2009 Preakness Stakes at bookmaker Bodog.com have 10th place Derby finisher General Quarters listed at 20 to 1 odds to win this weekend's 134th Preakness Stakes. The colt had won two of his last three races heading into the Run for the Roses, but he was unable to find his way on the muddy track at Churchill Downs.
General Quarters owner and trainer, Tom McCarthy, is hoping Pimlico's surface is more like Tampa Bay Downs than that of Churchill Downs two weekends ago. His colt has a fifth place finish, two second place finishes and a first place finish at Tampa Bay. He won the 1 1/16 miles Sam F. Davis there on Februray 14th.
McCarthy has liked Quarters' practice runs at the Baltimore track thus far and believes his horse is taking to it nicely.
"He loves this track; it's just like Tampa," McCarthy said. "He just skipped over it."
McCarthy, who purchased General Quarters for $20,000, was not pleased with the race conditions that, he believes, led to his colt finishing 10th at the Kentucky Derby.
"That was horrible," McCarthy said. "It was one of the worst Derby tracks I've seen in 20 years."
2009 Preakness Stakes horse racing expert Anthony Stabile of VegasInsider.com sees General Quarters as being a possible contender at the Preakness.
"Maybe he didn't like the slop in Kentucky, maybe the trip (he steadied twice) was his undoing or maybe he's just not good enough," Stabile said. "[He] has a lot of questions to answer, but so do others in here. The difference is they'll be over bet while he'll be a juicy price. Of those who disappointed in the Derby, I think he's the one most likely to rebound and be right in the thick of things."
The 2009 Preakness Stakes will take place tomorrow at 4:30pm ET. The Run for the Black Eyed Susans will be broadcast live on NBC from the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
Bodog.com 2009 Preakness Stakes: General Quarters 20 to 1 Preakness Odds
Rachel Alexandra 8/5
Pioneerof the Nile 4/1
Mine That Bird 11/2
Friesan Fire 8/1
Big Drama 10/1
Musket Man 10/1
Papa Clem 10/1
General Quarters 20/1
Luv Gov 35/1
Take the Points 35/1
Terrain 35/1
Tone It Down 40/1
Flying Private 45/1
Visit Bodog.com today to get down on your favorite 2009 Preakness Stakes. Get a $50 Casino Chip Bonus when you bet on the Preakness.
