Preakness Stakes 2015: Field Odds, Draw, Payout Info and Predictions
Kentucky Derby winner American Pharoah has been given the top odds and an unfavourable draw for the 2015 Preakness Stakes, the second leg of the Triple Crown, and fans are eager to see whether the talented colt can live up to the hype and walk home with the massive purse payout.
Trainer Bob Baffert has never won the Run for the Roses and gone on to lose at Pimlico Race Course, and he'll be entering two of the favourites for the race, as Dortmund will join American Pharoah for Saturday's run.
Here's the full draw for the Run for the Black-Eyed Susans, complete with odds courtesy of Odds Shark:
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| 1 | American Pharoah | Victor Espinoza | Bob Baffert | 10-13 |
| 2 | Dortmund | Martin Garcia | Bob Baffert | 15-4 |
| 3 | Mr. Z | Corey Nakatani | D. Wayne Lukas | 25-1 |
| 4 | Danzig Moon | Julien Leparoux | Mark Casse | 14-1 |
| 5 | Tale of Verve | Joel Rosario | Dallas Stewart | 50-1 |
| 6 | Bodhisattva | Trevor McCarthy | Jose Corrales | 50-1 |
| 7 | Divining Rod | Javier Castellano | Arnaud Delacour | 20-1 |
| 8 | Firing Line | Gary Stevens | Simon Callaghan | 17-4 |
Full payout info via the Triple Crown's official website:
| First | $900,000 (60%) |
| Second | $300,000 (20%) |
| Third | $165,000 (11%) |
| Fourth | $90,000 (6%) |
| Fifth | $45,000 (3%) |
The Field
Obviously, all eyes will be on American Pharoah, the Kentucky Derby winner and the latest in a long line of horses trying to become the first Triple Crown winner since 1978, when Affirmed managed the incredible feat.
Baffert's colt is favoured by the oddsmakers and expected to do well, even if the post draw was once again unfavourable, via AP Sports:
American Pharoah has the raw burst of speed to do well at Pimlico, a track that is slightly shorter than Churchill Downs. Having jockey Victor Espinoza to guide the colt to glory doesn't hurt, either.
The veteran rode California Chrome to wins at the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes last year and has a good chance of doing the same with American Pharoah. He's come under fire for his use of the whip in the past week, however, as shared by Jerem Balan of Blood-Horse:
American Pharoah looked fantastic leading up to the Kentucky Derby, and things have been no different in the week before the Preakness Stakes, via USA Today's Dan Wolken:
He's not the only top contender who made the trip to Baltimore, however. Stable mate Dortmund and Firing Lane completed the top three at Churchill Downs, and they'll both be racing at Pimlico as well.
Some have questioned the decision to enter Dortmund in the Preakness Stakes, as the massive colt may just be American Pharoah's biggest threat. But Baffert told Ray Paulick he believes he's obligated to give the fans the best show possible:
Dortmund led the way from the moment the gates opened at Churchill Downs and seemed to run out of gas in the final straight. Raw pace was not an issue, however, and the colt should thrive on the shorter Pimlico track.
Firing Line was perhaps the most pleasant surprise of the Kentucky Derby, making life hard on American Pharoah until the last second. The colt has now twice lost to Dortmund and once to American Pharoah, and via 106.7 The Fan, owner Arnold Zetcher hopes his horse can finally turn those close second-place finishes into a win:
The three favourites seem to be in great shape heading into Saturday's race, and while Danzig Moon and Divining Rod shouldn't be overlooked, it would be a minor shock if we didn't see a copy of the podium at Churchill Downs.
Prediction
As shared by AP Sports, the focus has been on one topic all week long: Can Dortmund end American Pharoah's Triple Crown bid before the Belmont Stakes?
Firing Line looked excellent at Churchill Downs, but Espinoza took a very wide line with American Pharoah and simply looked much faster than his opponent. Dortmund, meanwhile, never really challenged his stable mate and should do better at Pimlico.
But on the shorter track, you have to like the natural pace of American Pharoah. If everything goes according to plan, Baffert should head for the Belmont Stakes with Triple Crown glory on his mind.
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