134th Preakness Stakes Betting Tips
The second leg of the Triple Crown trail is this weekend and right now, I’m not liking the Derby champion’s chances.
While people who have a thing for the dramatic will likely root for Mine That Bird in the 134th Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course, these guys better realize that the Derby champ is really not that good of a bet if you’re looking to earn a lot of dough during the weekend.
You see, while Mine That Bird had an amazing run at Churchill Downs, the horse is just not that good of a contender on paper. And while some of the horse’s handlers believe that they have a shot of winning the 2009 Triple Crown title, they know deep down inside that their win at Churchill Downs was the flukiest win to ever transpire in the sport of horse racing.
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o if Mine That Bird won’t win at Pimlico, who will? In case you haven’t realized it yet, we have a lot of contenders lined up for the Preakness that are solid choices to win the second leg of the Triple Crown trail. The obvious choice is of course, Mine That Bird’s nemesis Friesan Fire. The heavy favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, the horse had a somewhat problematic start out of the gates at Churchill Downs, leading to a disappointing 18th place finish. On the positive side, he has run a triple digit Beyer, a 104 in the Louisiana Derby, is exiting the Kentucky Derby, has made 4 starts this year (the optimum range is 3 to 6), and lacks professional points.
Big Drama is another new shooter in the Triple Crown wars, coming to Baltimore off a front-running victory in the Swale Stakes at Gulfstream Park back on March 28. Although this is a sharp prep and earned a 108 Beyer it is a negative as this is a 7 week layoff (the maximum layoff is 30 days). He only has made the 1 start this year, and does have points in the professional wing, both negatives. He did, however, have four stakes wins as a juvenile, 3 against state-breds at Calder followed by the Delta Jackpot.
General Quarters, the 10th place Derby entrant, will be given another chance by trainer Tom McCarthy to make amends for his dull and unexplainable effort, and although the off track could have been an excuse, he still should go off at 20 to 1 or more. General Quarters who lacks professional points (which is a positive for the Preakness unlike in the Derby), ran a 102 when winning the Sam F. Davis, usually runs a stalking trip (stalkers or ralliers are favored over front-runners), and has two stakes wins this year. He lacks a stakes win as a juvenile, and did not have a sharp prep, having finishing a well-beaten 10th in the Kentucky Derby.
Luv Gov, who is winless in six starts last year, had his best placing with a 3rd place finish at Keeneland in a maiden race. This year, he had three straight second place finishes in maiden races at Oaklawn and Keeneland, and finally broke his maiden on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs.
Another solid bet is Musket Man, who came out of the Kentucky Derby in great shape after his impressive third place finish. He will most likely go off between 6 to 1 and 8 to 1 in the 2009 Preakness Stakes. Musket Man finished third in the Derby earning him a sharp prep, and he can stalk the pace as he did at Churchill as well as when winning the Illinois Derby and Tampa Bay Derby. On the downside he lacks a stakes win at 2 and has not run a triple digit Beyer figure, his top being a 98 at Hawthorne.
Can Mine That Bird win the 2009 Preakness Stakes? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.
Mine That Bird 4.75
Friesan Fire 8.50
Big Drama 19.00
Flying Private 21.00
General Quarters 10.00
Luv Gov 31.00
Musket Man 9.00
Papa Clem 9.00
Pioneer of The Nile 6.00
Rachel Alexandra 2.50
Take The Points 23.00
Terrain 26.00
Tone It Down 31.00
Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more Preakness Stakes betting odds. Want to watch the 134th Preakness Stakes live? Get sporting events tickets online now.
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