Preakness Probables

Orb

Obviously he’ll have a big time shot to win this one and move on to the Belmont with the Triple Crown on the line.  However, if you are looking to beat him there are several angles you could play.  Did the slop move Orb up last time out?  Could he bounce off a career effort?  What if he gets an inside draw?  A repeat performance of the Kentucky Derby will leave all these horses in serious trouble, but can he duplicate that race?

Departing

Usually new shooters give us dismal efforts in the Preakness, but Departing has a chance to be completely different.  Remember, Departing could have run in the Kentucky Derby if his connections would have wanted to.  He had enough points to qualify, so that makes him a little different from the normal new shooters in this race.  His Illinois Derby win last time out was solid, and he could be the second choice in this race.

Goldencents

Just a disappointing and poor performance from Goldencents in the Kentucky Derby, but Pimlico might treat him a little better.  He’s likely to not have to face a wild pace like last time, and a dry track would be a positive for him as well.  I think you have to draw a line through the Derby, but the old distance limitation question is still there.

Govenor Charlie

Another new shooter that could have run in the Kentucky Derby, although it was health issues that caused him to miss the race.  Those same problems could still be an issue in this race as well, so I’m not sure you can take him too seriously at this point.  Up to now, he hasn’t shown many good signs of being fully healthy.

Itsmyluckyday

This horse could be going the opposite direction that you’d like him to be going, or it could have just been the sloppy track that he hated in the Kentucky Derby.  There were reports of him working out fairly well at Chruchill before the big race, but he didn’t run a step when the gates opened.  Probably deserves one more chance, but no reason to have a lot of confidence in him.

Mylute

It’s amazing how much this horse has improved.  He was all but forgotten before almost winning the Louisiana Derby, and his effort in the Kentucky Derby was solid as well.  As of now his connections are unsure whether or not he’ll run, but if he does he would be one to play underneath.

Normandy Invasion

Did Javier move to soon, or did Normandy Invasion just run out of gas?  That question is still being debated among horse fans, but either way I thought the Kentucky Derby was an extremely solid race for him.  There is no reason he can’t show up at Pimlico and be a challenge to Orb this time around, and the slightly shorter distance might be to his liking.

Oxbow

He was the only horse that was close to the pace in the Kentucky Derby that stuck around and kept grinding to the end.  He’ll most likely have some pace relief in this race which will help, but I still wonder if he’s good enough to beat the top class horses in this crop.  Another that you have to use underneath, but perhaps not on top.

Street Spice

You could make a case for most horses I’ve listed so far, but no way you can for this one.  Looks like the easiest toss in the field.

Titletown Five

Leave it to Lukas to throw a third horse into the mix!  Titletown Five looked well on his way to being a star last year as a two-year old, but he has just not been able to find his game this year.  This is a reach pointing him to this one after three poor efforts to start 2013.

Vyjack

Not sure this one is in the class level we once thought he was.  It was just an average effort in the Wood Memorial two back, and an awful effort in the Kentucky Derby last time.  Perhaps a cut back in distance or class relief is what he really needs.

Will Take Charge

I don’t have to go over what happened to him in the Kentucky Derby again…by now we all know he had a legitimate excuse in finishing eighth.  While you may think that all systems are go for him in this one, note that he has had a little trouble putting together back to back solid races.  If he comes with the same kind of run that he did in the Derby, LOOK OUT, but he could run a dud just as easy.  Very tough colt to predict.