For the first time since 1996, the horse that won the Kentucky Derby will not be competing at the Preakness Stakes. With Country House hanging out of the Preakness due to Illness, Improbable enters the race as the favorite to take home the second jewel of the Triple Crown.
Improbable is a +225 favorite on the Preakness Stakes chances at sportsbooks tracked by OddsShark.com. The Bob Baffert trainee had a respectable showing in the Kentucky Derby putting fifth before eventually getting awakened to fourth after the disqualification of the race’s original winner, Maximum Security. Improbable is the only horse among the first seven to cross the line on Derby day that is engaging in the Preakness.
War of Will, that crossed the line eighth and formally finished in seventh following Maximum Security’s disqualification, is Improbable’s biggest competition in this race sitting at +350 on the horse racing chances to win the Preakness. War of Will was the horse many immediately affected by Maximum Security’s sudden lane change since jockey Tyler Gaffalione has been forced to abruptly slow down to prevent a collision. Gaffalione and War of Will expect to get some revenge on a cleaner excursion now around.Two horses which didn’t compete in the Kentucky Derby will look to follow in Maximum Security’s hoof-steps with a wire-to-wire win in Alwaysmining (+600) and Anothertwistafate (+700).
Alwaysmining started his career with unsatisfactory pace and results through his first six races. But under new coach Rubley Kelly, Alwaysmining has been converted into a frontrunner and has won each of the last six races into wire-to-wire fashion. Anothertwistafate has finished in the top two in each of the past five races including three wire-to-wire successes.
All of this early speed could set the stage for a closer just like Bourbon War (+800) to swoop in for a favorable result overdue. With a high Beyer rate of 96, Bourbon War probably won’t have enough to win outright, however a late kick and a top three finish could certainly be in the cards.
Rounding out the field for this year’s Preakness Stakes are Owendale (+1000), Warrior’s Charge (+1200), Win Win Win (+1200), Bodexpress (+2000), Laughing Fox (+2000), Signalman (+2500), Market King (+3300), and Everfast (+5000).

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