Preakness Picks

After predicting the Derby trifecta, I'm sure the racing gods will punish me royally with an 0-fer in the second leg of the Triple Crown, but let's give it a shot anyway:

1. Mucho Macho Man.  I know a lot of people don't like him to win, but I have a feeling this could be his coming out party.  He always shows up (9 for 9 in the superfecta), so he's at least a good key horse.  But I think he's learning and growing (remember, he was a June foal), so he could take another step forward in the Preakness.  Rajiv Maragh is an underrated rider. 

2.  Animal Kingdom.  I won't like his odds, after getting him at 20-1 in the Derby, but he's a well-bred, well-trained, well-ridden "animal" in peak form.  The Preakness is normally not a longshot- fest like the Derby can be - runners who score in the Derby usually come back with another good performance in the Preakness.  Between Kingdom and Dialed In, I like the Kingdom better.

3.  Sway Away.  He's the "new shooter" with the best chance, in my opinion.  He missed getting into the Derby because Uncle Mo's connections waited until after the post position draw to scratch.  He comes out of the best Derby prep race - the Arkansas Derby.  His dad, Afleet Alex, won the Preakness.  He's been training very well leading up to this for an underrated trainer in Jeff Bonde.  Plus, he gets a very clutch jockey in Garrett Gomez.  Lots to like.

4.  King Congie.  My "bombs away" longshot play.  He should be at least 20-1 because his only two races on dirt were terrible.  But they were his first two races, and they were both sprints.  In his four longer races since then, he's hit the tri every time, and he has a pretty decent dirt pedigree (by Badge of Silver).  If there's enough speed early on, don't be surprised to see King Congie moving swiftly in the stretch.

Good luck today and enjoy!