The 2011 Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes which is run at the United States' second oldest race track--Pimlico--is the second jewel of horse racing's Triple Crown. Pimlico was opened on October 25, 1870 which makes it the second oldest to Saratoga the upstate New York race track.

The odds were established by some odds makers: here are the preliminary odds on May 12, 2011 for the race on May 21, 2011

The race is for three-year-olds...this year Animal Kingdom who won the Kentucky Derby will be scrutinized by the crowd as he tries to win the 1 3/16 mile race which is being held for the 136th time in 2011. The Kentucky Derby is a 1 1/4 mile race so there will be a different tactical race with raw speed being more valued in this race than in Louisville a few weeks prior to the Preakness. Animal Kingdom began to make his move to the front in Louisville with a quarter mile left in the race so one would expect this to be a different race. John Rodriguez who rode Animal Kingdom kept him in the pack about four to five and sometimes six lengths short of the lead and in a three wide peloton until the quarter pole.

I expect a different winner though I haven't analyzed the yet-to-be-announced post position yet. Only one horse has ever won the Preakness Stakes from the outside post position so that's something to consider.

Fourteen horses are the most horses allowed into this race which once ran two races because of so many horses being entered. Phillies have won this race five times in the previous 135 races--the most recent Philly to win was Rachel Alexandra in 2009.

Come back to this article since I'll update it with analysis of the post position and who I expect to see in the top three. Animal Kingdom should get an inside post position though it's doubtful he'll get the inside position...we'll see and then we can make decisions about whose strengths are going to be enhanced. As I mentioned coming from the outside or fourteenth position makes it almost impossible to win this race which runs on a 1 3/16 mile course.

Stop back and I'll update my analysis...It's race day and the post positions are firm. I see Shackleford first followed by Midnight Interlude, Mucho Macho Man, and Astrology.

Resources:
www.drf.com

Related Stories:
2011 Kentucky Derby