Preakness Stakes 2009 at Bodog.com have Papa Clem listed at 10 to 1 odds in tomorrow's Run for the Black Eyed Susans. The Gary Stute trained horse surprised many by finishing fourth at the Kentucky Derby, despite his taking first place at the Arkansas Derby on April 11th.
Stute was pleased with Papa Clem's effort at Churchill Downs, but conceded he felt his colt might have been robbed of a better finish.
"To be honest, Baffert's horse [Pioneerof the Nile] came over and bumped [Clem]," Stute said. "If it were a normal race there might have been an inquiry. With any luck we could have been second."
Stute, whose father Mel guided Snow Chief to the 1986 Preakness crown, has now turned his focus to the Pimlico and his colt's bizarre training pattern. According to the 52 year old, Papa Clem is anything but a hard worker in practice; however, he is hopeful that the horse's proclivity for showing up on race day remains true this weekend.
"I've had a lot of morning glories in my life" Stute said. "This is the first horse that's been just the opposite. He runs 10 times better than he works. Every once in a while he'll put in good work, but usually if there isn't another horse out front of him he just loses interest."
Preakness Stakes 2009 expert Anthony Stabile of VegasInsider.com feels that Clem's finish at the Derby will probably not be duplicated at Pimlico.
"Like Musket Man, he had a pretty clean trip until the stretch in the Derby and is one of the few that ran throughout. His work patterns are strange to say the least and I think he'll be the one affected the most by running back in two weeks, and I mean that in a bad way."
Rafael Bejarano will serve as Papa Clem's jockey tomorrow. The pair will start the race from the seven post.
The 134th Preakness Stakes are set for 4:30pm ET tomorrow afternoon at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.
Bodog.com Preakness Stakes 2009: Papa Clem 10 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
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