California Chrome Draws Inside Slot As a Longshot Filly Settles into the Winningest Preakness Post Position
California Chrome has won his last five straight races by a combined 25 3/4 lengths. After a Kentucky Derby win, he is seeking the second leg of the fabled US Triple Crown of thoroughbred horse racing, the Preakness Stakes. In a race which has been referred to as "California Chrome and everyone else", the field is not as strong as an equestrian race lovers would like. All of these things are pointing in California Chrome's favor, and after Preakness post positions for the 139th Run for the Black-Eyed Susans were announced Wednesday, his odds improved even more. The shiny California bred colt drew an inside post position in a 10 horse field that appears on paper to show not that many legitimate competitors. Coming out of the #3 spot is okay with CC's 77 year old trainer Art Sherman, who said, "Three is fine with me." California Chrome's co-owner Steve Coburn has already guaranteed a victory, saying, "I'm still thinking Triple Crown."
Is Longshot Filly Ria Antonia Overmatched, Or a Sneaky Sleeper Pick?
Owner Ron Paolucci smiled when his filly's post position was announced for the 139th running of the Preakness Stakes. The 6th spot has produced more Preakness winners than any other. Ria Antonia is the first filly to be entered into the race since 2009. And in an intentional and possibly foretelling turn of events, the Cajun jockey Calvin Borel is in the stirrups. Why is that significant? Borel was on board the last filly to run the Preakness back in 2009, when he guided Rachel Alexandra to victory. Evidently Paolucci likes his filly's chances better with a Hall of Fame jockey riding on top who has already accomplished what he is trying to do Saturday, May 17 at Pimlico. And actually, the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner is fresh and ready to go. In a practice session this week, Borel and Ria Antonia, which eerily has the same initials as 2009 Preakness winner Rachel Alexandra, combined for a blazing fast 47.25 seconds over a half-mile. The fact that Hall of Famer Bob Baffert is on board Paolucci's team does nothing but improve Ria Antonia's chances. Ria Antonia currently stands at 7/1 to finish in the top three, and 33/1 for winning the Preakness.
Legitimate California Chrome Preakness Competitors
Social Inclusion is running out of the #9 post position, and is the best horse in most people's minds to give California Chrome a run for his money. That colt currently goes off at 6/1, and Bob Baffert's Bayern (11/1 to win) has a solid middle of the field post position with the #5 slot. Talented jockey Rosie Napravnik is on board Bayern, and her presence has helped make this year's Preakness Stakes historical before it is even run. This is the first Preakness to ever include a female jockey, a filly in the field and a female trainer. Linda Rice is the trainer for Kid Cruz, and would become the first ever female trainer to capture the second leg of the US Triple Crown if the colt can outrun his 14/1 odds, starting in the #7 position. Ride on Curlin has drawn the extreme outside post position at #10, which could be a blessing if he explodes out of the starting gate. Ride On Curlin currently shows odds of 12/1 to win the Preakness this weekend.
Preakness Stakes Longshots and Middle Odds Horses
At the one end of the spectrum you have California Chrome at 5/8 to win the Preakness. His odds bookend is the 33/1 filly Ria Antonia mentioned above, and we just covered those horses which probably have the pedigree and ability to take down a Preakness title if California Chrome slips. But there are a few horses with middle to long odds which could deliver an exceptional payday to a horse racing gambler not afraid to take a chance. Odds have not settled down much on several of the long odds colts, including Dynamic Impact. That horse runs out of the #1 post position Saturday, and currently stands at odds of 18/1 against. Pablo Del Monte is at the opposite side of the field, starting in the #9 slot at 20/1. Ring Weekend is in the inside middle of the field with the #4 position, and his 28/1 odds could deliver one heck of a pay window experience if that horse can outrun his past proven abilities. General A Rod is currently shown at 18/1, and could create some early problems for California Chrome, as the colt is starting in the #2 post position.
Betting on the 139th Preakness Stakes Online
With legitimately licensed offshore sportsbooks allowing US and international horse racing lovers legal betting online options, getting involved in the second leg of the US Triple Crown is possible with just a few mouse clicks. While on paper everything appears to be in California Chrome's favor, longshot and last minute Kentucky Derby addition Commanding Curve nearly took the shine off of the California colt two weeks ago at Churchill Downs. On virtually no one's radar, Commanding Curve was actually getting faster at the end of the race, and posted the quickest time over the last quarter of the field. Will a longshot colt or filly ruin this year's pursuit of a Triple Crown? Nothing will be known until shortly after Saturday's post time of 6:18 PM EST, when we find out if a 2014 Triple Crown is within sight, or if we have to wait another year for the significant thoroughbred horse racing achievement.
