I'll Have Another: Last-Minute Predictions for Derby Winner at 2012 Preakness

I'll Have Another is currently running at 5-2 odds according to Preakness.com.The Kentucky Derby winner is considered the No. 1 contender to current Preakness favorite Bodemeister. 

Bodemeister was also favored to win the Kentucky Derby before I'll Have Another chased him down on the backstretch. 

Predictions are valid until the race starts, so that gives me time to give my predictions for this year's Triple Crown hopeful.

Let's take a look.

Fast Start

I'll Have Another was not fast out of his 19th gate in the Kentucky Derby. 

He was forced to chase Bodemeister down with incredible speed down the race's final lengths. 

I'll Have Another will not face the same dilemma in the Preakness Stakes. His trainer, Doug O'Neill, likes I'll Have Another's chances to lead during the race in his interview with Preakness.com.

"

I’m confident. You never know, but as long as we continue to train like our horse has trained, we won’t be that far off Bodemeister. If anything, Bodemeister might be behind us early. I could see him chasing us, I really could.

"

I think I'll Have Another and his handlers will adapt from their Kentucky Derby follies. He will be pushed harder out of the gate and take advantage of the short Pimlico course.

Fade Down Back Stretch

Anticipate the opposite of I'll Have Another's Kentucky Derby performance.

At the derby, I'll Have Another chased Bodemeister down in the race's final stretch. At the Preakness, Bodemeister will catch I'll Have Another.

I'll Have Another will get off to a hot start and adapt from his derby racing style. This will cause him to lose steam down the stretch and lose a heartbreaker to the Preakness favorite, Bodemeister.

Triple Crown dreams are on the line, but I'll Have Another's unlikely run will come to an end in the series' second leg. 

Third Place Finish

I'll Have Another will fade behind Bodemeister and Went the Day Well in the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes. 

Bodemeister's potential to run him down on the final lengths goes without saying. He led most of the Kentucky Derby before I'll Have Another chased him down.

Went the Day Well also ran a very solid derby. He finished fourth and closed very strong. His elite speed will bode well for his chances of Preakness glory.

I'll Have Another will not finish third by much, but that is where he will wind up.

This year's Preakness field has five legitimate contenders. I'll Have Another's luck will run out, and he will finish behind two of them.