The Bob Baffert trained Bodemeister, which finished second at the Kentucky Derby, currently is the 2012 Preakness Stakes favorite at 8 to 5 odds. The horse has a career mark of 5 race, 2 wins and 3 places and will open up the Preakness in the seventh post. The gross earnings for the 3-year-old Colt is $1,104,800. Baffert owns five Preakness Stakes titles and the odds for this Preakness Contender indicate he should be able to pick up his sixth crown.

2003 Belmont Stakes winner Empire Maker is the sire to Bodemeister. The horse was named for Baffert's young son Bode Baffert. The last Virginia-bred horse to win the Preakness was Hansel in 1991, so history is not on the side of this horse, unlike the odds. Bodemeister has three second place finishes this season and has two wins, including a victory at the Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park back in April.

There won't be a whole lot of betting value on Bodemeister because he is such a favorite. This horse has great speed and showcased that during the first half of the Kentucky Derby. He can also carry that for an impressive distance, just barely being caught down the backstretch at Churchill Downs a few weeks back.

American jockey Mike Smith guided Bodemeister to first place in that Arkansas Derby. Smith has three Triple Crown wins on his resume with victories in the 1993 Preakness Stakes, 2005 Kentucky Derby and the 2010 Belmont Stakes. He's also well-known for his time riding Zenyatta.

Preakness Facts: Opening day at Pimlico Race Course in 1870 featured the Dinner Party Stakes that was won by a horse named Preakness. In the racetrack's spring meet of 1873, the 3-year-old stakes race was named after him and the rest is history. The first official Preakness was won by Survivor with a 10 length cushion between him and second place. This record win was not topped until 2004 when Smarty Jones took home the title by an amazing 11 lengths.

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"Bodemeister" Odds - Preakness Contenders 2012 - Free Picks
Pregame.com Pro Marco D'Angelo and Dave Tuley from the Daily Racing Form discuss "Bodemeister" in the 2012 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico - including odds, post postions, handicapping tips, favorites, and long shots!