2012 Preakness Favorites: Why Bodemeister Will Demolish the Pack

Bodemeister is one of the best horses competing in 2012 Preakness field and is one of the favorites to wear the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans at the end of the race for good reason.

The colt flat out dominated the 20-horse field in the Kentucky Derby right up until the bitter end; when I’ll Have Another snuck up and stole his crown.

No worries though, as Bodemeister and his backers know he has the best chance to win the second leg of the Triple Crown at Pimlico.

Look at his time for the first six furlongs at Churchill Downs with some analysis from Ray Kerrison of the New York Post.

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Bodemeister whistled by the six furlongs in 1:09.8. That’s brutal. Crazy. Bodemeister was running faster than four of the greatest horses of the 20th century, including three Triple Crown winners. That he lost under those conditions should surprise nobody; that he held on for second was stunning.

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The main reason why the runner-up was forced to go so fast was his starting position (six) and the fact that No. 9 Trinniberg would not let him have any breathing room. Jockey Mike Smith was forced to come flying out of the gates and not let up.

Should Bodemeister get a good draw at Pimlico, he’ll do much better—especially when factoring in that the track is just 1.1875 of a mile compared to the 1.25-mile length at Churchill Downs.

Second place at the Derby may have been bittersweet for Bodemeister and his handlers, but they should be quite content with winning the 2012 Preakness Stakes.