2011 Preakness Stakes Favorites: Who Are the Experts Picking?

As we approach the second leg of the Triple Crown (the Preakness is on Saturday), people are hedging their bets as the field seems to be set less than 24 hours before the post position draw. But who are the experts picking? Will they go with Animal Kingdom, the horse that looks like he could win it all, or will they go with a new threat? Let's see who some of the experts (and another animal) picked.

Mike Watchmaker's Pick

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ELKTON, MD - MAY 17: Exercise rider David Nava takes Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entrant Animal Kingdom (L) back to the barn with assistant trainer David Rock (R) after training at the Fair Hill Training Center on May 17, 2011 in Elkton, Maryland

DRF's Mike Watchmaker picked Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom and has him at odds of 2-1 right now in his early line.  He has both Mucho Macho Man and Dialed In at 6-1. (Link to Watchman's odds from DRF.com)

Jeremy Plonk's Pick

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ELKTON, MD - MAY 17: Exercise rider David Nava takes Kentucky Derby winner and Preakness entrant Animal Kingdom over the track at the Fair Hill Training Center on May 17, 2011 in Elkton, Maryland. Animal Kingdom is training for Saturday's 136th Preakness

Plonk has chosen Animal Kingdom for the top of his list, putting him in the number one spot of the top 3-year-olds this year.  His biggest worry is the two week turn around for the horse as Motion has a record of 7-for-48 in the past five years with 3-year-olds racing back on 14 or less days rest.

Ray Paulick

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LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 07: Jockey John Velazquez, riding Animal Kingdom #16, celebrates as he he is lead to the winner's circle by owner Barry Irwin after winning the 137th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo b

While Ray Paulick didn't pick Animal Kingdom outright, he did put him at the top of his Preakness Morning Line. Watchmaker put the Derby winner at 2-1 on his DRF page, and Paulick has him close with a 3-1 pick.

Kegasus' Pick

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LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 07: Jockey John Velazquez, riding Animal Kingdom #16, celebrates with H. Graham Motion after winning the 137th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

The Preakness mascot made his pick yesterday, and it probably isn't surprising that he chose Animal Kingdom. While he isn't an expert, he is the face of the Preakness infield this year so he deserved a mention.

Conclusion

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LOUISVILLE, KY - MAY 07: Barry Irwin, owner of Animal Kingdom riden by John Velazquez, celebrates with the trophy in the winner's circle after they won the 137th Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 7, 2011 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Rob Car

Many experts are waiting for the race to be drawn before they make their picks, but here you have it from some of the top experts of the game. It looks like many people are choosing the Derby winner, but the question will be if that will change when post positions are drawn. Will another Derby winner go into the Belmont with the Triple Crown on the line, or will we have a potential for three different winners again this year?