2012 Preakness Stakes Favorites
Leading the list of 2012 Preakness Stakes favorites will be two thoroughbreds that are no strangers to one another: Doug O’Neill’s I’ll Have Another and Bob Baffert’s Bodemeister. While one will be looking to become the first horse in four years to win the first two legs of the covered Triple Crown, the other will simply seek a little revenge.
After an incredible finish to the 2012 Kentucky Derby a new rivalry in horseracing was born. On May 19th 2012, this quarrel will take center stage, as 2012 Derby runner up, Bodemeister looks to even the score with the Run for the Roses champion, I’ll Have Another.
The 2012 Preakness Stales takes place this Saturday night at 6:05 PM ET live from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, on NBC Sports. Eleven of the best American three-year-old thoroughbreds will enter their post with the hopes of winning the $1 million and the right to be called conqueror of “The Second Jewel of the Triple Crown.”
But no horse will be under more pressure and attention than the only Triple Crown contender. For I’ll Have Another, O’Neill’s horse has gone from an unknown longshot at the Derby to a household name in the horseracing world. Having that said, a victory this Saturday night at Pimlico, would not only elevate his status to greater heights, but it would also place him in very elite company.
I’ll Have Another, the son of Flower Alley, will try to become the first horse to win the Derby and the Preakness since Big Brown captured the imagination of the world in 2008. Unbeaten in his short, three-year-old racing career, I’ll Have Another looks for his fourth consecutive victory, but more importantly, position himself one leg away from horseracing immortality.
“It’s been incredible,” said I’ll Have Another’s controversial trainer. “I’ve met so many cool people. I’ve really got to realize how many people love horses and love horse racing. Hopefully, we can create some new fans.”
But the biggest threat to I’ll Have Another and his stable is none other than a Hall of Famer’s 2012 Preakness Stakes favorite. Bodemeister was listed as the clear runner up to win the 138th “Run for the Roses” and up until the final 100 yards the prophecy appeared to be on the money.
However, after the final turn, the son of Empire Maker slowed down just a bit, and I’ll Have Another capitalized on the last furling at Churchill Downs two weeks ago. Although both horses have been listed with the exact same odds to win the 2012 Preakness Stakes, O’Neill doesn’t think anyone can match the level his horse is in right now.
“I’m confident,” he said, claiming that I’ll Have Another has actually improved winning the Derby. “You never know, but as long as we continue to train like our horse has trained, we won’t be that far off Bodemeister. If anything, Bodemeister might be behind us early. I could see him chasing us. I really could.”
Who do you think will have the upper hand in round 2 of this great matchup? Check out a complete list of 2012 Preakness Stakes favorites and their respective post positions (below). Also, don’t forget to get your free Preakness Stakes picks, follow @Sportributor on Twitter and Like us on Facebook!
2012 Preakness Stakes Post Positions & odds:
1. Tiger Walk 30-1
2. Teeth of the Dog 15-1
3. Pretension 30-1
4. Zetterholm 20-1
5. Went the Day Well 6-1
6. Creative Cause 6-1
7. Bodemeister 8-5
8. Daddy Nose Best 12-1
9. I’ll Have Another 5-2
10. Optimizer 30-1
11. Cozzetti 30-1
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