Preakness 2012 Post Positions: Where Do the Favorites Stand?

Let's be honest here—there are two horses likely to win the Preakness, and they are I'll Have Another and Bodemeister.

One won the Kentucky Derby, while the other gave one of the most impressive second-place finishes we've ever seen and looks to be in prime position to steal the Preakness.

For argument's sake, we'll throw Went the Day Well into this mix as well.

How are they looking after the post positions were announced? How will they stack up next to the rest of the field? What must they do to ensure they'll win this race?

Let's find out.

I'll Have Another

The Derby winner will start on Post 9, which is beneficial in that it is outside Bodemeister, who will likely set the pace in this race with an absence of other sprinters.

That means I'll Have Another can attempt to replicate the formula used at the Derby—avoid the pack, settle behind Bodemeister, remain in striking distance and hope to catch him in the end.

For I'll Have Another, this race will come down to temperance. If he runs out too strongly, he may not have the juice he'll need in the end. If he allows Bodemeister too much of a lead, he won't be able to catch him in the end on the shorter track.

He can win this race, but he may have to top his run at the Derby to do it.

Bodemeister

This is Bodemeister's race to lose, plain and simple.

He doesn't have to worry about any sprinters like Trinniberg setting a crazy opening pace. He doesn't have to contend with being stuck close to the rail in a large field—he is on Post 7 in an 11-horse field—and thus, he doesn't need to kill himself to get out ahead of the pack.

In this field, Bodemeister may end up being the early pace-setter, which could be a problem for the rest. If Bodemeister is able to set a more comfortable pace for himself early, I'm not sure anyone will catch him on this shorter track.

This is Bodemeister's race to lose. I'd be surprised if he gave it away.

Went the Day Well

For Went the Day Well, the Kentucky Derby was more like Went the Day Disappointing. The horse got off to a poor start and was only able to get up to a fourth-place finish.

With an earlier start, might he have won?

It's hard to say, but if there is a horse not named I'll Have Another or Bodemeister in this race that can win, it's this one. At Post 5, Went the Day Well shouldn't have any starting issues, especially in the smaller field.

Without the madness of a 20-horse field, there will be no excuse if he starts slowly again. If he does anything less than run his best possible race, there will be no chances for a victory, either.

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