Preakness 2012 Odds: Horses That Don't Provide Enough Value to Pick

The Preakness is always the toughest Triple Crown race to handicap because it's impossible to know how horses that raced in the Kentucky Derby will perform on short rest. Also, the horses who didn't race two weeks ago add another wrench into the mix.

So the best way to find good value is eliminating horses that are getting too much respect in the morning line. With that in mind, let's take a look at three contenders that fall into that category. For a complete look at key information for Preakness horses, click here.

Optimizer

Optimizer entered the Kentucky Derby as a long shot and never threatened, finishing a distant 11th. The story will likely be similar on Saturday. He just hasn't shown enough consistency throughout his career to trust him in a big race.

Aside from being trained by the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, Optimizer doesn't have much working in his favor. He hasn't won a race since last August and only finished in the money once in his past seven starts dating back to the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Even though he's tied for the highest morning line odds, they would have to get a lot higher before he'd be worth taking a chance on. Simply not enough upside.

Tiger Walk

Tiger Walk is one of the horses making their Triple Crown debut at the Preakness. He hasn't raced since the Wood Memorial last month, so he should be fresh. That isn't enough reason to consider him a threat to win the race, however.

In three career graded stakes races, he's never finished above third having faced many of the same horses casual fans have come to learn about in recent weeks like Gemologist and Alpha. That's not a good trend heading into the biggest race of his career.

The other issue for Tiger Walk is starting from the No. 1 gate. Just like in the derby, that's a disadvantage as all the horses converge on the rail. That will be too tough for him to overcome.

Bodemeister

Bodemeister enters the Preakness as the favorite despite faltering down the stretch as I'll Have Another stormed past him. He ran out of energy down the stretch, which is a troublesome sign as he takes part in his third race in five weeks.

Unlike in the Kentucky Derby, where he at least provided a little bit of bang for your buck, his favorite status really limits the earning potential on him in the Preakness. It's tough to be certain he'll have enough gas left in the tank to pull off a win.

While there's an average chance Bodemeister could win on Saturday, the combination of low odds and question marks makes him a risky pick that's better off being avoided.