Preakness 2012: Race Day Odds and Projections for Top Contenders

The Preakness Stakes is only hours away, and there is no shortage of great horses who could take their successes from the Kentucky Derby and turn it into a win at Pimlico.

Here is what you can expect from some of the top horses in the Preakness, with the odds coming from Preakness-Stakes.info.

Bodemeister: 8/5

Bodemeister was just a nose from winning the Kentucky Derby and while he displayed incredible speed and stamina, he just didn't have enough to finish the race.

But just to show you how much respect he is getting, Bodemeister is the favorite to win the Preakness despite having finished second behind I'll Have Another in the Kentucky Derby.

This time around, Bob Baffert's horse will have a shorter track to run and a better chance of finishing on what is clearly a great ability to get ahead of the pack. Bodemeister's competition must make their moves quicker in this race if he gets out to a similar lead to the one he had at the Derby.

That will cause an all-out sprint to the finish, and that favors the speedy Bodemeister, who should have much more gas left in the tank this time around. In fact, he could run a near-similar race with slightly more patience than he had at Churchill Downs and be victorious.

I'll Have Another: 5/2

To say I'll Have Another's win at the Derby was a surprise is an understatement. But he won't be so under-the-radar at Pimlico.

Just as it seemed Bodemeister was going to cruise to victory, I'll Have Another's patient approach finally paid off, and the surging horse pulled ahead of a tiring Bodemeister at the end.

However, I simply don't see that happening in the Preakness. I'll Have Another will end up getting into a head-to-head race down the stretch and with the shorter track, he won't have enough time to pass Bodemeister.

And if he makes his move early, I'll Have Another won't be able to turn on the jets the way Bodemeister can.

Expect a strong showing for the Derby winner, but not nearly as successful as I'll Have Another's last race. A new, more patient approach by Bodemeister will leave I'll Have Another in the dust.

Went The Day Well: 6/1

Went The Day Well certainly had a nice showing at the Derby, but he could've finished much better if not for a bad breaking. However, that won't be a problem with the field nearly cut in half for the Preakness.

His great closing speed was noticeable at Churchill Downs and should come up huge for the horse again in this race. With a better start, Went The Day Well should be able to build upon his showing in the Derby and with a strong finish, he could be a top horse to watch this Saturday.

It wouldn't be a bad idea to put Went The Day Well somewhere in your trifecta or superfecta, and he will certainly be a trendy pick up until race time.