2012 Preakness Contenders: Dark Horses Who Should Be Feared

I'll Have Another proved that it's anybody's race this year in horse racing.

Facing 15/1 odds, he shocked a field complete with Union Rags and Bodemeister at the 2012 Kentucky Derby, closing down the stretch in dramatic fashion.

I'll Have Another currently has 3/1 odds as one of the favorites after his electric run at Churchill Downs. But he's just as susceptible to falling to a dark horse as the favorites were in the Kentucky Derby.

Here's a look at three dark horses who have a shot at winning the 2012 Preakness Stakes on Saturday (complete with current odds).

3. Optimizer (12-1)

Optimizer hasn't run particularly well in 2012, but his second-place finish in the Rebel Stakes gave hope, and he has five-time Preakness winner D. Wayne Lukas on his side. Plus, any horse with inside position at the Kentucky Derby this year was virtually doomed. 

2. Tiger Walk (20-1)

Tiger Walk has been racing with the big boys in 2012, and has three top-four finishes to show for it. Granted, he hasn't won yet, but he did just pick up two-time Preakness winning jockey Kent Desormeaux and has been in the running for a win throughout 2012.

1. Liaison (15-1)

There are concerns whether Bob Baffert's Liaison will run at Pimlico (given jockey Martin Garcia's status is questionable), but if he does, he stands to put up a good race. Garcia won the Preakness with Lookin at Lucky two years ago.

And while Liaison hasn't finished better than fourth place in four races in 2012, his sixth-place finish at the Kentucky Derby wasn't as bad as it may seem. He was given the No. 20 post position, on the far outside, and had to struggle to get through a host of competitors.