Preakness 2012 Favorites: Predicting Where Each Contender Will Finish

The 137th running of the Preakness Stakes will begin on Saturday, May 19, at Pimlico Race Track in Baltimore, Maryland. 

Following an electric win from I'll Have Another at the Kentucky Derby, in which the three-year-old colt blazed down the back stretch to send Bodemeister to a second place finish, the Preakness Stakes is sure to offer another exciting exhibit of world-class horse racing.

Below, we'll handicap where each of the major contenders may finish the race Saturday.

Bodemeister

There's no more doubting who the clear favorite to win the Preakness is. Bob Baffert's colt looks primed to build on his insane fractions at the Kentucky Derby with a win at the shorter track at Pimlico. 

While Bodemeister ran out of stamina and couldn't close the door at Churchill Downs, a shorter, faster track plays right into his strengths. While I'll Have Another certainly has another championship run left in him, we're picking Bodemeister to end the Triple Crown pursuit of I'll Have Another with a win at the Preakness. 

Predicted Finish: First

I'll Have Another

At the Kentucky Derby, I'll Have Another shocked the entire field when he came from several lengths back and the No. 19 starting position to beat Bodemeister by two-and-a-half lengths. He also won the Derby coming in at 15/1 odds, which makes his improbable win all the more impressive. 

Repeating that performance at the Preakness will be difficult, especially considering the conditions and a shorter track. He'll need a stronger early effort or he could run out of real estate to catch Bodemeister Saturday. 

In the end, this looks like a two-horse race between Bodemeister and I'll Have Another. Bodemeister could win by several lengths, but expect I'll Have Another to be the next horse in line. 

Predicted finish: Second

Creative Cause

Creative Cause faded down the backstretch at the Derby, finishing in a distant fifth place. But a strong start to his race lends credence to the possibility of Creative Cause finishing near the front Saturday.

With less ground to cover at the Preakness, he could end up in the money. 

Predicted finish: Third

Went the Day Well

If you're looking for your "dark horse" participant (no pun intended) for Saturday, look no further than Went the Day Well. H. Graham Motion's colt stormed back from a 17th place start to finish fourth at the Kentucky Derby.

If Went the Day Well can continue the momentum he built at Churchill Downs and start better Saturday, we could be looking at a horse that could push for a top spot. 

Predicted finish: Fourth