2012 Preakness Favorites: Bodemeister Poses Serious Threat to Triple Crown Chase

I'll Have Another—and anyone who hopes to see him become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to win the Triple Crown—got some bad news on Monday.

Bodemeister will run in the Preakness Stakes on Saturday.

The son of Empire Maker set the pace for most of the race at the Kentucky Derby but finished second when he gave way to heavy legs, allowing I'll Have Another to pull ahead over the final 100 yards.

Bodemeister is no less impressive a specimen after that performance and, if anything, should be regarded as a clear contender to win at Pimlico because of it. His relative lack of experience, which may or may not have jeopardized his chances at Churchill Downs, won't be as much of an issue this time around.

Neither will Trinniberg, the speedster who set the early pace at the Derby. He won't run at the Preakness, thereby leaving Bodemeister (and everyone else) to proceed with a much steadier gait rather than grind themselves into the track.

That may well have factored into trainer Bob Baffert's decision to bring Bodemeister to Baltimore, as he told the Associated Press:

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"I want to see what the field is looking like. It was a good race for him. I think the horse is turning the corner. I've just got to decide, Do I want to keep pushing him along? You know, he needs to win a race. If he's going to be competitive, we'll take him up there."

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Apparently, then, Bodemeister's going to be competitive. That much should have I'll Have Another's camp frightened, at least to some extent, with regard to his prospects for victory at the Preakness.

Not because I'll Have Another isn't fully capable of winning it; if his performance at the Derby is any indication, he surely is.

Rather, he might not be so lucky this time around if, in fact, Bodemeister is able to set his own pace and leave the rest of the field behind as a result.

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