California Chrome was installed as the 3-5 morning line favorite for the Preakness Stakes (G1) and is likely to be sent away from the gate as the shortest priced chalk since Big Brown paid $2.40 for his victory in 2008.
The Art Sherman trainee won the Kentucky Derby (G1) by 1 ¾ lengths and returned $7.00 as the betting favorite. The colt will face just two foes he beat on Derby Day and will have to beat seven newcomers if he is going to head to the Belmont Stakes (G1) with his Triple Crown hopes still alive.
The colt has been the solid betting favorite for the Preakness since he crossed the wire in front at Churchill Downs on the first Saturday of May. Bovada currently has the colt listed at 5-8 odds according to Preakness betting odds released by Oddsshark.
The last Derby winner to win the Preakness was I’ll Have Another in 2012. Last year Orb checked in fourth as the 8-5 betting favorite.
The second choice on the morning line is Social Inclusion at 5-1. The colt missed the Derby after checking in third as the beaten favorite in the Wood Memorial (G1), which was his stakes debut. The colt beat first level allowance foes in his previous start with a 110 Beyer. By comparison California Chrome’s two best Beyers are 107 and 108, and his figure in the Kentucky Derby was just a 97.
The other new shooter that could be a danger is the Bob Baffert trained Bayern, who crossed the wire first in the Derby Trial (G3) at Churchill Downs but was disqualified for interference in the stretch and placed second.
The colt is trained by Bob Baffert, a five-time winner of the second jewel of the Triple Crown. Baffert last won the Preakness with Lookin At Lucky in 2010.
|
The Preakness Stakes |
||||
|
Post |
Horse |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Odds |
|
1 |
Dynamic Impact |
Miguel Mena |
Mark Casse |
12-1 |
|
2 |
General a Rod |
Javier Castellano |
Mike Maker |
15-1 |
|
3 |
California Chrome |
Victor Espinoza |
Art Sherman |
3-5 |
|
4 |
Ring Weekend |
Alan Garcia |
H. Graham Motion |
20-1 |
|
5 |
Bayern |
Rosie Napravnik |
Bob Baffert |
10-1 |
|
6 |
Ria Antonia |
Calvin Borel |
Tom Amoss |
30-1 |
|
7 |
Kid Cruz |
Julian Pimentel |
Linda Rice |
20-1 |
|
8 |
Social Inclusion |
Luis Contreras |
Manny Azpurua |
9-2 |
|
9 |
Pablo Del Monte |
Jeffrey Sanchez |
Wesley Ward |
20-1 |
|
10 |
Ride On Curlin |
Joel Rosario |
William Gowan |
10-1 |
Michael Dempsey’s Preakness Day Report
Michael’s Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire Preakness Day card from historic Pimlico. Michael is a Maryland bred and knows the circuit from the backstretch to the finish line.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday May 17 at Pimlico. The big day of racing has eight supporting stakes including the $400,000 Dixie Stakes, $150,000 Gallorette Handicap and the $150,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap. Mike’s Report will be available on Friday May 16.