With this race being run at Laurel Race Course, and only three Derby horses participating, this Preakness has lost most of its luster.  Make no mistake, it w the right thing for Golden Tempo and Renegade to pass this race and target the Belmont Stakes in Three Weeks.  It will make for a great, popular Belmont, but the Preakness has been left holding the bag.

There are 14 horses entered for the 150th Preakness Stakes scheduled to go off Saturday at 7:01pm.

Here are my thoughts on the race.  There are horses who point for this race and their are a few of them here:

Number 1    Taj Mahal  –  Home town favorite – 3 for 3 at Laurel Park – Pointed at the Preakness – Could go wire to wire.

Number 7  –  The Hell We Did  –  Another who has pointed towards this race.  Showed that he was legit with big race in the Lexington at Keeneland.  Rested, ready to roll.

Number 9  –  Iron Honor  –  Had the 12 hole in the Wood Memorial.  Throw that one out and you’ve got a contender.

Number 11  –  Another on the improve, trained by Giant Killer – Dallas Stewart.  May or may not win, but could hit the board at a nice price.

Pretenders List:  Number 2 – Oceili, 3 – Crupper, 4 – Robusta, 5 – Talkin, 6-Chip Honcho, 8-Bull By The Horns, 10 – Napoleon Solo, 12 – Incredibolt, 13 – Great White, 14 – Pretty Boy Miah,

Commentary:  Number 2 Ocelli will show you why Golden Tempo and Renegade passed on the Preakness.  Mid-pack at best for Ocelli.   Number 12 – Incredibolt – Loved him in the Derby, finished sixth, beaten 4 lengths.  Not bad, BUT, this is not the Derby.  His two wins at Churchill Downs made him a good bet in Louisville.  This isn’t Louisville.  Number 13  –  Great White  –  I had this horse at 15-1 in the John Battaglia at Turfway.  If I thought he had a chance here I would be all over him.  Unfortunately, the 13 hole doomed any chance he might have had.  He has become a media favorite due to his size and good looks.  However, they re tying to make him something that he is not.  Bet against.

Wagering Strategy:  I would put 1-TajMahal on top over 7-The Hell We Did, 9-1Iron Honor, and 11-Corona de Oro, and them leave him off of subsequent tickets.  He will either Win or be up the track.  No middleground for him.

I would then play an Exacta Box with the 7-The Hell We Did, 9-Iron Honor, and 11-Corona de Oro.  Pretty Simple, Ayyy?

Enjoy the race.