2011 Preakness Stakes Post Positions: How Will the Selections Affect the Field?

Today is the biggest day for Preakness fans until Saturday, and the reason for that is that the post positions are decided.

Horses and trainers were hoping for a spot in the middle of the pack.

Having a position too far inside can cause other horses to block them out, and having a position too far outside makes it that much harder to keep up.

Here are the positions for all 14 horses:

1: Astrology
2: Norman Asborjson
3: King Congie
4: Flashpoint
5: Shackleford
6: Sway Away
7: Midnight Interlude
8: Dance City
9: Mucho Macho Man
10: Dialed In
11: Animal Kingdom
12: Isn't He Perfect
13: Concealed Identity
14: Mr. Commons

The long-shots of the pack seem to be on the outer and inner edges, for the most part, while the frontrunners are mostly crammed in the middle. The exception to that is Astrology, who is stuck at the first position and was one I thought could make a run.

This grouping definitely looks like it favors those who ran in the Kentucky Derby, and those horses are the ones that will most likely be able to break free from the pack.

The most interesting batch is 9 through 11, which is where all three favorites are. This will make for a very competitive matchup immediately as the three jockey for position amongst themselves.

So, how else does this affect the Preakness field? Personally, I think it makes the odds a lot clearer. The frontrunners are going to remain frontrunners, the long-shots are going to remain long-shots, and those in the second tier may be able to move around a bit.

That does not make the race any less interesting, though. In fact, this may make it more exciting. If Animal Kingdom wants to win the Preakness, he's may not be able to make a late stretch; instead he'll have to get to the front a lot more quickly.

Animal Kingdom will remain a 2-1 favorite with this draw, and with no one intimidating to the outside and the other frontrunners to the inside, it looks like it's his Preakness to lose.

You can't count out Dance City, Sway Away, and Shackleford though. They are all roughly in the middle, and all of them have shown the potential to be breakout horses on Saturday.

In short, if anyone is considering going with a long-shot, this race is not the time to do so. Go the safe route, since if Animal Kingdom doesn't win, it's going to be one of the other frontrunners that push him out.