Preakness 2015 Field: Handicapping the Horses at Pimlico

Though the Preakness Stakes is shorter than the Kentucky Derby by 1/16th of a length and limits the field size to a modest 14, handicapping the race is still a major undertaking. With many horses running back on only two weeks' rest since the Derby, the turnaround time will be the X-factor for many contenders. 

Here is a look at the field that is taking shape for the Preakness Stakes, broken down by those with no chance, the dark horses, the contenders and the favorites. With a large field ready to assemble, there will be no shortage of challengers for American Pharoah.

Let's dive right in and handicap the Preakness Stakes! 

Odds are provided by Odds Shark.

Horses with No Chance

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Tale of Verve, 50-1

After almost sneaking his way into the Kentucky Derby, Tale of Verve wound up on the sidelines. While trainer Dallas Stewart has no problem swinging for the fences and ambitiously spotting a horse, even he does not feel the Preakness is necessarily the ideal spot. According to Jennie Rees of the Courier Journal, he thinks "the Belmont would would be better for him."

When even the trainer does not sound confident, it may be time to look elsewhere.

Grand Bili, 50-1

For Grand Bili to even hit the board, it would be a shocker of epic proportions. 

Bred up and down to be a sprinter, trainer Gustavo Delgado is picking an awfully tough spot to see if his colt could perhaps be competitive beyond seven furlongs. In addition to being unproven around two turns, he is also unproven against stakes competition and has never beaten winners.

Bodhisattva, 40-1

Bodhisattva is not short on experience with 11 starts under his belt. Overall, he has been consistent - unfortunately, he has been consistently average and consistently running against significantly lesser competition.

He won a race over the Pimlico surface, the Federico Tesio Stakes, last time out but seems to be up against it here.

Stanford, 40-1

Stanford scratched out of the Kentucky Derby days before the big race and instead, Todd Pletcher opted to refocus and aim for the Preakness Stakes. At this point, this colt has not proven that he is able to run with the big boys, and with Pletcher potentially sending three other very big guns, he seems like the weak link.

The Dark Horses

Garry Jones/Associated Press

Divining Rod, 22-1

At this point, Divining Rod has really not done anything wrong. After a sound defeat (3rd) to the highly regarded Carpe Diem in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), he came back to win the Coolmore Lexington (G2) handily. He will also have the advantage of having more time since his last start than many of his rivals. 

The biggest question is whether or not he is truly a top-caliber horse.

Danzig Moon, 22-1

Danzig Moon did not run a bad race in the Kentucky Derby. He showed a lot of professionalism to run fifth, and he stamped his ticket to the Preakness Stakes as assistant trainer Norman Casse announced on Saturday:

Danzig Moon wants to get his #preakon. Preakness Bound. @PimlicoRC @PreaknessStakes pic.twitter.com/O6Sp6SJUZw

— Norman W Casse (@casseracingnc) May 9, 2015

He still has not shown that he can win against stakes company, so does need to step up further to be a true contender.

Materiality, 16-1

Materiality could be a big surprise in the Preakness Stakes. Typically a front-runner, he was compromised at the break in the Kentucky Derby and had to adjust his running style and make a move from off of the pace. The fact that he was able to still be competitive despite that is remarkable, that he ran as well as he did after losing a shoe indicates that this colt is the real deal. 

How would you like to run in the biggest race of your life with only one sneaker?

The Contenders

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Competitive Edge, 16-1

Competitive Edge will be putting his undefeated streak on the line after an impressive victory in the Pat Day Mile (G3) on the Kentucky Derby undercard. This colt has passed every test so far with flying colors and could be the most dangerous of all of the new shooters.

Though trainer Todd Pletcher has an embarrassment of riches in the race with as many as four possible starters, Competitive Edge is the only one with a perfect four-for-four record at stake.

Dortmund, 11-2

Dortmund tasted defeat for the first time in the Kentucky Derby after six consecutive victories. Though he lost, the imposing chestnut colt still ran a very good race and was resilient on the front end after setting the pace.

With a cut back in distance, his speed should be even more dangerous, and he has proven to be a very difficult horse to get past in the stretch.

Carpe Diem out of Preakness

Carpe Diem, a disappointing 10th in the Kentucky Derby and originally listed at 14-1 for the Preakness, has been pulled from the race, according to Daily Racing Form's Jay Privman.

The Favorites

Rob Carr/Getty Images

American Pharoah, 5-6

American Pharoah, like he was in Kentucky, will go into the gate as the favorite. He was able to deliver and get the job done in the Run for the Roses, but will he be able to add the second jewel of the Triple Crown to his resume?

Though he will go down in the record books as the winner of the 141st Kentucky Derby, he showed that he perhaps was not the superhero that he was hyped to be. With the buzz surrounding him before the race, there was an expectation that when Victor Espinoza asked him for run, he would explode and decimate the field.

He didn't, winning by a length. Now, he will have to face a serious group of contenders.

Firing Line, 5-1

Firing Line has spent nearly his entire career in the shadow of one of Bob Baffert's star runners. First, he began a rivalry with the big, red Dortmund and was second to him in two major stakes races. Then, he handed champion American Pharoah nearly all he could take in the Run for the Roses.

This will be his big chance to step up and earn the spotlight on his own.