With the 2012 Preakness Stakes Saturday, May 19, it's time to break down a couple of the long shots that will be contenders in the 137th annual race. While most eyes will be on I’ll Have Another as he runs after the second leg of the illustrious Triple Crown, those with gambling eyes will be looking for the best way to make the big bucks. Pretenision and Zetterholm are two such longshots and will take a look at them below.
Pretension (30-1)-- Record: 3-3-0 in 8 Races... Trainer:Christopher W. Grove ... Jockey: Javier Santiago...Sire: Bluegrass Cat... Pretension finally got the nod this week to run in the Preakness on Saturday. Even though the New York-bred chestnut colt captured the Canonero II Stakes, Pimlico's Preakness prep, the owner hesitated. Irving Kidwell of the Kidwells Petite Stable told trainer Christopher Grove that he was reluctant to run back only two weeks later. The resistance of the 87-year-old homebuilder melted, and Pretension wound up among the Preakness entries on Wednesday. He is 30-1 from post No. 3. Pretension has a win over Pimlico’s main track in the Canonero II Stakes over 1 1/16 miles on May 5. He led or disputed the pace throughout and beat the heavily favored My Adonis by a neck for his ?rst stakes win against open company. Earlier this year, Pretension won the Sweet Envoy Stakes for New York-bred 3-year-olds over 1 1/16 miles at Aqueduct. He seems adaptable to race tactics, able to race on or near the front as well as stalk the pace. Now for a few negatives. The colt, by Bluegrass Cat, was uncompetitive in two graded stakes earlier this year, ?nishing ?fth in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct in March and ninth in the Grade 3 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne in April. He was not a factor in the stretch of either race, losing to horses soundly defeated in the Kentucky Derby. Furthermore, there is the speed ?gure factor. Pretension’s highest Beyer Speed Figure, an 83 in the Canonero, leaves him well below the top contenders in the race like I’ll Have Another and Bodemeister. However, the momentum he gained at Canonero cannot be understated. It seems that jockey Javier Santiago has finally figured out how to control this colt and could see him through to the finish line in first place on Saturday night.
Zetterholm (30-1)-- Record: 3-1-0 in 5 Races... Trainer: : Richard E. Dutrow, Jr. ... Jockey: Junior Alavardo...Sire: Silver Train... A municipal bond trader by day, Tony Grey knows a thing or two about playing percentages. The Florida-based breeder/owner will take a calculated risk May 19 with his Zetterholm in the Preakness Stakes (gr. I). Zetterholm, by Silver Train out of Grey’s Lord At War mare Holy Wish, rides a three-race win streak into Baltimore, albeit against maiden, entry-level allowance, and minor stakes company at Aqueduct Racetrack. The bay colt hasn’t faced the same class of animal as many of those entered for the second jewel of the Triple Crown, but all three wins have come around two turns. Zetterholm, a New York-bred colt, has been on a steady improve. That trainer Rick Dutrow has been adamant about wanting to get him into this bigtime race is a positive sign. Despite his sprint-slanted pedigree, Zetterholm has shown an af?nity for longer distances, having punched home nicely in all of his two-turn efforts. His Beyer Speed Figures aren’t yet up to snuff, but Dutrow maintains there is plenty of upside to this colt. Dutrow knows what it takes to win the Preakness after sending out Big Brown to prevail as an odds on favorite four years ago. That being said, He has not yet stepped outside the New York-bred ranks since coming under Dutrow’s care, and there’s clearly a wide chasm in the jump from those restricted races into open stakes company, let alone the Triple Crown series. The Beyers say he’s not fast enough despite his trainer’s insistence that improvement is highly possible. Has a whole lot to prove, for sure. Zetterholm receives some stamina from the bottom of his pedigree but may be best at distances up to nine furlongs. He is considered questionable to last the entire Preakness trip.
The 137th Preakness is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2012 at Pimlico in Baltimore, Maryland. Preakness Stakes Post Time: 6:18pm EDT. Television: 4:30-6:45 on NBC. Location: Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. Type: Thoroughbred. Track: Dirt, Left-handed. Purse: $1 million Distance: 1 3/16 miles (9.5 furlongs). Qualification: 3-year old. Weight: 126 pounds (Colt/Gelding) / 121 pounds (Filly). Expected Weather Conditions: 77 degrees and sunny (click for updated Preakness weather). Pimlico Track Conditions: Fast. Turf Condition: Firm.
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2012 Preakness Stakes Race - Free Handicapping Best Bets
Pregame.com Pro Marco D'Angelo and Dave Tuley from the Daily Racing Form discuss their best bets in the 2012 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico - including odds, post postions, handicapping tips, favorites, and long shots!