Posted on 5/18/2007 8:01:43 PM

Horse Betting - The Preakness Stakes

By Harry Manback

As the man from downtown once said, ABC: Always Be Closing.

Running style is one of the major criteria horseplayers look for in a champion. And the style in vogue at the Preakness Stakes is definitely that of the late runner. Trainer Todd Pletcher reminded us of that on Tuesday. “The race sets up well on paper for a closer,” Pletcher told the Daily Racing Form as he confirmed Circular Quay for this Saturday’s running of the Preakness.

Circular Quay finished in sixth place at the Kentucky Derby and was originally expected to skip the second jewel of the Triple Crown, as most of the Derby horses have, and go straight to the Belmont Stakes. But after some encouraging training results and the shrinking of the field to single digits, Pletcher reconsidered.

The son of Thunder Gultch is a proven closer, having charged from behind to win the Grade II Louisiana Derby and nearly doing the same at the Grade III Risen Star Stakes despite having to go wide to avoid a fallen jockey.

It is possible, though, to be too patient at the Preakness. Street Sense, who won the Derby after trailing by 19 lengths, will have less opportunity to cover ground on the shorter track at Pimlico.

There are many other reasons to pick the likely favorite for Saturday’s race, but from a value perspective, bettors would prefer a horse with a more complementary “off the pace” style. Jockey Calvin Borel didn’t seem too worried, though, after Tuesday’s excellent workout. “(Pimlico) doesn’t have much of a stretch, so you might have to move a little earlier,” Borel told The Blood-Horse, “but it’s not unlike some other tracks I’ve been on before.”

The same style knock goes against Hard Spun. This speed merchant set a blistering pace at the Derby before finally giving way to Street Sense down the stretch. His second-place finish and 107 Beyer figure at Churchill Downs bode well on what should be a fast track at the Preakness. But Hard Spun’s frontrunning style has not historically been the stuff of Preakness champions.

That leaves Curlin as the only “stalker” out of the top three finishers at the Derby. He’s already won the Grade III Rebel Stakes and the Grade II Arkansas Derby as well as his maiden; it will be no surprise if the Preakness becomes his fourth victory in just five career races, all as a 3-year-old.

Keep checking the Locker Room all through the Triple Crown season, as we will cover the trainers, horses and jockeys in each race. You can get your early Preakness Stakes odds at Pimlico Racetrack and place your bets in now in the BetUS sportsbook in the Future / props section, under Horse Futures: 2007 Preakness Stakes.