Preakness 2012: Non-Derby Horses with Best Chances to Shock I'll Have Another

With the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes quickly approaching, the bettors have clearly decided that Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another and runner-up Bodemeister are the horses to beat at Pimlico.

Aside from them, other Derby horses such as Went the Day Well and Creative Cause are getting a lot of play too.

Considering the volatile nature of horse racing today, though, any colt in the field can realistically come out on top.

There are three other horses competing in the "Run for the Black-Eyed Susans" that, while they are unheralded to say the least, shouldn't be discounted. All of them are quality horses and will be in it to win it when it comes time for the second leg of the Triple Crown to be won.

Here are three newcomers who have the best chances to shock I'll Have Another, Bodemeister and the other hyped horses by winning the Preakness.

Pretension

He may be one of the longest shots on the board, but Pretension has a lot going for him and looks to be one of the smarter bets in the field. Not only is he in rhythm, as he ran a race on Derby day, but he is coming off a win in the Canonero II Stakes at Pimlico.

He is obviously quite comfortable on the track, and while some might discount that, the familiarity and winning experience should only be a help to him.

In six career races, Pretension has two wins and two places, and will look to add to that total in the Preakness. Jockey Javier Santiago seemed to harness him quite well two weeks ago, and he obviously has a feel for where Pretension likes to be on the track at Pimlico.

His No. 3 post isn't the greatest since he won from No. 10 last time, but it isn't a disqualifier by any means, as Pretension should be very much in the mix.

Zetterholm

There is something to be said for a red-hot horse, which is precisely what Zetterholm is entering the Preakness. Zetterholm won the Patsyprospect Stakes in his last race and has won his past three overall. The New York product has been a dominant force at Aqueduct, and now he will give it a go against some of the world's best horses at Pimlico.

As is the case with Pretension, Zetterholm hasn't faced the highest level of competition to this point, but he has looked good against the horses put beside him, and that is all you can go on. Zetterholm has some good guidance as well, as he is trained by Richard Dutrow, Jr. and saddled by Junior Alvarado.

For Zetterholm's past two triumphs, Alvarado has been along for the ride—if he can get Zetterholm to a good spot on the track out of the No. 4 hole, he should be a threat. 

Teeth of the Dog

He may be one of the least experienced horses in the race, but Teeth of the Dog has been impressive over a small sample size and may fare a lot better than people think. In four career starts, Teeth of the Dog has just one victory, but he has never finished worse than third.

The most promising thing about Teeth of the Dog is the showing he had in his last race early in April. While running against several Kentucky Derby contenders, Teeth of the Dog finished third in the prestigious Wood Memorial and showed a lot of ability.

Joe Bravo has ridden Teeth of the Dog to two consecutive good showings, and he'll most definitely have high hopes in the Preakness. Teeth of the Dog is still one of the bigger underdogs in the field, but he is the favorite among non-Derby participants and it's easy to see why.

It won't be particularly easy to win from the No. 2 spot, particularly if he gets caught in traffic, but Teeth of the Dog has the explosiveness you look for in a good upset pick.

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