Preakness Stakes 2012: Trifecta Triple Crown Wagering

Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland, is bursting at the seams as the “Peoples Party” continues to rock Old Hilltop prior to the 137th running of the Preakness Stakes. Anticipation mounts as I’ll Have Another looks to continue his Triple Crown Championship dream.

While many have written this race off – as rematch of the 2012 Kentucky Derby, there are some betting long shots handicappers should consider on exotic tickets.

Fresh Shooters Have A Tough Preakness Field To Traverse

Out front, let’s make it perfectly clear; fresh shooters have not fared well in nearly three decades of the run for the Woodland Vase. Over the past 28 years, just three non-Kentucky Derby entered horses have captured the second jewel of the Triple Crown Racing Series.

Amazing Champions, and Eclipse Award winners, Rachel Alexandra (2009) and Bernadini (2005) followed Red Bullet who started fresh in the 2000 Preakness. Throw in a less than stellar cast of non-Derby runners, none of the six have finished higher than third in any graded stakes race, and we suggest looking away from most of the fresh shooters when making your Trifecta selections.

Preakness Longshots That Could Compete For The Trifecta

Cozzetti (30-1) is a fresh longshot to watch even though Preakness favorite Bodemeister dusted him off with a nine length romp in the Arkansas Derby, and he’s breaking from the post-position 11. Zetterholm is in search of his fourth straight win as he bolts from the four hole at 20-1 odds. This is a huge step up for the NY bred colt – a SHOW finish would be a huge feat for either horse.

Derby contenders Creative Cause and Went The Day Well, both at 6-1 morning lines odds, are the favorites to capture a share of the exotic wagers on Saturday. After a tough start out of the gate, Went The Day Well tracked down Creative Cause as these two thoroughbreds finished fourth and fifth in the Run for the Roses two weeks ago. A clean start from PP5 makes WTDW a contender.

Log on to any of our top rated online horse handicapping Racebooks to get in on the People’s Party at Pimlico. Account registration takes a mere matter minutes and you’ll never wait in a line – even when placing your wager two minutes prior to the running of the Preakness Stakes!

Trifecta Prediction: Box 7, 9, 5, 11