Preakness 2015 Post Positions: Field Predictions, Latest Odds and Jockey Info
To say the 2015 Preakness Stakes got a tad more interesting after the post-positions draw would be an understatement.
There's a small field kicking up dust at Pimlico on the practice fields, the most notable absence being the presence of any Todd Pletcher-trained horse. Those in attendance need to figure things out, chief among them Bob Baffert—whose top two horses drew the inside right next to each other.
The notion that potential Triple Crown darling American Pharoah can blow away the field remains viable, albeit a bit smaller than before.
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Below, let's take a look at the full field, how Las Vegas feels after the draw and focus on the men up top.
2015 Preakness Stakes Post Positions
| 1 | American Pharoah | 5-6 | Bob Baffert | Victor Espinoza | 1 |
| 2 | Dortmund | 15-4 | Bob Baffert | Martin Garcia | 3 |
| 3 | Mr. Z | 25-1 | D. Wayne Lukas | Corey Nakatani | 8 |
| 4 | Danzig Moon | 16-1 | Mark Casse | Julien Leparoux | 5 |
| 5 | Tale of Verve | 50-1 | Dallas Stewart | Joel Rosario | 4 |
| 6 | Bodhisattva | 40-1 | Jose Corrales | Trevor McCarthy | 7 |
| 7 | Divining Rod | 16-1 | Arnaud Delacour | Javier Castellano | 6 |
| 8 | Firing Line | 17-4 | Simon Callaghan | Gary Stevens | 2 |
Jockeys to Bet
Gary Stevens
Even to the casual fan who only comes around to throw down cash during Triple Crown season, Gary Stevens should be a name that rings out among the rest.
Stevens is 52 years old and every bit deserving of the "legend" tag so often applied before or after his name. He's the owner of three wins at the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes and many other awards he's accumulated throughout his career.
Now he's atop Firing Line again, who almost took down American Pharoah at Churchill Downs before surrendering the lead late. It wasn't a surprise, either, not with other strong runs before the event against Kentucky Derby contenders, including Baffert's other top horse, Dortmund.
The draw sounds as if Stevens stands an even better chance at Pimlico, as Dan Wolken of USA Today captures:
Coming out of the eighth spot isn't bad on its own, as Stevens can hang back and strike when he sees fit.
If American Pharoah and Dortmund get caught up on one another, Stevens and Firing Line have what it takes to play the spoiler.
Joel Rosario
It's never a wise idea to bet against Joel Rosario, no matter which horse he rides.
Rosario seems to put up staggering win numbers each year and touts a win at the Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes on his resume, the latter coming last year in New York.
As ESPN's Lane Gold points out, though, perceived issues surround his Preakness bid:
The biggest issue is inexperience, at least when it comes to Rosario's horse, Dallas Stewart-trained Tale of Verve.
While true, there's not much big-race experience there with the colt, it's worth noting his maiden victory in April came at the exact distance of the Preakness Stakes.
With heavy favorites sandwiched together and Tale of Verve hitting his stride with an elite jockey up top, it seems the extreme underdog to watch is quite obvious.
Victor Espinoza
Of course, everyone knows the name Victor Espinoza by now.
Credit Espinoza for all of the extra eyeballs on the sport right now thanks to his epic run atop California Chrome last year. He's at it again this year with American Pharoah, forming the safest bet of all since he already pulled off this one-two feat.
"I am really looking forward to the Preakness and to doing my job," said Espinoza, per ESPN.com's Amanda Duckworth. "There are so many fans and followers, and I believe they give me even more energy. I hope that American Pharoah is feeling good and does well."
As an ambassador, horse racing couldn't find anyone better. As a jockey who knows how to get the very best out of the sport's top horses, Baffert couldn't find anyone better.
The post position next to Dortmund makes things more difficult, but Las Vegas seems to believe in Espinoza and American Pharoah. Whether the two can pull off the Triple Crown is a conversation for another day, but from a security standpoint at Pimlico, the best bet of all is an easy call.
Stats and information via Preakness.com unless otherwise specified.
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