Preakness 2012: Predicting the Top 5 Finishers at Pimlico

After an exciting Kentucky Derby, the competition has intensified for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Does I'll Have Another stay alive in the hopes of winning the Triple Crown?

Or will Bodemeister avenge the Churchill Downs upset? Include some Hall of Fame jockeys facing off in Baltimore and we see familiar faces take the top five positions. Here's how it finishes out.

Full view of Preakness post positions and odds.

Fifth, Creative Cause

After an eight-race stretch where Creative Cause finished in the top three dating back to July 2011, a disappointing fifth-place finish at the Kentucky Derby happened in early May.

Despite the shorter track at Pimlico, the pressure is on Creative Cause and jockey Joel Rosario. After such a consistent run for the horse leading into Churchill Downs, a brief slump could be on the horizon. Rosario has the win experience under his belt, but this is also his first race at the Preakness.

Having to fight off some pre-race jitters will create a slow start, but Creative Cause bolts to the finish in a fifth-place comeback with 6-to-1 odds.

Fourth, Tiger Walk

Tiger Walk is rode by Hall of Fame jockey Kent Desormeaux, who holds over 5,000 career wins. Entering the 2012 Preakness off a third-place finish in Kentucky, Desormeaux looks to get Tiger Walk's confidence back.

With 30-to-1 odds, it's certainly a stretch for Tiger Walk to get fourth place; however, that's why the race happens. The good news is that Tiger Walk hasn't finished lower than fourth since August 2011, so recent top five consistencies are worth noting.

As long as Desormeaux starts off strong to keep the horse near the front of the pack, the final stretch will hold for another fourth-place finish.

Third, I'll Have Another

The pressure is certainly on I'll Have Another and jockey Mario Gutierrez. Then again, everyone else is gunning for them as I'll Have Another comes in three straight victories.

Prior to the Kentucky Derby, the horse won two consecutive prep races at Santa Anita, which obviously helped with confidence and momentum for Churchill Downs.

Tied with Bodemeister at 5-to-2 odds, Gutierrez still has a lot of experience to gain in comparison to his jockey brethren. On a shorter track with increased competition and intensity, I'll Have Another holds up for third and emerges as a constant legit contender in future races.

Second, Bodemeister

The expected favorite to win the Kentucky Derby, Bodemeister was upset but has top odds to take the Preakness Stakes. Trainer Bob Baffert is arguably the best in the biz and Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith isn't fazed by a runner-up finish.

Courtesy of the shorter track, expect Bodemeister to come out blazing even faster than Churchill Downs. Plus, in Bodemeister's previous five races, he hasn't finished worse than second place.

Also, there's no pressure on Smith nor the horse, as everyone is focused on I'll Have Another. Since the last Triple Crown winner was in 1978, anyone who wins the Kentucky Derby has everything to lose. Unfortunately for Bodemeister, someone else sneaks up and steals the Preakness.

First, Went The Day Well

Another Hall of Famer at the helm, jockey John Velazquez took fourth place with Went The Day Well in the first leg of the Triple Crown but has increased odds at 6-to-1 to take the Preakness.

After finishing in the top five at Churchill Downs with 20-to-1 odds, it's reasonable to suspect that Went The Day Well can take first in Baltimore. For one, Velazquez has accumulated over 4,000 wins and has 12 Breeders' Cup wins to his credit.

Went The Day Well has also had some solid success with two victories in his previous three contests. This is the one dangerous combo that is going overlooked, as the shorter track favors the sense of urgency we saw down the stretch in Kentucky.