Preakness 2012 Favorites: Who Experts Are Predicting to Win Today

All the talk leading up to the 137th Preakness is surrounding Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another and Bodemeister, the horses that went neck and neck down the stretch at Churchill Downs. 

They're currently listed, respectively, with 5-2 and 8-5 odds for today's race. 

With only hours to go until the horses are let out of their gates and I'll Have Another looks to capture the second leg of the elusive Triple Crown, this what the experts are saying about who'll win this year's Preakness. 

Andrew Beyer of The Washington Post is picking Bodemeister, and stated the following about his selection on DRF.com: 

"

Bodemeister ought to benefit from a perfect setup in the Preakness. I’ll Have Another will probably try to put some pressure on Bodemeister, but Baffert’s colt figures to get a comfortable early lead – a huge advantage in any race.

"

He discusses what went wrong in the Derby states that competition from the "ultra-fast Hansen and Trinniberg" Bodemeister made the horse set a remarkably quick pace to start. He also cites that another fast start from Bodemeister should lead to a win at Pimlico. 

Beyer picks Creative Clause to finish second and I'll Have Another to finish third. 

Liam Durbin of E-Ponies.com is also on board with the mighty Bodemeister. He too cites the horse's impressive performance at the Derby despite finishing second to I'll Have Another. Durbin astutely points out that Bodemeister's fractions for six furlongs and a mile were the fifth-fastest in Derby history. 

Getting out to a huge lead is a major advantage in any race.

Durbin wasn't afraid to mention potential challenges for the favorite. This is an excerpt from CBSChicago.com: 

"

His is the first time Bodemeister has been raced after just a two week rest.  And the Derby effort had to have taken something out of him.  The extra sixteenth of a mile may not be as much help as he will need. 

"

Richard Eng of the Las Vegas Review-Journal picked I'll Have Another to win the this year's Preakness. 

He's right in saying that experts feel Bodemeister ran a better race at Churchill Downs, and that is one of the reasons the horse is listed as the morning-line favorite. 

Eng makes no mistake about Bodemeister's speed, but like Durbin, lists the lack of rest as a deciding factor in today's race. 

This was his thought behind choosing I'll Have Another as his winner: 

"

I'll Have Another has had his races well spaced by trainer Doug O'Neill. He had nine weeks off between wins in the Robert Lewis and the Santa Anita Derby. Then it was four more weeks to the Kentucky Derby.

For my money, I'll Have Another has a better chance of repeating his Derby race, and possibly improving, in the Preakness

"

This really has become a duel between Bodemeister and I'll Have Another, with the overwhelming majority of experts picking either horse to emerge victorious today. 

Follow @ChrisTrapasso