Animal Kingdom was not a great horse, a 20-to-1 Kentucky Derby long shot, until he won it. For today's 2011 Preakness Stakes , the public's perception on the colt is much different, now coming off a 2-to-1 favorite posting from Gate-11. Today's second leg of the Triple-Crown should be a fast and exciting race with the top-horses bunched together near the middle.
The favorites, Dance City (12-to-1); Mucho Macho Man (6-to-1); Dialed In (9/2) and Animal Kingdom will be coming out of Gates 8-11. These post positions are best case scenario for the horses and for the fans looking for a thrilling run. Of course, that is if these horses perform according to expectations and we know in Triple Crown racing, that isn't always the case.
My favorite of the longshots today is Shackleford, whose Preakness Stakes Odds coming off at 12-to-1 odds out of Gate-5. Keep in mind, I am talking about long shots, not necessarily my race favorites. However, there are two or three colts in this race, other than the favorites, I feel are fully capable of challenging or beating the favorites.
Shackleford performed well for most of the Kentucky Derby but faltered near the end. At Pimlico, the colt has a shorter distance which will be in his favor. On the negative end, this will be a faster race. Shackleford probably doesn't have what it takes to win but is a strong candidate to show.
A horse flying way under the radar is Sway Away, a colt that narrowly missed the Kentucky Derby field. This three-year-old, based out of Northern California, ran his preliminaries at Oaklawn Park where he met some misfortune with an injury out of the gates in the G-2 Rebel Stakes, but bouncing back a month later with a fourth place finish in the G-1 Arkansas Derby. If he gets a clean break I can see this guy in the money.
I've been following Mucho Macho Man since the Louisiana Derby back in March. Will this be the day he lives up to potential and beats the field? Some folks think so and that's why he's coming off at 6-to-1 odds.
Today's Preakness should be fun. There are no slam-dunk picks here, not that there ever are. I have my doubts about Animal Kingdom but will be rooting for him. I'd love have a 2011 Triple Crown winner this year but I don't think it will happen. I don't even have him on my card.
Gate Jockey Line
1. Astrology M.E. Smith 15/1
2. Norman Asbjornson J. Pimentel 30/1
3. King Congie R.J. Albarado 20/1
4. Flashpoint C. Velasquez 20/1
5. Shackleford J.L. Castanon 12/1
6. Sway Away G.K. Gomez 15/1
7. Midnight Interlude M. Garcia 15/1
8. Dance City R.A. Dominguez 12/1
9. Mucho Macho Man R. Maragh 6/1
10.Dialed In J.R. Leparoux 9/2
11.Animal Kingdom J.R. Velazquez 2/1
12.Isn't He Perfect E.S. Prado 30/1
13.Concealed Identity S. Russell 30/1
14.Mr. Commons V. Espinoza 20/1
