative Cause, troubled trips in the Derby are generally the rule, not the exception.

Churchill Downs utilizes the Trakus system to record race results, providing handicappers with much better data to use to interpret how a race unfolds. One of the key features of Trakus is the ability to measure the distance a horse travels during a race, allowing to precisely calculate how much ground was lost (or saved) from start to finish.

According to the Trakus data, in the Kentucky Derby Creative Cause traveled 6,709 feet from start to finish, which was 29 feet further than the winner, I'll Have Another. Runner-up Bodemeister covered 6,639 feet, which was 70 fewer feet than Creative Cause, yet Creative Cause finished less than three lengths behind Bodemeister.

What's all that Trakus data really mean? Simply that Creative Cause covered more ground than any other colt in the field and was still able to finish in the top 5. If he gets a clean trip in the Preakness, Creative Cause could have an excellent chance for the victory.

2012 Preakness Contenders: Bodemeister

Horse: Bodemeister
Trainer: Bob Baffert
Pedigree: Empire Maker out of a Storm Cat mare (Untouched Talent)
Career Record: 5-2-3-0
Career Earnings: $1,104,800
Notable Races: G1-Kentucky Derby (2^nd); G1-Arkansas Derby (1^st, 9 ½ lengths); G2-San Felipe (2^nd)

Can He Win The Preakness?

When you consider how fast Bodemeister ran the first six furlong of the Kentucky Derby (1:09 4/5ths) it's ultra-impressive that he only gave up the lead inside the final hundred yards. It was a magnificent performance from a colt that has proven that he's a force to be reckoned with, even when he decides to set absurd fractions.

There's a word that speed handicappers use to describe a horse that runs a big race and then comes back to regress in their next start: "bounce." Even though Bodemeister ran a huge race in the Derby, and had to do all the dirty work on the front-end, he doesn't appear to be a candidate for a "bounce" at the Preakness. If you look at Bodemeister's speed figures (whether Beyer, Equibase or Bris) they have stayed relatively consistent all sprint. His Derby performance, while impressive given the pace circumstances, wasn't an out-of-the-ordinary effort, on paper. As a result, we shouldn't be surprised if Bodemeister is able to unleash another strong run at Pimlico.

Preakness Picks 2012: Handicapping The New Shooters

The field for the 2012 Preakness won't be finalized for a couple more days, but we can still take an initial look at the probable field in order to form a few early handicapping thoughts. Once the Kentucky Derby is completed, the other legs of the Triple Crown tend to involve significant handicapping time evaluating the "new shooter", or horses that didn't run in the Derby. Sometimes, we'll see a new shooter like Bernardini (2006) - a tremendously talented colt that went on to challenge for Horse of the Year honors. Bernardini didn't race in the Kentucky Derby due to his late development, and not because of any talent deficiencies.

For every Bernardini there are countless also-rans that will make their Triple Crown debuts after the Derby. This year's crop of new shooters seems more likely to be on the also-ran side of the equation, as opposed to the super star side. It's doubtful we're going to see a Bernardini-type colt running at the Preakness on May 19^th.

Below is a quick take on a few of the potential new shooters for this year's Preakness:

Brimstone Island - His highest class win came against $17,000 claimers at Laurel Park in February. He's an immediate toss.

Cozzetti - Shown some flashes of talent here and there but would need to run the best race of his life to win the Preakness. Possible, but unlikely.

Guyana Star Dweej - He's never faced much in terms of talent and he appears to be over his head in the Preakness

Hierro - Won the G3-Derby Trial and looks like a nice colt going forward. He's a little short on stamina n the pedigree.

Isn't He Clever - Ran a huge race in the G3-Sunland Derby and then bounced to the moon in the G1-Arkansas Derby. Tough to get a read on this colt and he could be a bit of a wild card. On paper, his Sunland Derby race is good enough to compete with his rivals. His Arkansas Derby race is clearly not up to par. (UPDATE: Isn't He Clever is now out of the Preakness.)

Paynter - Lightly raced with a lot of room to still develop. He ran big in the G3-Derby Trial in just his third lifetime start.

Pretension - He won an ungraded stakes race at Pimlico on Derby weekend but he's finished well back of his rivals each time he's attempted to run against graded company.

Teeth of the Dog - Like Paynter, this colt is lightly raced and still developing, which is potentially a huge combination in any race. He hasn't raced since April 7^th and could be ready to fire a big race right off the short layoff.

Tiger Walk - He ran fairly well in the New York prep races this spring but he needs to show improvement to have any chance at a win.

Zetterholm - He's never faced anything but New York-bred horses in his brief career; that's a major class hurdle to overcome.

Looking at our list of new shooters for the Preakness, I think it's safe to eliminate most of those horses as serious contenders to win on on May 19^th. The new horses that appear to have the best shot at making an impact in the race are Isn't He Clever, Paynter and Teeth of the Dog. Cozzetti and Hierro are decent looking colts, but each appears to be a cut below the top horses coming out of the Derby.

Derby winner I'll Have Another, runner-up Bodemeister, fourth place finisher Went the Day Well and fifth place finisher Creative Cause all appear to be the legitimate standouts heading into the Preakness. In order to challenge any of those four horses, Isn't He Clever needs to find the form he displayed in the Sunland Derby, while Paynter and Teeth of the Dog must continue to move forward in their development process. If we were to handicap which of those two scenarios is more likely to occur on Saturday, I'd go with the continued development of Paynter and Teeth of the Dog.

UPDATE: With the announcement that Isn't He Clever will not run in the Preakness, Paynter and Teeth of the Dog are the key new shooters to watch this Saturday.

Preakness 2012: Organizers Double Down On Party Atmosphere

After a failed attempt to re-brand themselves as a family friendly event, the organizers of the Preakness have returned to the event's edgier tradition as "the biggest party in Baltimore".

For 2012, they've decided to center their marketing campaign around the slogan "Get Your Preak On." Yea ... that's what they went with.

They're sticking with the rather unique mascot "the manimal", a half-man, half-naked unicorn with a beer gut and a nipple ring who has been encouraging attendees to get ready to party.

There's going to be concerts with Wiz Khalifa and Maroon 5 in the infield in an atmosphere that sounds like the third day of a weekend-long frat party.

If horse racing is going downhill in America, the Preakness organizers are going to go down fighting.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2012 Preakness Contenders: I'll Have Another

Horse: I'll Have Another
Trainer: Doug O'Neill
Pedigree: By Flower Alley out of an Arch mare (Arch's Gal Edith)
Career Record: 6-4-1-0
Career Earnings: $2,093,600
Notable Races: G1-Kentucky Derby (1^st); G1-Santa Anita Derby (1^st); G2-Robert Lewis Stakes (1^st); G1-Hopeful (6^th); G2-Best Pal (2^nd)

Can He Win The Preakness?

A perfect three-for-three in 2012, I'll Have Another has developed a well as any three-year-old colt in the country over the past four months. He broke his maiden at five and a half furlong, won the G2-Lewis at a mile and a sixteenth, the G1-Santa Anita Derby at a mile and an eighth, and the Kentucky Derby at a mile and a quarter. He's won by racing on the lead, just off the lead and, in the Derby, approximately eight lengths back after a quarter mile. In short, I'll Have Another has displayed an incredible amount of versatility in his career, something that makes him a difficult horse to beat if he gets a clean trip.

The big question for any horse following a Kentucky Derby win is: can this one take the second leg of the Triple Crown in the Preakness? There certainly isn't any huge reason to believe that this colt can't win the Preakness. While there's always a chance that a colt will regress off of a big performance, I'll Have Another appears to be a colt that's putting it all together at the right time. If he continues to develop over the next couple of months, he could be a handful for this entire crop of three-year-old colts.

Dullahan's Jockey To Ride Tiger Walk, Trinniberg Out Of 2012 Preakness

Jockey Kent Desormeaux, who rode Dullahan to third place in the Kentucky Derby, won't sit out the 2012 Preakness Stakes after hearing the news that his Derby horse will sit the race out. He'll ride Tiger Walk instead.

Tiger Walk is winless on the year in three races, most recently finishing in fourth at the Resorts World Casino New York City Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack in his last race. Desormeaux is a Preakness veteran, winning twice, with Real Quiet in 1998 and Big Brown in 2008.

Meanwhile, pace horse Trinniberg will also sit out the race after leading the way but finishing 17th in the Kentucky Derby. Winner I'll Have Another is already in Pimlico, where his trainer Doug O'Neill is working the colt out and plans on saddling him inside prior to next week's race due to the way the horse has handled the indoor space.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Preakness Stakes 2012: Dullahan Won't Run In Preakness, Gemologist Out For Remainder Of Triple Crown

While the racing world prepares for the Preakness Stakes next Saturday, there are two more well-known horses who will join Union Rags in not participating in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Ed Fountaine of the New York Post reports that Dullahan, who had a strong sprint in the home stretch to finish in third place at the Kentucky Derby, will opt to sit out the Preakness in order to prepare for Belmont on June 9.

"[Trainer] Dale Romans loves the way Dullahan came out of the Kentucky Derby and believes we could win the Preakness," said Jerry Crawford, manager of the Donegal Racing partnership that owns the big colt. "But we believe we have a 3-year-old Horse of the Year candidate, and that his future is best served by not asking him to race for the third time in just five weeks."

Meanwhile, the Courier-Journal reports that Gemologist, who was one of the favorites in the Kentucky Derby, suffered a bruised left foot during the race at Churchill Downs last Saturday. The injury will keep Gemologist out of both the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes, meaning that the horse's Triple Crown participation has come to an end.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Preakness 2012: I'll Have Another Doesn't Miss A Beat

Most of the talk about the 2012 Preakness will be focused on Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another. So far, the horse has looked great in practice runs early in the week while preparing for the race. I'll Have Another's trainer Doug O'Neill has loved what he's seen from the horse, according to Pimlico.com.

"I'm looking for energy and for him to maintain his stride. He has such a long stride. He continues to keep that," O'Neill said. "He's got great energy and a great appetite. Those are the basic things I'm looking to maintain."

I'll Have Another has won three consecutive starts this year, and the colt is going for his fourth in a row.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2012 Preakness: I'll Have Another Trainer Doug O'Neill Faces Possible Suspension

I'll Have Another trainer Doug O'Neill may get fed a dose of reality following the race for the Triple Crown, as he faces suspension from the sport by the California Horse Racing Board.

The charge, which is unrelated to last weekend's Kentucky Derby Winner, stems from the practice of "milkshaking" horses in the Golden State, a performance-enhancing and fatigue-reducing tactic that elevates levels of carbon dioxide in the body through soda, sugar and electrolytes.

No word on whether this is a tasty treat for ponies.

O'Neill, in Baltimore this week working with I'll Have Another, responded to the claims today, stating: "I swear on my kids' eyes I never milkshaked a horse," O'Neill said.

It's O'Neill's fourth carbon dioxide charge in his 25-year career.

Because it comes during one of the most important times in his professional career, and is likely to be a long and drawn-out litigation process, O'Neill expects to be entirely focused on working toward winning next Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

The second leg of the Triple Crown is expected to be a crowded field, with many owners of eligible horses unafraid of challenging a Derby winner who posted at 15-1 odds.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2012 Preakness: I'll Have Another Goes Through First Preakness Practice

Fresh off his Kentucky Derby win, I'll Have Another went through his first practice session at the Pimlico Race Course Thursday.

I'll Have Another galloped around the track ridden by Jonny Garcia and under the watch of trainer Doug O'Neill. It was the first time I'll Have Another was allowed to gallop since winning the Kentucky Derby. He went through his exercise routine without issue. Afterward, O'Neill said he was pleased with the first practice session as I'll Have Another prepares for the Preakness Stakes, via Pimlico.com.

“I thought he looked fantastic,” O’Neill said. “One of the great things about I’ll Have Another is he’s got such a beautiful, long stride. You saw it here today. He’s maintained that on whatever surface he’s on. That’s what I was looking for. I just wanted to see him really stretch and he did. He looks no worse for the wear. He looks great.”

I'll Have Another will attempt to win the second leg of a possible Triple Crown on May 19.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

2012 Preakness: Union Rags Will Skip Race

With one-third of the Triple Crown already in the books, the racing world prepares for the 2012 Preakness Stakes, which will take place on Saturday, May 19. While there is still a chance that a horse could move one step closer to the elusive Triple Crown, one of the favorites will be missing the Preakness altogether.

Rick Snider of the Washington Examiner reports that Union Rags will be skipping the Preakness. Union Rags had been a heavy favorite at the Kentucky Derby before a disappointing finish out of the top five.

I'll Have Another, Saturday's winner at Churchill Downs, will likely see a bump in his odds from the bookmakers, as will Bodemeister, who remains a favorite heading into the second leg of the Triple Crown.

For more on the Preakness, stay tuned to this StoryStream or check out SB Nation's horse racing blog And Down The Stretch They Come. There, you'll also find a A Beginner's Guide To Following Horse Racing and a glossary of horse racing terms.

Preakness 2012: I'll Have Another Arrives At Pimlico

Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another has arrived unconventionally early to the Pimlico Race Course in preperation for next Saturday's Preakness Stakes.

Triple Crown 2012: I'll Have Another Eyes Preakness After Kentucky Derby Win

Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another embarks on a journey to become the first Triple Crown winner in 34 years. Up next: The Preakness.