Preakness 2012: Pre-Race Bettor's Guide to Triple Crown Event

The percent of people who pay attention to the Preakness or any other Triple Crown event strictly for betting purposes is precisely 94.7. 

That's an actual stat, so don't bother looking it up or trying to refute it.*

(*Stat is 100 percent made up by me)

So, the odds (see what I did there?) are that you are here for a general idea of how to go about spending your hard earned money on the big race at Pimlico on Saturday. 

Well, have no fear, because what follows is a guide for betting on the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes.

You can find the complete post-post-positions odds here.

Why you should bet on Bodemeister or I'll Have Another

The top two horses from the Kentucky Derby are overwhelming favorites at the Preakness, but the only reason you should be betting on them is if you are filling out a trifecta, or, in other words, predicting the top three horses. 

Hitting the trifecta perfectly will normally give you good bang for your buck, no matter how easy the odds are.

So, if you are filling one out, make sure to put Bodemeister and I'll Have Another in the "win" and "place" columns. Who you have first and who you have second is up to you, though. 

For what it's worth, I would go with I'll Have Another over Bodemeister in a slight upset.

Why you shouldn't bet on Bodemeister or I'll Have Another

If you are just picking the winner, neither of these horses are worth it. Bodemeister is an ugly 8-5 while I'll Have Another is just 5-2. 

If the love for Bodemeister forces I'll Have Another to slip to 3-1 or maybe 4-1, then I would think about taking him. As it stands now, however, stay away. 

Longshots to pay attention to

Teeth of the Dog at 15-1 is easily the best of the newcomers. His last race was an impressive third-place finish at the Grade-1 Wood Memorial, where he went head-to-head against Kentucky Derby favorites, Gemologist and Alpha. 

He has the experience to make something happen. 

At 30-1, I like Optimizer. He hasn't had any big finishes, but he's run four Grade-1s in his career, and that includes this year's Kentucky Derby. 

He finished 11th, but he still managed to out-race what was expected of him. Also, throw in an outside postion at No. 10 and this experienced horse will shock some people. 

Stay away from...

Tiger Walk. He has some experience, but he's struggled in past races and now he has to start on the rail at Pimlico. That's not a good place to be. 

Also, stay away from Daddy Nose Best. He'll likely be a popular semi-longshot pick because he raced at the Kentucky Derby, but don't forget he was fairly bad compared to his odds at Churchill.

That makes two disappointing races at Grade-1's for this horse. I just don't trust him. 

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