2013 Preakness Post Positions: Horses That Will Have to Overcome Poor Draws

Kentucky Derby winner Orb is the favorite to win the Triple Crown's second leg on Saturday at Pimlico Race Course, but he'll have to overcome a tough post draw in order to keep his impressive winning streak alive.

Orb drew the rail for Saturday's 2013 Preakness Stakes. It's been 19 years since a horse won the Preakness from post No. 1. Tabasco Cat was the last to do so back in 1994.

But the Triple Crown hopeful isn't the only horse that will have to overcome a poor starting slot this weekend.

Below we'll take a look at where each horse will start on Saturday, breaking down three colts that will have their work cut out for them before the race even starts.

2013 Preakness Stakes Post Positions 

Post	Horse	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
1	Orb	Joel Rosario	Shug McGaughey	1/1
2	Goldencents	Kevin Krigger	Doug O’Neill	8/1
3	Titletown Five	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas	30/1
4	Departing	Brian Hernandez Jr	Albert M. Stall, Jr	6/1
5	Mylute	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss	5/1
6	Oxbow	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas	15/1
7	Will Take Charge	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas	12/1
8	Govenor Charlie	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert	12/1
9	Itsmyluckyday	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.	10/1

*Odds via Preakness.com.

Orb, Post No. 1

It's never good to draw the rail, but luckily for Kentucky Derby winner Orb, he drew the first post at Pimlico instead of Churchill Downs.

Orb's trainer, Shug McGaughey breaks down why it's better Orb drew the rail this time around as opposed to two weeks ago (via ESPN.com):

"

It's not nearly the problem it would be in the Derby. The Derby is kind of catty-cornered. You got to shove your way out of there or you get shut off down in there. It's pretty straightforward here. There are only nine horses. There's not going to be that kind of jockeying into the first turn. We'll just hold our position and see how the race plays out.

"

But Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman delivers another troubling stat for McGaughey and Orb: 

Regardless of what's happened in the past, though, Orb certainly has the closing speed to outlast the field at Pimlico on Saturday. He'll need to get out fast and avoid being freight trained by the pack right out of the gate, if he wants to have a shot. 

If Rosario can keep him clean early on, his poor post position will become forgotten history.

Goldencents, Post No. 2

It's been nearly 30 years since a horse won the Preakness Stakes from post No. 2. 

On Saturday, Goldencents will attempt to become the first since Snow Chief in 1986 to run out of the second slot and into the history books. 

Rick Pitino's talented colt burst onto the scene after winning the Santa Anita Derby, but then turned out a dismal performance at the Kentucky Derby, finishing 18th despite entering the post as a heavy favorite to win.

While the 1 3/16-mile distance at Pimlico is a fraction shorter than that of Churchill Downs, that doesn't mean much for Goldencents, who was running 15th after a mile at the Derby two weeks ago.

Titletown Five, Post No. 3

Keeping the close-to-the-rail theme alive, long-shot Titltetown Five will have to not only overcome poor odds, but an unfavorable draw on Saturday in order to pull off the shocker.

After all, it's been 20 years since a horse won the Preakness Stakes from post No. 3. Prairie Bayou was the last to do it 1993.

While it's not the rail, post No. 3 could spell serious doom for the underdog of D. Wayne Lukas' group, especially with Orb and Goldencents starting to the inside of him. If the two favorites can get out fast it may be Titletown Five that ends up getting pinned down by the pack.

It's safe to say that Titletown Five is one long-shot to avoid on Saturday.

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