Preakness 2012 Picks: Bandwagons to Jump on After Pole Position Drawings

Avoiding a stumble out the starting gates is key to victory.

The 2012 Preakness Stakes pole positions have been released. Whether a thoroughbred was favored before the drawings or not, a handful of horses' hopes increased following the announcement on Wednesday afternoon.

Here are the contenders that benefited most. 

3. Went the Day Well

Went the Day Well failed to get off to a good start in the Kentucky Derby and it cost him the race. The horse possesses great speed, but getting boxed-in prohibits any display of that acceleration. According to Preakness.com, managing partner Barry Irwin expressed relief after drawing pole position No. 5.

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I think it’s good. I didn’t want to be on the rail. It’s too claustrophobic for him. This is a green horse. He hasn’t run too many times, and we didn’t want to have an outside post if we could avoid it, because he’d have veered off to the right. Being in the middle, hopefully it’ll be better.

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2. I’ll Have Another

I’ll Have Another will enter Saturday’s race as a slight underdog to Bodemeister, but you couldn’t tell by trainer Doug O’Neil’s reaction to their pole position.

After being dealt the ninth spot he said: “I thought the draw was really good. I’m very happy with that. Being outside of the legitimate speed, most jockeys would be real happy with that.”

Just one lane will separate the Triple Crown hopeful with the Preakness favorite so they’ll be jockeying back and forth throughout the race. 

1. Optimizer

No horse benefited more from his pole position than Optimizer. Trainer D. Wayne Lukas was absolutely ecstatic with his horse drawing No. 10.

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It’s great. I really like it. For the first time in about four years, I really like it. I’m very comfortable with that spot. Bodemeister, Daddy Nose Best and I’ll Have Another are all going to tighten up. I’m sitting out there and absolutely love it.

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Optimizer will enter the race with 30-1 odds, but if a major upset is going to be pulled off, he’ll be the one to make it happen.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

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