With the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby now complete, all attention has moved East toward the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The historic track serves as home for the second leg of the Triple Crown series, the Preakness Stakes, which will take place on Saturday, May 21st. 2011 Preakness Stakes Odds have Derby winner Animal Kingdom listed as an early +350 moneyline favorite to win the 1 3/16 miles race.
Animal Kingdom, a 20 to 1 Kentucky Derby longshot, inspired confidence with his impressive run at Churchill Downs that he 
may just be coming into his own. The Leroidesanimaux sired colt ran his career race total to five last Saturday, and with his 2:02.04 Derby time, he recorded his second consecutive graded stakes victory.
Heading into last weekend's race, Animal Kingdom, despite an impressive winning turn at the Grade 3 Vinery Racing Spiral Stakes on March 26th, had more than his share of doubters due to a lack of dirt racing experience. The Derby represented the colt's first competitive foray on a dirt surface.
The race results, as well as jockey John Velasquez, who was scheduled to ride Uncle Mo before the colt's late scratch, indicated that the 1 1/4 miles dirt run at Churchill Downs gave Animal Kingdom no trouble whatsoever.
"I didn't have to do very much," Velazquez said. "He was going well the whole way around, so he gave me a lot of confidence to be where I was and when I asked him to do something he was there for me. A good horse gets you out of trouble."
Animal Kingdom, at least at this juncture, is scheduled to compete against fellow Derby entrants Dialed In, Nehro, Midnight Interlude, Mucho Macho Man, and Shackleford at the 136th Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.
Animal Kingdom +350
Dialed In +600
Mucho Macho Man +800
Nehro +800
The Factor +900
Dance City +900
Astrology +1000
Shackleford +1000
Flashpoint +1400
King Congie +1500
Norman Asbjornson +1500
Mr Commons +1500
Sway Away +1800
Midnight Interlude +1800
Prime Cut +2000
Concealed Identity +2000
Santiva +2200
Ruler On Ice +2800
Saratoga Red +3000
Harlans Hello +3000
Isnt He Perfect +3000
