Preakness 2012 Odds: Betting Advice to Win You Big Money

It is becoming increasingly difficult to win money when it comes to betting on premier horse races because literally the entire field has a chance to win. With that said, though, it isn't an impossible venture if you stick to a few rules.

The Preakness tends to lend itself to some interesting results and this year will likely be no different.

All of the focus is sure to be on Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another and runner-up Bodemeister, but it will be important not to get too enamored with either of them. There are plenty of other quality horses in the race and even if they didn't succeed or run in the Kentucky Derby, they are still forces to be reckoned with.

Here are three betting tips that will help you make some big money on Saturday.

Take a Non-Derby Horse to Win

In three of the past six Preakness Stakes, a horse that did not run in the Kentucky Derby was triumphant at Pimlico. I'll Have Another, Bodemeister, Went The Day Well, Optimizer, Creative Cause and Daddy Nose Best will return from the Derby, and while all of them are among the betting favorites, recent history suggests there is a good chance that none will win.

Cozzetti, Pretension, Teeth of the Dog, Tiger Walk and Zetterholm are the non-Derby horses that will be running, and although all of them have flaws, they all have the ability to shock the world as well.

My personal selection is Cozzetti, who will be saddled by Jose Lezcano. Although he hasn't had a ton of recent success, Cozzetti is the type of horse who can close late if he can maintain good track position. Whatever the case, though, you're best off going with a long shot.

Take Bodemeister to Place in Any Bet

Because of Bodemeister's status as a front runner, I thought that he was an excellent bet to place in the Kentucky Derby. That came to fruition as he was caught by I'll Have Another down the stretch, and it is likely to happen in the Preakness as well.

I can't see jockey Mike Smith putting the brakes on Bodemeister too much, because he is simply a horse that thrives by getting to the front. At the same time, though, that leaves him ripe for the picking in the latter stages.

Bodemeister figures to be the pacesetter once again on Saturday and that will allow the rest of the field to stalk him. Perhaps Bodemeister will hang on this time around, as the race is a half-furlong shorter than the Kentucky Derby, but I look for history to repeat itself.

A longer shot on top with a favorite in second is always a popular bet and it looks like a winner in the Preakness.

Leave I'll Have Another Out of Your Bets

Seeing as he won the Kentucky Derby, it is understandable why I'll Have Another is the co-favorite in the Preakness along with Bodemeister, but at those odds, he simply isn't a smart bet. A lot of things had to go right in order for I'll Have Another to win the Derby, and while it wouldn't be fair to take anything away from him for doing so, he had the perfect trip, and it's unlikely that things will go as smoothly at Pimlico.

Truth be told, I expect I'll Have Another to be a non-factor on Saturday. We already know for sure what Bodemeister brings to the table, so he's going to be in the mix, but I'm not sure I'll Have Another can make another late break toward the front.

Race fans would obviously love to see I'll Have Another nab the second leg of the Triple Crown, but he doesn't seem like a Triple Crown horse to me.

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