Preakness Stakes 2012: News and Notes on Top Contenders

Bodemeister and, obviously, I'll Have Another, are the two horses that you're going to want to pay attention to and stay up to date on in regards to the 2012 Preakness Stakes.

Both horses played huge roles in the recent Kentucky Derby, with I'll Have Another winning it, and they should both be considered as contenders to win at the Preakness.

There's obviously a ton of news surrounding the 2012 Kentucky Derby winner. I'll Have Another was given 5-2 odds to win the Preakness, which is actually second behind Bodemeister, who is the 8-5 favorite.

According to CBSSports.com, I'll Have Another's trainer, Doug O'Neill, doesn't seem to be too bothered:

"

Bob Baffert has won five of these. I've never run a horse here. I totally respect that. I just hope anyone who bets Bodemeister is regretting it Saturday night.

"

Speaking of trainer Doug O'Neill, there may be some trouble brewing for him amidst all the Derby and Preakness talk.

Check out Dan Wolken from FoxSports.com's very well written, but somewhat disturbing exclusive:

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Because even as I’ll Have Another chases the Triple Crown, O’Neill is facing a possible 180-day suspension from training in California for an August 2010 incident in which one of his horses tested positive for a performance-enhancing formula known as a “milkshake,” which raises the level of carbon dioxide in the blood through a combination of baking soda and electrolytes. It is administered through a tube stuffed down the horse’s nose, and it is strictly illegal.

"

The report states that O'Neill's horses have tested positive for "milkshakes" three times, and he also cites some very startling facts regarding the high injury rate of O'Neil's horses.

My Take

First, on the actual race.

Bodemeister is currently my favorite horse, so I don't disagree with having him as the favorite. He's fast, and he has the ability to get out in front and go wire-to-wire at the Preakness.

That being said, I can't count out the Kentucky Derby winner, so it will be interesting to see how and if the odds move. We've seen I'll Have Another bide his time and come on strong at the end before, so I wouldn't be surprised if it happened again.

As far as the allegations against O'Neill...

Right now these just appear to be allegations to me, so I'm hesitant to react too harshly one way or the other. If it turns out O'Neill did indeed cheat, it would be a pretty big setback, so I hope that it isn't true.

Stay tuned to Bleacher Report's horse racing page for all the info and opinion you need on the 2012 Preakness Stakes.