Analyzing Orb's Triple Crown Odds Following Post Positions Draw

Orb was given the No. 1 post in the 2013 Preakness Stakes post position draw on Wednesday at Pimlico in Baltimore, according to Preakness.com.

Here is how the rest of the field will be slotted.

Post Positions for 2013 Preakness Stakes (Odds via KY Derby Contenders)

Post	Horse	Odds	Jockey	Trainer
1	Orb	1-1	Joel Rosario	Claude "Shug" McGaughey
2	Goldencents	8-1	Kevin Krigger	Doug O'Neill
3	Titletown Five	30-1	Julien Leparoux	D. Wayne Lukas
4	Departing	6-1	Brian Hernandez Jr.	Albert M. Stall Jr.
5	Mylute	5-1	Rosie Napravnik	Tom Amoss
6	Oxbow	15-1	Gary Stevens	D. Wayne Lukas
7	Will Take Charge	14-1	Mike Smith	D. Wayne Lukas
8	Govenor Charlie	12-1	Martin Garcia	Bob Baffert
9	Itsmyluckyday	10-1	John Velazquez	Eddie Plesa Jr.

Trainer Claude "Shug" McGaughey was not happy with the post position. He said before the draw that he wanted the No. 8 post for Orb, according to David Grening of Daily Racing Form:

"Shug" said after the draw, via KY Derby Contenders:

It's not all doom and gloom for Orb, though, as he can still win the Preakness. After all, he won the Fountain of Youth in February from the No. 1 post. 

Tim Layden of Sports Illustrated tweeted:

Based on the history of post positions at the Preakness, you can look at Orb's inside post position in a couple of different ways.

HRTV tweeted on Wednesday:

On the other hand, David Grening of Daily Racing Form noted:

Orb has won his last five races, including the Kentucky Derby on May 4. To say he's the favorite at the Preakness would be an understatement.

The colt's finish at the Derby is the kind of stuff that instantly thrusts horses into stardom. He led only three horses through three-quarters of a mile at Churchill Downs, but sprinted past the competition in the final stretch.

Before the Derby, he had won the Grade 1 Florida Derby and Grade 2 Fountain of Youth this year. 

Orb's comeback at the Derby was indicative of how far this horse has come. In 2012, he didn't win his maiden until his fourth and final start. He has gone on to win all four of his races in 2013.

Orb's pedigree is also noteworthy. His sire, Malibu Moon, is the son of 1992 Horse of the Year A.P. Indy. Malibu Moon has sired several big names, including 2004 Derby champion Declan's Moon, sprint star Kauai Katie and Life at Ten, Devil May Care, Ask the Moon and Funny Moon (who have all won at the classic distance of 1 and 1/4 miles).

The horse also gets endurance from dam Lady Liberty, the daughter of 1990 Derby and Breeders' Cup Classic champ Unbridled. Unbridled has sired 1996 Derby winner Grindstone, 2000 Preakness champion Red Bullet and 2003 Belmont Stakes victor Empire Maker.

Talk about a pedigree. 

One thing's for sure: If Orb is to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown, he is going to have to earn it on the rail.