2012 Preakness Post Positions: Where the Top Contenders Are Slotted

At long(ish) last, the post positions and morning line odds for the Preakness Stakes have been announced.

So, as Southwest Airlines might've said once upon a time, "You're now free to lay down your bets."

However, before you go dumping your life savings on any ol' colt, let's have a look at where the favorites have been placed and what their morning line odds are.

Bodemeister

Believe it or...well, believe it. The winner of the Kentucky Derby is not the odds-on favorite to repeat at the Preakness.

That somewhat dubious honor belongs, instead, to Bodemeister. The Bob Baffert-trained beauty will enter post 7 at Pimlico with 8-5 odds to be the first across the finish line.

Rightfully so. He looked impressive at Churchill Downs before succumbing to heavy legs down the stretch. For that reason, Bodemeister should benefit from a shorter course at the Preakness, and even more so from starting in the middle of the pack as he did his last time out.  

I'll Have Another

I'll Have Another may not be the absolute favorite to win the Preakness, but he's not that far off the pace. The Derby Day darling was installed with 5-2 odds by Pimlico handicapper Frank Carulli and will start in post 9, just two spots from Bodemeister.

I'll Have Another isn't the fastest or most impressive horse, but he sports some solid stamina and has proven to be comfortable with working from an outside position. He started in post 19 at Churchill Downs.

Went the Day Well

A fourth-place finish in the Derby earned Went the Day Well a spot in post 5 and 6-1 morning line odds.

It's an impressive jump, considering he arrived at Churchill Downs with 20-1 odds. Whether Went the Day Well can parlay that "improvement" will likely depend on his ability to hang with speedsters like Bodemeister, Cozzetti and Tiger Walk. 

Creative Cause

Creative Cause will step between the starting gates right next to Went the Day Well at post 6.

Fitting, too, considering that he came in just behind him with a fifth-place finish at Churchill Downs. He'll also have the same morning line odds as Went the Day Well at 6-1.

With a track record of finishing near the front of the pack, as he'd done every time out before faltering at the Derby, Creative Cause should be able to challenge Bodemeister and I'll Have Another on Saturday.

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