Preakness Stakes 2012 Betting Odds

May 18 - Although the Preakness Stakes 2012 odds have been released, there is another interesting battle brewing up at the Preakness Stakes at the Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore tomorrow, and it is not between the horses.

The jockeys, trainers and owners of the winning horse also find a place in history. The imminent contest is between two trainers, Bob Baffert and D. Wayne Lukas.

Baffert vs Lukas in Preakness

Baffert has trained five Preakness Stakes winners between 1997 and 2010. Lukas also has trained five Preakness Stakes winners, but much earlier. His horses won between 1980 and 1999. However, it is not unknown for trainers to make a comeback after a lull. Both Baffert and Lukas are in the Hall of Fame. Both Baffert and Lukas are tied in second spot for the most Preakness Stakes wins by a trainer.

The other trainer with them is Thomas J. Healey, who operated in the beginning of the 20^th century. The first place is occupied by R. Wyndham Walden with seven Preakness Stakes winners between 1875 and 1888. Both Baffert and Lukas would want a sixth win but at best only one of them can get it.

Baffert has an edge, not only because his wins are more recent, but because of the horse he is running in the Preakness Stakes. Bodemeister is the favourite to win this race. Bodemeister did not race as a two-year old. In the five races he has subsequently run, Bodemeister has won two and finished second three times. He is a master over the 9 furlongs distance.

He comfortably won the Arkansas Derby over this distance and was leading at this distance in the longer Kentucky Derby, after which he slowed down and was pushed to second spot. The Preakness Stakes is a 9 furlongs race and therefore Baffert has an edge.

Lukas is running Optimizer. Things are not looking that good for Lukas because Optimizer shares the longest odds with some other horses. His race record of 9-1-2-1 is also nothing to write home about.

Odds for the 2012 Preakness Stakes

Maryland Jockey Club line maker Frank Carulli has announced his odds for the contenders after the draw for posts. As he had earlier indicated, the shortest odds are for Bodemeister followed by Kentucky Derby winner I’ll Have Another. Carulli’s odds are as follows.

Bodemeister 8/5

I’ll Have Another 2/1

Creative Cause 6/1

Went the Day Well 6/1

Daddy Nose Best 12/1

Teeth of the Dog 15/1

Zetterholm 20/1

Tiger Walk 30/1

Optimizer 30/1

Pretension 30/1

Cozzetti 30/1

The online betting sites like Sportingbet SA should any time now post their odds after their own line makers factor in their views on the horses.

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