2012 Preakness Horses: Best Non-Kentucky Derby Horses Set to Run at Pimlico

Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another, and other Derby horses like Bodemeister are getting tons of press heading into the Preakness Stakes, but there are a few horses that didn't run at Churchill Downs that could be factors in Baltimore.

Here are three quality horses making their Triple Crown race debuts at Pimlico.

Teeth of the Dog

This is a horse that could be on the upswing. Having never raced in a Grade I race, Teeth of the Dog was entered in the Wood Memorial in April. He finished third despite long odds (53/1), and competing against the impressive Derby horse Gemologist.

I believe Teeth of the Dog will have another strong Grade I run, and it's possible he could have an even better showing at Pimlico. He finished very strong at the Wood Memorial, which measures a mile-and-an-eighth. Pimlico Race Course is just a bit longer at a mile-and-three-sixteenths. Perhaps this will give Teeth of the Dog the room he needs to close even stronger.

Take a look at Teeth of the Dog's third place finish at the Wood Memorial:

Pretension

This is familiar territory for Pretension. His last race took place at Pimlico, and he was victorious in the Canonero II Stakes on May 5. The race had only five horses in the field, but Pretension ran a strong race.

The horse closed very strong to catch My Adonis, and win the race by a neck. The two-week turnaround may be soon to run a race of this magnitude, but I think the familiarity of the course with the track could work in his favor.

Here is a look at Pretension's most recent run at Pimlico: 

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