Preakness Odds: Animal Kingdom Still Favored

Added on May 21, 2011 by Jack Thurman in

Horse Racing

The latest Preakness betting odds from Pimlico show that Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom is still the favorite of the wagering public at 3-1. Friday’s co-favorite Dialed In has slipped somewhat and is now a second choice at 4-1. The 136th Preakness Stakes is scheduled to go at approximately 6:18 PM Eastern/3:18 PM Pacific. Weather conditions don’t look to be a concern with the forecast for warm temperatures and partly cloudy skies.

Here are the Preakness odds as of 9:30 AM Pacific:

1. Astrology, 14-1
2. Norman Asbjornson, 30-1
3. King Congie, 20-1
4. Flashpoint, 20-1
5. Shackleford, 11-1
6. Sway Away, 12-1
7. Midnight Interlude, 11-1
8. Dance City, 10-1
9. Mucho Macho Man, 9-2
10. Dialed In, 4-1
11. Animal Kingdom, 3-1
12. Isn’t He Perfect, 22-1
13. Concealed Identity, 23-1
14. Mr. Commons, 40-1

The Grade 1, $1,000,000 will be contested over a distance of 1 1/16 miles. All eyes are on Animal Kingdom since a win here would keep him on track to try and complete horse racing’s elusive Triple Crown at Belmont Park in June. There hasn’t been a Triple Crown winner since Affirmed in 1978, a span of 33 years.

Animal Kingdom didn’t arrive at Pimlico until 3:45 AM Pacific/6:45 AM Eastern Saturday morning. He left his stall at the Fair Hill Training Center at 2:30 AM Pacific/5:30 AM Eastern for the short trip down I-95 to Baltimore. Animal Kingdom had a one car police escort for his trip and upon arrival took a quick walk around the barn area before bedding down in stall 40–the one traditionally reserved for the Kentucky Derby winner.

There had been some concern about the possibility for bad weather on Preakness Saturday due to rain earlier in the week and the frequent thunderstorms this time of year but that shouldn’t be a problem. It looks to be a perfect day for racing and the dirt track should be in great shape for the Preakness. The turf course may be a little softer than many horses would like but still should be in reasonably good shape for those events, headlined by the ‘warm up’ for the Preakness, the Dixie Stakes. The Dixie is expected to be a showcase race for one of last year’s top three year olds, Paddy O’ Prado who is expected to dominate over an uninspired group of competitors.