The 134th Preakness Stakes will take place this Saturday, May 16th at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. The 2009 Preakness Stakes, the second race in the Triple Crown Series, is scheduled to get underway at 4:30pm ET and will be televised live on NBC. Kentucky Oaks winner, Rachel Alexandra, is listed as a -125 moneyline favorite to win the Run for the Black Eyed Susans.
2009 Preakness Odds at Sportsbook.com has surprise Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird, listed at +300 on the moneyline to win the Preakness Stakes.
Mine That Bird shocked the world on May 2nd by winning the 135th Run for the Roses. The gelding, which was originally purchased for a paltry $9,500, was listed at 50 to 1 odds to win the Derby based upon his finishing twelfth, fourth, and second in his three races prior to the Churchill Downs event.
However, Mine That Bird was not without success prior to his Kentucky Derby win as he won four out five races, all of which were under a mile, at the Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada. His exploits there earned him the Sovereign Award, which goes to Canada's top two-year old racer.
Bird, who was scheduled to leave Churchill Downs today for the 10 hour trip to Baltimore, ran a final practice at the legendary track yesterday. Jockey Calvin Borel handled the colt for the 1:02.80 five furlong run, but he will not be aboard the Derby winner this weekend. The entry of Kentucky Oaks winner, Rachel Alexandra, which Borel also piloted to victory, means that the Louisiana native will not be able to ride Mine That Bird in the second leg of the Triple Crown Series. Borel has a committment to ride the filly that supercedes any agreement he had with Bird owner Mark Allen.
Jockey Mike Smith will take the reins for trainer Bernie Woolley, Jr. with Borel out of the picture. Smith, who hails from Roswell, New Mexico is a multiple Eclipse Award winner and he also won the ESPY Award for Best Jockey in 1994. Smith rode the 50 to 1 odds Giacomo to a Kentucky Derby win in 2005.
The Preakness Stakes is the shortest race of the three Triple Crown events, which should give Mine That Bird an advantage he did not have at the Kentucky Derby. It comes in at 1 3/16th miles whereas the Derby is 1 1/4 miles. The purse in this weekend's race will be $1 million.
Sportsbook.com 2009 Preakness Odds:
Rachel Alexandra -125
Mine That Bird +300
Pioneerof the Nile +500
Musket Man +500
Papa Clem +600
General Quarters +700
Conservative +1200
Flying Private +1500
Take the Points +1500
Big Drama +1500
Terrain +2500
Tone It Down +5000
Visit Sportsbook.com today to take advantage of their 2009 Preakness Odds and get dwon on your favorite to win the second leg of the Triple Crown Series.
