Preakness Predictions: Horses Bound to Disappoint Bettors

Bettor beware—not every horse in the 2013 Preakness field is as sure a bet to show as advertised.

With leg two of horse racing's prestigious Triple Crown set to go down at Pimlico this weekend, bettors are sure to take special interest in this year's nine-horse field. While many will flock to lay down some cash on race favorite Orb, others will race to back their favorite underdog.

Post	Horse	Odds
1	Orb	1-1
2	Goldencents	8-1
3	Titletown Five	30-1
4	Departing	5-1
5	Mylute	8-1
6	Oxbow	15-1
7	Will Take Charge	12-1
8	Govener Charlie	10-1
9	Itsmyluckyday	12-1

Live odds can be found at HorseRacingNation.com.

While there are some horses out there that will provide good value and are ready to challenge the Kentucky Derby champion, there are a few that are bound to disappoint their backers.

Here are the horses that simply won't be worth the risk at Pimlico along with their predicted finish. 

Itsmyluckyday: 12-1

Itsmyluckyday has emerged as a trendy underdog pick leading up to the race.

At 12-1 odds and with a track record of doing well on shorter tracks like the one he'll be racing Saturday, it's easy to see why. However, bettors should tread carefully when putting too much stock into Itsmyluckyday.

First, the horse didn't fare well in the Kentucky Derby. He started off in the middle of the pack before fading late and finishing a disappointing 15th place. Unlike Goldencents who finished in disappointing fashion, Itsmyluckyday was never near the front of the pack and showed a lack of endurance.

With only nine horses in the Preakness it should be easier to run a bit more freely. But then there's the issue of post position. It's extremely difficult to go from starting the farthest away from the rail and emerge victorious.

Itsmyluckyday has shown flashes of brilliance, but the odds are just too long for a good showing Saturday.

Predicted Finish: 7th

Oxbow: 15-1

At first glance Oxbow may seem like a sneaky value pick. He has long odds at 15-1, the six post shouldn't hurt him and he finished a respectable sixth place in the Kentucky Derby.

The upside just isn't there, though. With 11 starts to his name, Oxbow will be one of the most experienced horses on the track and he hasn't come through with any overly impressive victories. Even in his best finish this season he was outrun by fellow longshot Will Take Charge at the Rebel Stakes.

The sixth-place finish at Churchill Downs was impressive, but the muddy track and congested field made things easier for a middle-of-the-road horse to look a bit more impressive.

Look for the optimum racing conditions to expose Oxbow as an average runner.

Predicted Finish: 8th

Titletown Five: 30-1

No. Just don't do it.

Sure, it may be fun to back the biggest long shot in the race. The fact that he's co-owned by former Green Bay Packers legend Paul Hornung makes it even more fun. But Titletown Five is seriously outclassed in this one.

Whereas most horses that have been entered into the field hold notable wins against lesser competition, Titletown Five is winless in his last three starts. None of which were against the kind of competition he'll be seeing at the Preakness.

There's a reason that the odds are massively against him. Taking a flier on Titletown Five isn't the best use of money in this race.