Preakness 2013: Breaking Down Top Contenders for Triple Crown's Second Leg

Coming off his Kentucky Derby win, Orb will likely be the favorite to take the Preakness, but there won't be a lack of stiff competition. 

While the second leg of the Triple Crown containing a smaller field than the Derby, this will create less traffic and leave the horses freer to show their true talent. 

While I expect Orb to rightfully be a big favorite at Pimlico, he should be viewed as anything but a lock. Here is a deeper look at Orb, and the two horses who will present the biggest obstacle in his attempt at history.

Govenor Charlie

Govenor Charlie took the Sunland Derby, in the above video, in impressive fashion to claim his second consecutive victory. That was his last time out.

This horse looked headed to Churchill Downs as a real contender. Unfortunately, due to a bruised foot, he couldn't give it a go.

Trained by the legendary Bob Baffert, this horse has a strong chance to give Baffert a pleasant late beginning to this Triple Crown season—Baffert did not have a horse in the Derby.

This is a horse who will enter the Derby with a lot of questions. He only has three races under his belt and hasn't competed since March 24. 

 While this raises some concerns with rust accumulating over the layoff, we know Baffert will make sure he is ready, and unlike Orb, and other holdovers from the Derby, this horse will be fresh.

This horse has shown a real knack for competing, he was second in his first race to go with his two wins, and he's shown the speed. Also, his two victories came in races that were at least a mile, so stamina shouldn't be a problem. 

Oxbow

Oxbow was an also-ran at the Derby with a sixth-place finish. His showing was full of enough promise that trainer D. Wayne Lukas decided to give him a run at the Preakness. 

Oxbow got off to a good start at Churchill Downs, and was hanging in second around the five-sixteenths pole. However, the horse just didn't have the finishing kick by that point to make a real charge for the victory. 

I expect him to be better at the Preakness.

Gary Stevens got the mount at Churchill Downs and the Hall-of-Fame jockey will do so again at the Preakness. This will be Stevens' third mount on the horse after he came out of retirement, and with the smaller field, it will be easier for him to run his race. 

If our next horse slips up, or simply doesn't bring the same finishing kick, Oxbow has a nice shot to derail another quest for the Triple Crown. 

Orb

Onto the horse of the hour. Orb was supremely impressive at Churchill Downs. He started his finishing kick early and didn't show any signs of fading.

 On top of everything, Orb struggled a bit coming out of the gate in the mud and slotting in with the big field. Neither of these things are likely to be a factor at the Preakness.

This horse has really come into his own. He has five straight wins, and Joel Rosario has been on board for three of them. In all, Rosario has been on board for 6-of-8 of Orb's starts. So, we know the red-hot jockey will be ready to get the best out of his start.

While 35 years passing without a Triple Crown winner suggests that Orb can't win his next two starts, it paints a much rosier picture for the Preakness. In those 35 years, 12 horses have followed up a Derby win with one at the Preakness. 

There is a lot to like about Orb at the Preakness.