Preakness 2012 Odds: Betting Lines You Must Cash in on

The 2012 Preakness Stakes is just a day away, meaning bettors have limited time to strategize and make their decisions before the horses reach the starting gates at Pimlico.

There are officially 11 horses in the field, making it one of the smaller Triple Crown events on the shorter track.

With that in mind, let’s take a look at some great lines that will get you paid on race day.

No. 4 – Zetterholm – 20/1 (All odds via preakness.com)

This long shot got a great post position that has produced a lot of horses who ended up wearing the blanket of Black-Eyed Susans.

Jerry Brown, proprietor of Thoro-Graph speed charts, had this to say about the underdog (h/t New York Post):

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“Zetterholm’s dam [Holy Wish] has thrown five consecutive really good horses and they all got better with age,” Brown said. “Zetterholm is improving rapidly. At this point, he’s probably a few lengths off these other horses but it would only take one more forward move to put him right there.”

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With an unspectacular field, laying the odds on this 20-1 line is a solid play.

No. 6 – Creative Cause – 6/1

Despite getting trapped out wide at Churchill Downs during the Derby, Creative Cause had a nice run and finished in the money (fifth place).

Now this colt has drawn a wonderful starting gate and has a real chance to build on his respectable showing at the Run for the Roses.

If Creative Cause has a fast time at Pimlico, and the other favorites lag behind, he’ll be able to easily win this.

No. 7 – Bodemeister – 8/5

Bodemeister’s epic first-six furlongs at the Derby have gotten a lot of hype. He ran them faster than three Triple Crown winners and held on for a second-place finish.

He’s been well worn over the past five weeks, running two races in that time, and Saturday’s Preakness will be his sixth of the year.

However, as the Derby proved, he just continues to get better. He earned the best starting post and should lock this Triple Crown race up.