Preakness Stakes Odds - Horses to bet Now or Later

We are quickly arriving to the draw for the 2009 Preakness Stakes.  Before the odds are assigned, the post positions drawn, and bettors create their Pick 3, Pick 4 and trifecta tickets around and on the race itself, they should take a quick look at the BetUS online racebook and put wagers on the horses they believe are overlays in the racebook at this time.

Bettors could be missing out some good opportunities by not betting a horse to win right now. Let’s see which horse’s horseplayers should bet now or bet later in this Saturday’s Preakness Stakes.

Preakness Stakes:  Bet Now or Bet Later?

1. Rachel Alexandra  Ev - - Without a doubt Rachel Alexandra is a bet later.  She is going off at even money in the racebook and might be listed as an even money favorite once the Preakness odds maker sets the odds but once the gates open on Saturday, Rachel will be at best an 8 to 5 shot.  This is too tough of a Preakness Stakes and a lot of gamblers will notice that on Saturday.  She’s a definite bet later.
   
   

2. Mine That Bird +375 - - Like Rachel, this Preakness came up tough for the Kentucky Derby winner.  He has a terrific shot and actually his odds of 3.75 to 1 in the sportsbook are right where they should be, but by the time the gates open this Saturday, I predict that Mine That Bird will be going off at between 4 to 6 to 1.  There are just too many questions surrounding his Derby victory for most horseplayers and he could get lost in the shuffle in this field.  Not only that but the jockey change is going to scare some bettors.  He’s a bet later.
   
   

3. Pioneerof The Nile +500 - - He was close to the pace in the Derby, was running on mud and dirt for the first time in his career, and gutted out a second place finish against some other tough horses.  The trip was difficult but he still hung on for second place.  He has also won four graded races this year.  5 to 1 on this guy?  Really?  He should go off close to 3 to 1 or maybe even 5 to 2 in the Preakness.  So, yes, he’s a big, big, bet now.
   
   

4. Musket Man +700 - - He should have no shot, right?  But bettors will back him after looking at that running line of 5 victories and 2 thirds out of 7 lifetime races.  He’s as gutsy as they come and could get a garden spot trip in the Preakness.  Still, the lack of respect means that he could go off at higher odds than 7 to 1.  He’s either a bet now or bet later.  It’s too tough to call.
   
   

5. Papa Clem +700 - - He swung out wide at the top of the stretch in the Derby, which was the worst part of the track, and went ding-dong with Musekt Man and Pioneerof The Nile.  He, like Pioneerof The Nile, was close to the pace the whole way in the Derby.  He could be the wise guy horse in the Preakness.  So, I’m saying bet now.
   
   

6. Friesan Fire +700 - - My gut tells me to bet now, but I’m going to wait and bet later.  He finished 19th in the Derby and I’m hoping that the mom and pop horseplayers notice that and lay off of him.  I think he has a huge shot in the Preakness because the Derby was his first race off of a 7 week lay off.  He can win the Preakness and will be close to a much kinder pace.  I see him outrunning Rachel Alexandra at the top of the stretch and possibly winning going away.  He’s my pick for now and I’m hoping for 10 to 1 on Preakness day.  Friesan Fire is a bet later.
   
   

7. General Quarters +1000 - - General Quarters had a terrible Derby.  The trip was awful but there are still questions surrounding his overall ability.  So, he is likely to go off between 15 to 20 to 1 in the Preakness since the race has came up tough.  The truth is that, yes, he won the Bluegrass, but that was on Polytrack and his form has been pretty awful outside of the Bluegrass since transferring to Thomas McCarthy’s barn.  Hey, I like the old guy but I would have preferred to see Quarters stay with Mark Miller.  Oh, well.  He’s a bet later.
   
   

8. Big Drama +1600 - - He was DQ’ed in his last, the Grade II Swale stakes, but would be 6 out of his last 6 if not for that.  He’s the speed in this race and there’s no telling how good he could be but Rachel Alexandra is going to get the front running horseplayer’s money while Big Drama will go off at between 20 to 25 to 1 in this.  He could steal this race, so keep that in mind, but his odds should be high on Preakness day.  He’s a bet later.