Preakness 2012: Horses That Must Build on Solid Races with Strong Belmont Stakes

While only I'll Have Another's connections left the Preakness truly satisfied with the outcome, there remain several other horses who gave promising runs at Pimlico.

Not good enough to compete with I'll Have Another and Bodemeister, of course, but strong enough that those horses should run at the Belmont Stakes and look to improve upon their Preakness results.

I've identified three horses from the Preakness that could surprise folks at the final leg of Triple Crown, with Bodemeister noticeably absent since he won't be making the trip to New York.

Let's take a look.


Zetterholm

Realistic expectations are can help change the perspective of how a horse ran—especially when just about everyone predicted the Preakness would be a two-horse race, which it was—and Zetterholm certainly met his, according to his trainer and jockey.

From Bob Fortus of The Times-Picayune:

"

“We’re happy," trainer Richard Dutrow said. "He’s not supposed to beat the top two, so we are really pleased with the way he ran today."

Junior Alvarado, who rode Zetterholm, said: "He was there and coming from behind. We were almost last, and when I asked him, he started to pick it up. He ran a huge race."

"

If Zetterholm runs the Belmont, he should have a top-three finish in mind. At the Preakness, he proved he was capable of pulling it off.

How he responds to the longer track will make or break him.


Creative Cause

He improved in the Preakness, finishing third at Pimlico after finishing fifth at the Kentucky Derby. He's also raced against I'll Have Another in the past, losing by only a nose to the Triple Crown hopeful at the Santa Anita Derby.

I'm not sure if Creative Cause can beat I'll Have Another, but he is certainly capable of giving him a run for the money. Anything less than a second-place finish for the horse should be looked at as a disappointment.


Teeth of the Dog

For a horse making only his fifth career start, Teeth of the Dog ran admirably, finishing fifth at Pimlico.

Sure, like every other horse not named I'll Have Another or Bodemeister, Teeth of the Dog was never really in this race. But finishing within the purse still makes for a good run, and he should be expected to do the same if he runs at the Belmont Stakes.

And if he were to sneak into the top three, that would be a nice bonus.


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