Preakness 2012 Field: Underrated Studs Who Will Steal Spotlight

The Preakness Stakes field is all but set, with a less-than-maximum field expected for the second leg of the Triple Crown. The fewer horses in the race makes it easier for some of the more underrated thoroughbreds to steal the spotlight. 

One of the great things about the Preakness is the way that the track runs. It is faster than the Kentucky Derby, so everyone who enters has a chance to at least make some noise, even if that doesn't mean they are going to win. 

Here are the best horses to watch for in the Preakness Stakes. 

Daddy Nose Best (15-1 Odds)

Daddy Nose Best has had a very inconsistent racing season. Dating back to last June, he has six top-2 finishes and four races where he finished worse than fourth. His most recent run came at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, a 10th-place finish that would not seem to bode well for him at the Preakness. 

However, Daddy Nose Best has had a lot of success in shorter tracks. The Kentucky Derby is a longer race than the Preakness, which gives Daddy a great chance to use his strengths (speed and acceleration out of the gate) and come from the middle of the pack to stun the world on race day. 

Tiger Walk (20-1 Odds)

The best Preakness horses are ones who are able to turn on the jets immediately and hold that speed over the course of the entire race. Unlike the Kentucky Derby or Belmont Stakes, you can go all-out right at the start and hope to win. 

Tiger Walk has slowly been trending downward, with two first-place finishes in November and December but shifting down to one third- and two fourth-place finishes in his last three races. 

Still, his best asset is his ability to be a front-runner and make the rest of the field have to catch up to him. If he does that in this race, he will have little trouble walking away with a victory. 

Optimizer (30-1 Odds)

Nothing that Optimizer has done in his past makes you think that he is going to have a chance against a star-studded Preakness Stakes field. He finished 11th at the Kentucky Derby and ninth in the Arkansas Derby. 

The difference is, Optimizer really came out of nowhere at the Kentucky Derby to finish in 11th place. He was a 50-1 shot in the race two weeks ago, so there is some thought that he could be hitting his stride at the right time. 

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