Post Time: 6:05 ET
Broadcast Coverage: NBC 4:30 PM ET
Calvin Borel grew up in Lousiana, mounting his first horse at age 8. As time wore on, he took to the sport naturally, moving up through the Jockey ranks to eventual stardom. Borel has multiple Kentucky Derby wins under his belt, has laid claim to victories in many top stakes races, and now he’s tackling Pimilco hoping to win his second consecutive Preakness Stakes. He put on a show last year with Filly Rachel Alexandra, who went on to be Horse of the Year for 2009. Now, he’s mounting Super Saver hoping to win the middle jewel of the Triple Crown.
Super Saver and Borel, however, aren’t the only show in town. A few other notable horses will be running as well. Paddy O’ Prado, Dublin, Jackson Bend, Lookin at Lucky and First Dude, all of whom participated in this year’s Kentucky Derby, will be joining Super Saver at the starting gate. Likewise, they will be running with their respective Jockeys from the Derby. This year, there are no changes in mounts. *Editorial Correction: Lookin At Lucky’s original jockey, Garret Gomez, was replaced by Martin Garcia for the Preakness.
The morning line on the race favors Super Saver at 5-2, then Paddy O’ Prado at 9-2, followed by Lookin at Lucky with 3-1 odds. The rest of the 12 horse field field falls in somewhere between 15-1 and 30-1, except for Caracortado and Dublin at 10-1, followed by Jackson Bend at 12-1. Any one of these three horses are considered possible upset threats to the top three; and many top horse racing authorities aren’t counting them out yet. But do any of the horses facing 15-1 odds or greater stand a chance?
Well, possibly – Let’s return to Calvin Borel. We all remember Borel’s remarkable ride aboard Mine that Bird at last year’s Kentucky Derby, who was facing 50-1 odds when the gates opened. When Borel and Bird crossed the finish line, the $100+ dollar Win bet was one of the top payouts in the history of the Derby. Mine that Bird went on to be a contender in the subsequent Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes, finishing towards the front of each race, though not claiming the elusive Triple Crown. Now, the real question is this: do you want to bet against the formidable Borel/Super Saver combo?
Remember, last minute bettors might have difficulty signing up, depositing, and wagering anytime after 5:50 PM ET: this is peak wagering time, not signup time. As a result, anyone straggling through the door at the eleventh hour who faces banking issues might miss the race altogether. Cut the stress out of the whole process and get setup early. Then, kick back and enjoy the infield party and lengthy pre-race broadcast on NBC at 4:30 PM ET.
Good luck at the 2010 Preakness 135 from sportsbetting3.com!