Preakness Stakes 2013 at Pimlico Race Course

Las Vegas, NV – The Second Jewel in the 2013 Triple Crown comes our way this Saturday, May 18 from Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Kentucky Derby winner Orb will try to replicate the feat of I’ll Have Another as a group of the best three year olds around go 1 3/8 miles on Pimlico’s main track for a lucrative purse of $1 million in the 2013 Preakness Stakes.

A smallish field of nine has been confirmed for the Second Jewel of the Triple Crown. The Preakness is the 12th race on a 13-race card that begins at 10:45 a.m. Eastern. Post time for the Preakness is listed as 6:20 p.m. Here is a look at all the contenders and who could challenge the overwhelming favorite Orb.

Orb – even money favorite for the Preakness has now won four straight races – the Kentucky Derby by 2 1/4 lengths, the Grade 1 Florida Derby March 30 at Gulfstream, the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes February 23 and an Allowance Optional Claiming score January 26. He looks on paper to be the class of the slightly watered-down field – hence the even money! He has reportedly looked terrific in the lead-up to the Second Jewel of the Triple Crown and should have his way with the field. He starts from the rail with the hottest jockey on the planet in the saddle – Joel Rosario.

Mylute – is second choice on the morning line at 5-1 that finished an OK fifth in the Derby after a second in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 30. He’s also had a third in the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot November 17 was followed by an Allowance Optional Claiming score December 26 and an ugly seventh in the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes February 23. He has just one Allowance Optional Claiming score since August but off a fifth in the Derby is a favorite to challenge Orb in the Preakness from Post 5.

Departing – sat out the Kentucky Derby but enters the Preakness as one of the hotter entries and is the morning line third choice at 6-1. He has five starts and four wins including the Illinois Derby last time out and the minor Texas Heritage Stakes at Sam Houston March 2. His only career blemish? A third in the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby March 30 at Fair Grounds. He enters off four weeks rest and hopes to challenge his old friend and paddock mate Orb.

Goldencents – is the fourth choice on the morning line at 8-1 and he will race from post 2 – right beside Orb. He may have been the biggest disappointment of the Derby with his seventeenth place finish as one of the favorites but could erase the bad memories with an upset win here. He has proven to be a contender in the past – a win in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby March 6 showed that he has what it takes against top competition. He could be Orb’s biggest threat but it remains to be seen if anyone is qualified to run with the Derby Champ.

Itsmyluckyday – is the fifth choice at 10-1 odds and has been OK lately – a second behind Orb in the Florida Derby followed a win over Shanghai Bobby by two lengths in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes January 26. But he wasn’t good in the Derby – a fifteenth place finish took some luster off this colt. Hopes are the Derby was just a blip for Itsmyluckyday and trainer Eddie Plesa and that he can challenge Orb like he did in Florida. He starts from the outside Post 9.

Preakness Stakes betting at Pimlico Race Course with OffTrackBetting.com

Govenor Charlie – is the co- sixth choice at 12-1 that started his career with two MSW races – a win at Santa Anita February 17 over the very tough Footbridge after a second in his debut also at Santa Anita January 19. Last time out he made a triumphant graded stakes debut – a win in the Grade 3 Sunland Derby at Sunland Park March 24. He is lightly raced but trainer Bob Baffert but an interesting prospect for the Preakness – he starts from post 8.

Will Take Charge – is also listed at 12-1 but is an entry that people like to possibly post an upset. He still looks like the best value on the board. He was eighth in the Derby after an impressive win in the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn Park in March. Steve Haskin of BloodHorse.com suggests that Will Take Charge could run alongside Orb, and should be an underrated bet heading into the Preakness. He may not have the results or the experience of some of the other entries but people love his talent and 12-1 morning line price! Will Take Charge starts from Post 7

Oxbow 15-1 – was an OK sixth in the Derby and is the eighth choice in the Preakness at 15-1 odds. He was fifth in the Arkansas Derby, a good second in the Rebel Stakes and he won the Grade 2 LeComte Stakes in January but has placed in just two of six stakes starts in his career. He will have legendary Gary Stevens in the saddle again but his recent form hasn’t been all that impressive for trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Titletown Five – another D. Wayne Lukas pupil is the longest shot on the board at 30-1. He raced four MSW races with a win, a second and a third place finish before his stakes debut- an OK second in the minor Gazebo Stakes at Oaklawn Park February 3. He has not fared all that well against top competition since however – a ninth in the Grade 2 Louisiana

Race 12 on Pimlico Race Course’s Saturday card with a Post Time of 6:20 PM.