Preakness Stakes Picks: Winner and Trifecta Box

Written by Jake Thompson
Saturday, 21 May 2011 18:35

Preakness Stakes horse racing picks are ready on both the winner and the trifecta box.

The 2011 Preakness Stakes is today and we have what we hope are profitable horse racing picks on both the winner of the race and the top three finishers.  Post time for the race is set for around 6:18 PM ET, and you can catch the horse racing action live on NBC.  The Preakness Stakes is a 1 3/16 mile race on the dirt at Pimlico Race Course, and the purse is set at an even $1,000,000.

Animal Kingdom won the 2011 Kentucky Derby and is the favorite at 2-1 odds for tonight’s race, but we don’t have him in our top 4.  The Derby’s 20-horse field cause lots of traffic issues and I don’t see the slow pace repeating itself here.  Ultimately, Animal Kingdom is a solid horse but he won’t get all the luck he saw in the Kentucky Derby.  There simply isn’t any value at using him at this number, and I’m not including him in my trifecta.

I’d look for a much faster pace with Shackleford and Flashpoint out in front early with a decent sized group hot on their tails.  The speed of the pace will set up some closers for big runs, and there isn’t a better closer in the field than Florida Derby champion Dialed In.  He was the fastest over the last half-mile in the Kentucky Derby, and won’t have to deal with as much traffic in the 14-horse Preakness Stakes.

Shackleford has proven that he can hold his speed for longer than most, but we are leaving him out of the trifecta (our predictions say he finishes in 4th).  The other pace setters will all falter, but this horse is pretty special and should find a way into the top 4.  I think he’ll get passed up at the end of the race, but he’s simply too good to leave out completely.

Mucho Macho Man finished 3rd in the Kentucky Derby and that is where we have him pegged to finish in the Preakness Stakes.  He’s at 6-1 odds and seems unable to miss the board lately.  His late-running closer style will be perfect to take advantage of the pace, and you have to put him in your trifecta box after his string of impressive performances.

The other horse that will be included in our trifecta box for the Preakness Stakes is Astrology.  This 3-year-old has a perfect starting spot with the #1 post position, and I think he’ll be the only stalker in the field that doesn’t tire out.  I’ve been impressed with the late run of this horse in previous races, and the 20-1 underdog will surely give us a nice payout on our trifecta.

Preakness Stakes Picks (winner and trifecta box):

1 – Dialed In

2 – Astrology

3 – Mucho Macho Man

Look for Dialed In and Mucho Macho Man to come thundering home on the backstretch, with Astrology having enough left in the tank to get on the board.  Shackleford will be in the mix as well, and I’m calling for Animal Kingdom to finish in 5th after he doesn’t get the perfect trip like he received at Churchill Downs earlier this month.  For those that like to bet on the last place finisher, I expect it to come down to Norman Asbjornson and Flashpoint.