Kentucky Derby Results: Horses Set to Keep I'll Have Another from Triple Crown

There's a distinct danger that comes with a long shot like I'll Have Another winning the Kentucky Derby.

It leaves the odds-on favorites that much hungrier and, thus, that much more likely to come back strong in the Preakness Stakes and spoil whatever hopes the horse racing public had of seeing the first Triple Crown winner since Affirmed pulled off the treble in 1978.

So which thoroughbreds are most likely to bring an end to I'll Have Another's bid to make horse-racing history at Pimlico on May 19th?

Bodemeister

Bodemeister came into the Derby as one of the odds-on favorites to win and appeared prepared to deliver after coming into the stretch with a sizable lead.

But heavy legs, combined with a hard charge by I'll Have Another on the final furlong, left the Bob Baffert entry in second place, 1.5 lengths behind, when all was said and done.

Bodemeister was something of an historical longshot to win the Derby, since he didn't start running races until he turned three. The added experience of Saturday's run and the slightly shorter length of Pimlico should put Bodemeister in prime position to parlay his obvious talent into a strong challenge at the Preakness.

Union Rags

This may seem like a copout, but Union Rags' Run for the Roses was ultimately doomed by circumstance. The 9/2 oddsmakers' darling was pinched out of solid positioning from the get-go and fell back to 20th at the half-mile mark before finally making a race of it in the end.

A sixth-place finish, then, doesn't look so bad when considering the hand that Union Rags was dealt. He doesn't sport the sort of blazing speed to make up a big gap in a hurry, but proved capable of a late charge thanks to his consistent gallop.

With some better luck out of the gate, Union Rags may well make good on bettors' faith at the Preakness, albeit a bit too late to completely wipe away Saturday's shortfall. 

Dullahan

Dullahan's odds went longer by the time the race opened, but Kent Desormeaux's date to the Derby found a way to show in the end nonetheless. His closing speed came in handy down the stretch, even if it wasn't quite enough to catch Bodemeister or hold off I'll Have Another.

Win or lose, Dullahan will make things interesting at Pimlico, thanks in large part to his impressive afterburners.

See here for Kentucky Derby Results.

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