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It’s not the Kentucky Derby but betting on the 2011 Preakness Stakes will still see plenty of action as it has in past years. It is among the most wagered on one-day events of the year.
The favorite – Animal Kingdom (2/1 odds)– He was considered a turf horse prior to the Kentucky Derby.
“Maybe he's a dirt horse that had never run on dirt before," Trainer Todd Pletcher said after the Derby win.
That’s good for Animal Kingdom, who gets another chance to prove what he is made of this Saturday on a dirt surface at the Preakness Stakes.
"He's an amazing animal," Graham Motion, Animal Kingdom’s trainer, said. "I have a lot of confidence in him. He's the whole package, I guess, even though that's a term that's probably overused. He has a tremendous disposition, and he handled everything so well. He's just a brilliant horse."
He added: "Some of the best horses are the ones that are able to handle both (dirt and grass) and he appears to be one of those great horses. Maybe he is better on grass, but he's also shown he can handle dirt, and I think brilliant horses can do that."
It would be surprising to see many people betting on Dialed In at the 2011 Preakness Stakes, yet his odds have remained steady at 4/1 over the course of this past week. He’s eligible for a huge $5.5 million bonus with a win. That’s a reward for victories at both the Holy Bull Stakes and the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.
Considering Dialed In finished at the middle of the pack at the Kentucky Derby while favored to win it, these odds seem a little too short.
When betting the 2011 Preakness Stakes, think Shackleford at 9/1 odds. Not only is that a great value, he ran the Kentucky Derby in the lead for 90 percent of the race before fizzling out in the final stretch. Shackleford finished in 4th place.
That 90 percent number is important to consider since the Preakness Stakes race is cut down to 1 3/16 miles from 1 1/4 miles in the Derby.
Mucho Macho Man finished third in the Derby after Nehro but Nehro won’t be running in the Preakness. He appears to be a horse that continues to show improvement.
“I think he’ll be sharper, more aggressive,” said trainer Kathy Ritvo, who survived a heart-transplant just a few years back. “He seems to get along at any racetrack, any surface. Bring it on. He’s ready.”
Latest odds Odds to win the 2011 Preakness Stakes found at SBG Global
Animal Kingdom 2/1
Dialed In 4/1
Mucho Macho Man 4.5/1
Shackleford 9/1
Astrology 12/1
Concealed Identity 25/1
Dance City 9/1
King Congie 15/1
Mr Commons 17.5/1
Norman Asbjornson 22.5/1
Sway Away 12.5/1
Flashpoint 15/1
Isn’t He Perfect 25/1
Midnight 12.5/1
- Ean Lamb, Gambling911.com
