Two weeks after his surprise Kentucky Derby win, Animal Kingdom leads the odds for the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course in Maryland on Saturday. He was a 30/1 long shot for the Kentucky Derby, so oddsmakers don’t have him winning this year’s Triple Crown. The last Triple Crown Winner was Affirmed in 1978.
The doubters of Animal Kingdom were served at Churchill Downs. The horse can obviously run well on dirt and won with the experience of only four career races. In five times out, he has three wins and two runner-ups.
Mucho Macho Man is second in the odds for the Preakness after finishing third at the Kentucky Derby. Nehro, who finished second at Churchill Downs, isn’t running as his owner is being cautious after running four hard races in eight weeks. That leaves Dance City and Dialed In both at third in the odds. Dialed In, who opened the Preakness betting as the favorite with Animal Kingdom, finished eighth two weeks ago but many analysts are saying we didn’t see the best he has to offer.
Further down the odds is King Congie, who has six career races but just one against graded competition. That was at the Grade 1 Blue Grass where he finished third. Before that, he had three straight wins. Midnight Interlude shares King Congie’s odds after a disappointing 16th at Churchill Downs. After winning the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby, he was the fifth-most bet on horse at the Kentucky Derby but didn’t run well with the big boys.
The last two horses in the Preakness odds are Mr. Commons and Norman Asbjornson. Mr. Commons has finished in the money in three of four career races, including third at Santa Anita. He has already proved that he can finish well on three different surfaces. Norman Asbjornson won back-to-back races in Pennsylvania before placing second at the Grade 3 Gotham and fourth at the Grade 1 Wood Memorial to earn a spot at the Preakness. He is the son of 1998 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Real Quiet.
Preakness Stakes Outright Odds (provided by Eurobet)
Animal Kingdom: 13/8
Mucho Macho Man: 5/1
Dance City: 6/1
Dialed In: 6/1
Sway Away: 10/1
Shackleford: 12/1
Flashpoint: 20/1
King Congie: 20/1
Midnight Interlude: 20/1
Astrology: 25/1
Concealed Identity: 33/1
Mr. Commons: 33/1
Norman Asbjornson: 66/1