2009 Preakness Picks: You’ve seen it everywhere, you’ve heard it from basically everyone: Rachel Alexandra will win this Saturday’s 2009 Preakness Stakes! However, as we have seen before, nothing in sports is ever a sure thing, as the old cliché says: and that’s why we play the game!
But is the fascination over Rachel Alexandra [+150 ML], currently listed by all major Sports-Books as a heavy favorite to win the 2009 Preakness Picks, justified? After all, we do have a thoroughbred in the competition that can still go for the Triple Crown this year, and it’s not Rachel Alexandra. 
The 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, Mine That Bird, has practically been invisible this week. With all the attention focused on the favored filly, Mine That Bird [+450 ML] has entered the competition as long shot second best odds-favorite, tied with Pioneerof The Nile [+450 ML].
Perhaps this is justified by the fact that Mine That Bird entered the Kentucky Derby as a huge 50-1 underdog and has not been considered a strong contender to win the Tripe Crown.
To make matters worse, even his jockey, Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird at Churchills Downs has chosen Rachel Alexandra. “This is a business, and Calvin has to watch out for himself,” Mine That Bird trainer Bennie “Chip” Woolley Jr. said. “It was his choice and I respect his choice.”
But why not ride the horse that still has a shot at the Triple Crown? With Borel aboard, Rachel Alexandra has cruised to five straight wins. “I mean, that’s unheard of. There’s no way in history you ever heard of a jockey ever leaving a Kentucky Derby winner,” said jockey Robby Albarado. “I mean, he has a shot at winning the Triple Crown on Mine That Bird. … I’m sure he feels that Rachel Alexandra is the best horse he’s been on.”
