Bodemeister: Fast-Starting Derby Horse Will Have Better Luck at Preakness Stakes

The 138th Kentucky Derby was not Bodemeister's race, but I believe the Preakness Stakes will be.

On Saturday at Churchill Downs, Bodemeister came flying out of the gate and entered the final stretch in control. Then along came I'll Have Another, and Bodemeister's chances of winning went out the window.

The results at Churchill Downs don't dash Bodemeister's chances of winning the Preakness Stakes. In fact, I believe what we saw at the Kentucky Derby should make Bodemeister the decided favorite at the Preakness.

If he were running the Preakness today, he would have been the winner, as I'll Have Another's late charge may have come too late.

It's difficult to predict how a horse will react to that final charge, but Bodemeister's runs have been similar.

In the Arkansas Derby he ran away from the field to finish with a win by nine-and-a-half lengths. He was on his way to a similar victory at the Kentucky Derby, but he ran out of gas.

This trait made him catchable in the Derby, and likely dooms him in the Belmont Stakes, but it seems perfect for the Preakness Stakes.

The Preakness Stakes is the shortest of the Triple Crown races, and the shorter distance works to Bodemeister's strength.

Those that may be down on Bodemeister after his run at the Derby may want to reconsider their doubt.

Trainer Bob Baffert didn't seem too upset after his horse finished second at the Derby. Perhaps it's because he knows his colt is ready to win the Preakness by a wide margin.

After what I've seen, I wouldn't blame him for feeling confident.

Here are the final results for the 138th Kentucky Derby from kentuckyderby.com.

Finish	Horse	Jockey	Post	Odds
1	I'll Have Another	Mario Gutierrez	19	15-1
2	Bodemeister	Mike Smith	6	4-1
3	Dullahan	Kent Desormeaux	5	12-1
4	Went The Day Well	John Velazquez	13	30-1
5	Creative Cause	Joel Rosario	8	11-1
6	Liaison	Martin Garcia	20	56-1
7	Union Rags	Julien Leparoux	4	5-1
8	Rousing Sermon	Jose Lezcano	7	40-1
9	Hansen	Ramon Dominguez	14	13-1
10	Daddy Nose Best	Garrett Gomez	10	14-1
11	Optimizer	Jon Court	2	42-1
12	Alpha	Rajiv Maragh	11	19-1
13	El Padrino	Rafael Bejarano	16	29-1
14	Done Talking	Sheldon Russell	17	39-1
15	Sabercat	Corey Nakatani	18	37-1
16	Gemologist	Javier Castellano	15	18-1
17	Trinniberg	Willie Martinez	19	44-1
18	Prospective	Luis Contreras	12	57-1
19	Take Charge Indy	Calvin Borel	3	11-1
20	Daddy Long Legs	Colm O'Donoghue	1	26-1

Brian Mazique

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