Preakness 2015: Post-Kentucky Derby Odds and Preview

Now that the dust has settled after a thrilling edition of the Kentucky Derby, the sights are now set on the Preakness Stakes, the second jewel of horse racing's elusive Triple Crown. American Pharoah left no question unanswered Saturday, but now, a new question arises.

Can he continue on and win the Preakness?

Though his brilliance is undeniable, American Pharoah will not be unopposed in the Preakness Stakes. Several horses out of the Kentucky Derby will be ready for another shot at the champion, as well as some new faces, fresh and ready for their chance at glory.

The Preakness Stakes is on May 16, and a lot can change in that time. Though the field is not set in stone, here is a look at how the race could come together. 

Schedule and TV Information

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Friday, May 15, 2015

3 p.m. ET: The Black-Eyed Susan Stakes, NBC Sports 

Saturday, May 16, 2015

2:30 p.m. ET: Preakness Pre-Race Coverage, NBC Sports

4:30 p.m. ET: Preakness Stakes, NBC

6:30 p.m. ET: Preakness Post-Race Show, NBC Sports

Likely Contenders and Odds

Garry Jones/Associated Press

The Preakness Stakes, run two weeks after the Kentucky Derby, is the second leg of the Triple Crown. Run at 1 3/16 miles, the race is slightly shorter than the 1 1/4 mile challenge of the Kentucky Derby and will host a smaller field size—14 horses maximum instead of the potential 20 in the Derby starting gate.

American Pharoah is the obvious top contender heading toward the Preakness Stakes, but several also-rans from the Kentucky Derby will be poised for a rematch, including the two horses that fought him to the wire, Firing Line and his stablemate Dortmund. New faces, Divining Rod and Bodhisattva, are both confirmed as well.

Simon Callaghan, the trainer of Firing Line, told Jonathan Lintner of The Courier-Journal on Sunday that his colt will head to Maryland. "I think the right horses ran first, second and third in the Derby," Callaghan said. "Hopefully we can get our revenge in Baltimore."

The list of contenders will change in the next two weeks as each trainer takes the time to see how his horse came out of the Kentucky Derby. Nevertheless, here is a list of some of the horses who are most likely to show up in Maryland, with odds provided by the author.

• American Pharoah, 3-2
• Dortmund, 3-1
• Firing Line, 4-1
• International Star, 10-1
• Divining Rod, 20-1
• Bodhisattva, 30-1

Pimlico Race Course Facts

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Surface: dirt, turf

Dimensions: One-mile oval that is 70 feet wide with a homestretch 1,152 feet long. The main track encompasses a seven-furlong turf course. 

Nickname: Old Hilltop

Preakness Stakes Record: 1973, Secretariat in a time of 1:53.00

Pimlico Race Course opened in 1870, which makes it one of the oldest tracks in the country, second only to Saratoga. The track has played host to some of the greatest thoroughbred racehorses in history including Secretariat, Affirmed and Rachel Alexandra. Last year, California Chrome won the Preakness after winning the Kentucky Derby.

Recently, the Baltimore riots caused the postponement of a home game for the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards, and the future of the Preakness Stakes this year seemed to be in jeopardy as well. Sal Sinatra, the general manager of the Maryland Jockey Club, told the The Baltimore Sun that the Preakness will go on as planned.

“I just don’t want everybody to be concerned,” he said. “We’ll have plenty of security for the Preakness as usual. We want everyone to feel safe and have fun.”

Top Storylines

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Will American Pharoah win the Preakness?

After being virtually untested in his first two starts of the year, American Pharoah showed the racing world that he had the heart to match his talent. With his tactical running style and still untapped potential, he has all of the goods to make it two in a row.

Will Bob Baffert finish one-two in the Preakness?

Bob Baffert has, as per usual, an embarrassment of riches in his arsenal. Though American Pharoah got the glory on Saturday, his stablemate Dortmund appears to have punched his ticket to Baltimore as well with a third-place finish. There is no denying Dortmund’s toughness, and he may be American Pharoah’s biggest competition.

Can a fresh horse pull off the upset?

While the field that assembled for the Kentucky Derby this year was one of the deepest in recent history, there could still be some relative unknown colts waiting in the wings to descend onto Baltimore. With the horses from the Derby competing on only two weeks’ rest, a fresh horse could pull off the shocker.

Can American Pharoah win the Triple Crown?

This is truly the million dollar question. Horse racing fans have now waited 37 years for a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed won in 1978 and have suffered several crushing disappointments in recent years. Last year, California Chrome felt the rigors of the Triple Crown trail and could only manage fourth. American Pharoah will have a lot of history to buck should he win the Preakness Stakes.

Dark Horses to Watch

Garry Jones/Associated Press

International Star

International Star was scratched from the Kentucky Derby Saturday morning after he did not jog soundly for the vet and a possible abscess was discovered brewing in his hoof. It was a devastating blow for owners Ken and Sarah Ramsey, but they told media that they “will probably have him ready to come back for the Preakness."

He was undefeated this year, and skipping the Derby and coming in fresh could have been a blessing in disguise.

Divining Rod

Divining Rod is a homebred for Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jackson of Barbaro fame. A lightly raced son of Tapit, he has been on the board in all five starts and won the Coolmore Lexington (G3) in April in stylish fashion.

With minimal experience, this colt seems to be getting better and has been conservatively campaigned so far.

Favorites

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American Pharoah

This talented colt was the favorite in the Kentucky Derby and will be the deserving favorite in Baltimore as well. Though he did not win by a gaudy margin in Louisville, he prevailed over a top-quality group of rivals and did so with seemingly some gas left in the tank.

While at this point he seems definite for the Preakness, in horse racing things can change in a moment. Bob Baffert told Gary Mihoces of USA Today that a final decision will be made later. "If I see something I don't like on Pharoah, I won't go. … They have to tip me off that they're ready for a top effort. But I won't know until next week."

Firing Line

Firing Line ran the race of his life in the Preakness Stakes. Prior to winning his final prep, the Sunland Park Derby, he had been in the massive shadow of Dortmund in California. He got his revenge on the big red colt but wound up losing to another Bob Baffert trainee. This colt proved he can run with the big boys on racing's biggest stage and will be looking for vindication in the Preakness.

Dortmund

Dortmund is a physical powerhouse and is built to be the kind of horse who will thrive under the rigors and pressures of the Triple Crown. Though he finished third in the Derby, he turned in a terrific, tenacious effort, and his sharp cruising speed will make him dangerous in the Preakness. 

Predictions

SUSAN WALSH/Associated Press

Bob Baffert is no stranger to parlaying success in the Kentucky Derby to a win in the Preakness Stakes. He pulled off the double with Silver Charm (1997), Real Quiet (1998) and War Emblem (2002). He also won the Preakness with Point Given (2001) and Lookin at Lucky (2010). These two will get the job done again in Maryland.

Win: American Pharoah

Place: Dortmund

Third Place: Firing Line

Note: Preakness odds were created by the author.