Preakness 2012: Latest Buzz Surrounding Saturday's Big Race

With the Preakness Stakes set to be run on Saturday, the country's eyes turn to Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another.

Can the horse win the second leg of the Triple Crown? Is this the year the Triple Crown drought finally ends?

I don't have the answers to those questions just yet. But I do have some of the latest buzz as we head into the race.

Post Positions Announced

Eleven horses have been announced for the Preakness, along with their post position (and early odds). They are as follows:

Post Position	Horse	Early Odds
1	Tiger Walk	30-1
2	Teeth of the Dog	15-1
3	Pretension	30-1
4	Zetterholm	20-1
5	Went the Day Well	6-1
6	Creative Cause	6-1
7	Bodemeister	8-5
8	Daddy Nose Best	12-1
9	I'll Have Another	5-2
10	Optimizer	30-1
11	Cozzetti	30-1

Small Field

As Kyle C. Leach of The Star-Ledger noted, "The field is the smallest since 2007, when Curlin beat Derby winner Street Sense in a nine-horse field."

What does it mean?

Well, with a smaller field to get in front of, a better post position than he had at the Kentucky Derby and no Trinniberg to set a breakneck pace, Bodemeister looks like he'll be very tough to beat in this race. If he runs the way he did at the Derby, he won't be beaten at Pimlico's shorter track.

Kegasus Returns!

Who could forget about Kegasus, the affable and alcohol-infused Lord of the InfieldFest at the Preakness?

Not I.

Thankfully for us all, he will be back to his debauchery this year, with all four legs and a beer in hand to boot. Oh, and if you don't know what I'm talking about, check this out.

Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets never give up in stoppage time.