Preakness 2012 Contenders: Bodemeister and the Top Horses Running

The 137th running of the Preakness Stakes is scheduled to take place Saturday, May 19 at the Pimlico race course in Baltimore, MD. 

I'll Have Another is fresh off a win at the Kentucky Derby, and a subsequent win at the Preakness will open up the opportunity for the horse to win the coveted Triple Crown. Several other horses look ready to ensure that feat doesn't happen in 2012, however.

Here are the top contenders for the 2012 Preakness, starting with Bodemeister.

Bodemeister

Bob Baffert's colt set the pace at the Kentucky Derby with a furious run through the first six furlongs, only to be passed over the final 100 yards by I'll Have Another to finish in second. We know that Bodemeister can win a stakes race, as evidenced by his victory at the Arkansas Derby by almost 10 lengths. 

Bodemeister will have to keep a better early pace at Preakness to give jockey Mike Smith a chance at keeping the horse strong through the final portions of the race. Despite a second-place finish, Bodemeister is a favorite for Saturday. 

I'll Have Another

With his shocking come-from-behind victory at Churchill Downs, I'll Have Another became the first horse ever to win the Kentucky Derby from the No. 19 starting position. Once a long-shot, I'll Have Another is now one of the favorites to come in first at the Preakness. 

Keeping the perfect record in 2012 alive (3-for-3; Kentucky Derby, Santa Anita Derby, Robert Lewis Stakes) might be difficult with the pressure associated with the horse, but there's no reason to think I'll Have Another should be anything but a top candidate to finish first Saturday. A regression after a big performance at Churchill Downs looks unlikely. 

Creative Cause

Creative Cause's fifth-place finish was one of the disappointments of the Kentucky Derby. Mike Harrington's horse had seven previous top-three finishes, including wins at San Felipe, Norfolk and Best Pal. 

However, a second-place finish at the San Anita Derby to I'll Have Another gives Creative Cause hope that it turn around a difficult showing at Churchill Downs this weekend. A cleaner race could result in Creative Cause shooting up the finisher's board at the Preakness. 

Went the Day Well

Went the Day Well erased a slow start by finishing just two-and-a-half lengths behind the eventual winner of the Kentucky Derby, I'll Have Another. 

In the horse's win at the Spiral Stakes in March, Went the Day Well picked up the early lead and won by a comfortable three-and-a-half lengths. If he can get off to a better start at the Preakness and control the early lead, there's no reason why Graham Motion's horse can't find itself in the winner's circle Saturday.