Preakness Stakes Betting: Brisk But No Kentucky Derby

While the 2009 Preakness Stakes betting will generate additional revenue for online sportsbooks, Saturday's event is a far cry from the record breaking Kentucky Derby we witnessed just days ago.

"Bigger than the Super Bowl in terms of bets coming in," points out Don Shapiro of Gambling911.com.

Nearly 3 million hits were recorded at the Gambling911 site that day and 1 million page views.

Hoopla surrounding the Preakness is never as intense though Saturday's race will draw a fair amount of attention thanks to the matchup between Derby winner Mine That Bird and filly sensation Rachel Alexandra. 

"The problem is that with Rachel Alexandra in the race, pundits will say there won't be a Triple Crown this year," says Shapiro.

The Belmont Stakes is typically on par with some of the lesser sporting events when it comes to online betting - unless of course there turns out to be a Triple Crown, and we haven't seen one of those in quite some time.

Online sportsbooks will always hope for a Triple Crown as a means of maintaining betting interest in the three-race series.

Rachel Alexandra enters this weekend's Preakness Stakes as a near even favorite to win while Mine That Bird had odds of 3/1 or +300.

Mind you, these were the pre-post position Preakness Stakes betting odds that were currently available at Sportsbook.com and were subject to change if not locked in immediately.

Here were all your Preakness Stakes betting odds as of Wednesday morning:

Big Drama +1500

Conservative +1200

Flying Private +1500
General Quarters +700

Hull +1200

Mine That Bird +300

Musket Man +500

Papa Clem +600

Pioneerof The Nile +500

Rachel Alexandra -125

Take The Points +1500

Terrain +2500

Tone It Down +5000

Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter