Preakness Stakes 2012: Long Shots with the Best Odds to Win

Betting a long-shot horse at a Triple Crown race is always fun, exciting and sometimes quite lucrative.

It will be no different this year at the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Track. This is a place with a history of horses that no one is respecting coming through and winning.

In the 2011 event, Shackleford went off at 12.60/1 and ended up crossing the finish line a half-length ahead and was soon wearing the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans.

Let’s take a look at some potential winners in 2012 that don’t have the best odds right now.

*Odds courtesy of VegasInsider.com.

Teeth of the Dog – 30/1

Michael Matz, the trainer that helped Barbaro conquer the 2006 Kentucky Derby, is the man who has been working with this horse.

Joe Bravo, a great jockey who has over 4,000 career wins and has been dominant in New Jersey—although he has yet to find success at a Triple Crown race—is riding him.

This is a fast horse that looks like, with some luck at the post position draw tomorrow night, could be a steal at 30/1.

Pretension – 25/1

This horse won the Canonero II Stakes and looks to be in good form after a poor ninth-place showing at the Illinois Derby and a fifth-place finish at Gotham.

However, the momentum he gained at Canonero cannot be understated. It seems that jockey Javier Santiago has finally figured out how to control this colt and could see him through to the finish line in first place on Saturday night.

This local favorite could bring the hometown fans something to talk about and something for their wallets if he gets a few breaks.

Tiger Walk – 20/1

Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank owns this high-profile horse, which is why there is so much publicity around him compared to some of the other competitors in the field.

But Tiger Walk is also a great colt that has a real chance to win.

Plank knows that better than anybody, according to The Associated Press (h/t Boston.com):

"

“We won the Breeders’ Cup two years ago with a 46-1 long shot,’’ Plank said. “Nobody thought that she could do it. But she won. That’s what makes horse racing great - that lottery ticket in your pocket.’’

"

Tiger Walk isn’t half as much of a long shot as Shared Account (the 46/1 underdog) and could easily finish in first.