Preakness 2012 Picks: Went the Day Well Will Excel on Shorter Track

Forget about I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister…what about Went the Day Well?

This colt is arguably one of the three fastest horses in the field. If it wasn’t for his poor start from the No. 13 post position at the Kentucky Derby, he would have certainly challenged for the victory. He finished in fourth, two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner.

Now at Pimlico, Went the Day Well will benefit from the reduction of the field. From a 20-horse race at the Derby to 11 on Saturday, the lack of traffic is certainly going to benefit this colt.

Another aspect that favors Went the Day Well is the length of the race. The distance is one-and-three-sixteenths and for a sprinter—that’s right up his alley.

While drawing the No. 5 post position isn’t ideal at a race like the Derby, without the heavy traffic Went the Day Well is close enough to the rail not to worry about another slow start at the Preakness Stakes.

The team (led by trainer Graham Motion) behind this colt has to be mentioned as well. The New York-bred Went the Day Well is trained by the same group that won last year’s Kentucky Derby with Animal Kingdom and was a mere half-length behind Shackleford at the Preakness.

Right now most sites have Went the Day Well at six-to-one odds, which is the third highest and I think they may rise even further before the race.

When you consider all of the factors of the race heading into Saturday, this is the best value on the board.

Odds courtesy of VegasInsider

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