2013 Preakness Stakes: Orb Set to Break Favorites' Three-Race Losing Streak

Orb is a huge favorite to win the Preakness Stakes, but other recent favorites have faltered in the second leg of the Triple Crown.

Favorites are riding a three-race losing skid at Pimlico, after Bodemeister lost to I’ll Have Another a year ago. Before that, Shackleford won as a long shot in 2011, and Lookin at Lucky won as 3-1 second choice in 2010.

Not since Rachel Alexandra beat the boys back in 2009 has the post-time favorite paid off for bettors. Orb plans to halt that streak, despite drawing the unlucky No. 1 post, which has seen just one winner since 1961—Tabasco Cat back in 1994.

Orb remained a short 1-1 favorite at most online racebooks and at Pimlico, despite the rail draw Wednesday night in Baltimore. Handicapper and veteran horse man Michael Dempsey predicted Orb would be a huge favorite and said Thursday he doesn’t see a problem with the rail position.

“The No. 1 post in the Kentucky Derby is more of a problem than the Preakness, despite what the statistics say,” the USRacebook.com analyst said in an interview.

“And don’t forget Orb broke from the rail in his Fountain of Youth win at Gulfstream Park, defeating heavily favored Violence.”

Eight horses will line up to derail trainer Shug McGaughey’s Derby winner. Mylute, fourth at Churchill Downs two weeks ago, is the second betting choice at 5-1.

New shooter Departing is the third choice, currently sitting at 6-1, according to the Preakness odds updates at OddsShark.com.

The recent three-race funk does not indicate that favorites always lose at Pimlico. In the last dozen Preakness Stakes, the favorite has won seven times, including successful dashes by Big Brown, Afleet Alex, Smarty Jones (in a record-setting performance) and Funny Cide.

Preakness Stakes winners since 2000 (favorites in bold)

Year	Winner	PP	Jockey	Trainer	Time	Odds
2012	I'll Have Another	9	M. Gutierrez	D. Oneil	01:55.9	3
2011	Shackleford	5	J. Castanon	D. Romans	01:56.5	12.6
2010	Lookin at Lucky	7	M. Garcia	B. Baffert	01:55.5	2.4
2009	Rachel Alexandra	13	C. Borel	S. Asmussen	01:55.1	1.8
2008	Big Brown	7	K. Desormeaux	R. Dutrow Jr.	01:54.8	0.2
2007	Curlin	4	R. Albarado	S. Asmussen	01:53.5	3.4
2006	Bernardini	8	J. Castellano	T. Albertrani	01:54.6	12.9
2005	Afleet Alex	12	J. Rose	T. Ritchey	01:55.0	3.3
2004	Smarty Jones	7	S. Elliott	J. Servis	01:55.6	0.7
2003	Funny Cide	9	J. Santos	B. Tagg	01:55.6	1.9
2002	War Emblem	8	V. Espinoza	B. Baffert	01:56.4	2.8
2001	Point Given	11	G. Stevens	B. Baffert	01:55.5	2.3