Nyquist is the overwhelming favorite to capture the second leg of the Triple Crown, and you're going to be hard-pressed to find a three-year old pony in the field at the Preakness Stakes who can beat him. That said, there are a bunch of colts who have really good odds on their head who could ultimately provide a huge payoff.
Preakness Stakes Odds at BookMaker.eu
Nyquist -190
Exaggerator +375
Stradivari +650
Gun Runner +800
Collected +1500
Cherry Wine +2200
Uncle Lino +2500
Creator +2800
Fellowship +2800
Awesome Speed +3000
Cupid +3000
Dazzling Gem +3000
Lani +3200
Laoban +3200
Abiding Star +3500
Stradivari ( +650 ) – There was a time that Stradivari was 30 to 1 to win the Preakness Stakes. We knew that wasn't going to continue, nor should have it. Even though Prime Power suggests that Stradivari is one of the weaker horses in this field, it's tough to argue with the fact that he's won his last two races by 11 and 14 lengths after posting a dud in his first maiden effort in December. He's a speed ball for sure, and he's going to be right there at the head of the pack with Nyquist and a few others, but he's the one most likely to have staying power for the full mile and three-sixteenths. We surely don't like +650 as much as we did +3000, but we still think this colt goes off as the third favorite around 6 to 1 by the time the Preakness heads to post.
Gun Runner ( +800 ) – Outside of Exaggerator, Gun Runner is the best horse coming back from the Kentucky Derby to get a second bite of the apple at Nyquist. In fairness to Gun Runner, he was right there with Nyquist until the stretch run, and that's when these two were clearly separated. But should be discount the possibility of the Louisiana Derby and Risen Star Stakes winner pulling off this upset? The price of 8 to 1 is good on Gun Runner, but we wouldn’t go any lower than that. He's still coming into the Preakness having proven little to us, and we aren't sure that he's ever really going to be able to beat Nyquist, a horse which really is probably flat out just better in every facet.
Laoban ( +3200 ) – It's going to take a little more creativity here to see how Laoban can win the Preakness Stakes, but we think he has a legit shot, if for no other reason than the fact that he didn't run on Derby Day like so many of these other colts on the track. He's going to be eager to get out to the front of the pack as he did at the Blue Grass Stakes and the Gotham Stakes, and we have a good feeling he's going to stay there until at least the last couple furlongs. Should we be questioning whether Laoban is going to really challenge in this race? Surely. We could see him going the way of Danzing Candy and falling flat in the last quarter of a mile to finish dead last after leading much of the race. But if by chance Nyquist gets hung up in traffic and the trailers don't get there, why couldn't Laoban go wire-to-wire? If he gets an inside post, he's going to surely be out front without struggling much, and his fresh legs could get him all the way to the finish line. Again, it's a stretch, but at 32 to 1, why not?
Horse Racing odds at BookMaker.eu
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